eSignature

elDoc eSignature provides secure electronic document signing and signature workflow capabilities directly within the elDoc platform.

The module allows users to prepare documents for signing, define recipients and required actions, place signature and data-entry fields, send documents for electronic signature, monitor signing progress, and retrieve completed signed documents and related evidence.

elDoc eSignature supports a wide range of business document formats and converts documents into a controlled signing representation while preserving the original content and signing context.

Supported Document Types

eSignature can be used with common enterprise document formats, including:

• PDF documents;

• Microsoft Word documents;

• OpenDocument Text documents;

• spreadsheets;

• presentations;

• supported drawings and technical documents;

• other supported office document formats.

This makes it possible to use the same signing workflow for business documents ranging from contracts and policies to technical documentation and drawings.

Certificate-Based PDF Signing

When a signing process is completed, elDoc produces signed PDF documents and applies digital signatures based on valid signing certificates.

Certificate-based digital signing provides cryptographic protection of the signed document and enables verification that:

• the document was signed using the corresponding digital certificate;

• the signed content has not been modified after the signature was applied;

• the signature can be validated using standard PDF signature-validation tools;

• the integrity of the resulting signed PDF can be independently verified.

This is fundamentally different from simply placing a visual image of a handwritten signature onto a document.

The visual signature representation can be shown in the document, but the legal and technical integrity of the signed PDF is provided by the underlying certificate-based digital signature.

Signing Workflow

A typical elDoc eSignature workflow consists of three main stages:

Get started
    ↓
Prepare
    ↓
Send

Get started

The initiator:

• uploads one or more documents;

• adds recipients;

• defines the action required from each recipient;

• configures recipient access;

• optionally enters individual recipient messages;

• defines the overall email subject and message.

Prepare

The initiator opens the document preview and places the required eSignature fields on the appropriate pages.

Available fields include items such as:

• Signature;

• Initials;

• Signing date;

• Full Name;

• Title;

• Company;

• Date;

• Text;

• Number;

• Email;

• Image;

• File.

Fields are assigned to the appropriate recipient and can be positioned directly on the document using drag-and-drop.

Send

After the document package is prepared, the initiator sends it to the configured recipients.

elDoc then manages the signature process and records the corresponding status and activity.

Recipient Roles

Different recipients can participate in the same eSignature package with different required actions.

Supported scenarios include:

• Signer - must sign the document;

• Viewer - must review or view the document;

• Copy recipient - receives a copy of the completed documents.

This allows a single signing package to represent a complete business process rather than only a single signature request.

Recipient Access

Recipients can access eSignature packages through configured access methods.

Depending on the selected settings, elDoc can provide access through an emailed link and can additionally require a one-time password (OTP).

OTP-protected access adds an additional verification step by sending a one-time code to the recipient.

Signature and Data Fields

The eSignature preparation interface allows the initiator to place fields directly onto document pages.

Each field is associated with a specific recipient.

For example, a signer can be required to provide:

• signature;

• initials;

• signing date;

• full name;

• title;

• company;

• additional text or numeric values.

This supports document workflows where signing requires more than a single signature.

Multiple Documents and Pages

A single eSignature package can contain multiple documents.

The initiator can navigate through document pages, review their layout, and place required signing fields on the appropriate pages.

This is useful for agreements, policies, technical documentation, drawing sets, and other signing scenarios involving several files or multi-page documents.

eSignature Package Status

elDoc tracks the state of each eSignature package throughout its lifecycle.

Users can access packages through areas such as:

• Inbox;

• Sent;

• Drafts;

• Completed;

• All.

The package list provides information such as:

• subject;

• signing progress;

• initiator;

• creation date;

• last activity;

• available actions.

Signing Progress

For packages requiring signatures, elDoc displays signing progress.

For example:

0 / 1 signed

indicates that one signature is required and has not yet been completed.

This allows the initiator to quickly identify packages that are still waiting for recipient action.

Completed Packages

Once all required actions are completed, the package is marked as Completed.

Completed packages can provide access to:

• signed documents;

• package report;

• complete downloadable package;

• other generated eSignature artifacts.

Downloadable Results

For completed eSignature packages, elDoc provides download options such as:

• Download all;

• Download signed documents;

• Download report;

• Download bundle.

The exact files available depend on the package and configured signing process.

The signed documents contain the resulting certificate-based PDF signatures.

Auditability and Traceability

The eSignature process maintains information about the signing workflow and recipient activity.

This provides traceability of the package lifecycle, including relevant actions and timestamps associated with the signing process.

The resulting signing evidence and package information can be used together with the digitally signed documents to verify the completion of the electronic-signature process.

Security

eSignature functionality operates within the elDoc security architecture.

For authenticated elDoc users, access to eSignature functionality is controlled through the corresponding user account and permissions.

External recipients receive controlled access to the specific signing package assigned to them.

Additional controls such as OTP verification can be used when stronger recipient verification is required.

Summary

elDoc eSignature provides an integrated enterprise electronic-signature environment for preparing, sending, signing, monitoring, and securely storing electronically signed documents.

Its capabilities include:

• support for multiple office and document formats;

• support for technical documents and drawings;

• multi-document signing packages;

• multiple recipient roles;

• recipient-specific messages and actions;

• OTP-protected recipient access;

• drag-and-drop signature and data fields;

• signing-progress monitoring;

• downloadable signing reports and bundles;

• certificate-based digital signing of resulting PDF documents;

• cryptographic verification of document integrity after signing.

This allows organizations to manage the complete electronic-signature lifecycle within elDoc while producing verifiable digitally signed PDF documents.