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Glossary · Contracts
Electronic signature
A process for signing a digital document with a legally recognised value, often through a trusted service provider.
Also known as: e-signature · digital signature
What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature certifies that one or more parties agree to a digital document. Depending on the level (simple, advanced, qualified), the guarantees of identity and integrity vary. In business, it often replaces postal mail or the paper signature book — but on its own it does not organise the repository, the metadata or deadline tracking.
Its place in the lifecycle
Signature is a critical milestone: it freezes the binding version. Upstream, you need a complete, approved file; downstream, archiving and tracking.
Document integrity
The signed version must be identifiable and never confused with a draft.
Complementary to EDM
The signature tool signs; the document management system stores, classifies and alerts on dates.
Common pitfalls
Signing without an upstream flow
Sending a document for signature without a legal review creates risk, not speed.
Losing the signed PDF
If the signed version stays in the signature tool or an inbox, contract management fails.
E-signature and DocPilot
DocPilot structures the file and the approval before signature, then archives the binding version for search and deadline tracking. E-signature fits into this cycle without replacing the repository.
- File ready before it is sent for signature
- Signed version attached to the contract
- Traceability of prior approvals
Related DocPilot pages
To learn more about the product and the guides.
Solutions by team
Pages built around each team’s priorities.
- Legal teamsCentralize NDAs, contracts and amendments, extract key clauses, approve through workflows and archive with full history. DocPilot for legal teams.
- FinanceCentralize invoices, quotes, expense reports and bank details, extract amounts and parties, approve through workflows and search without Excel. DocPilot for finance teams.
“How-to” guides
Step-by-step methods to make real progress.
- Manage contractsA practical guide to managing business contracts: central repository, approvals, deadlines and archiving. Method, steps, mistakes to avoid and a checklist.
- Automate approvalsA guide to automating contract approval: roles, steps, SLAs and notifications. Method, mistakes to avoid and implementation with DocPilot.
- Track deadlinesA guide to tracking contract deadlines and notice periods: shared calendar, responsibilities, alerts. Steps, mistakes to avoid and DocPilot.
Related articles
DocPilot blog posts on the same topic.
- Checklist before signing a contractA practical checklist before signing a business contract: parties, amount, term, notice period, approvals and the reference version to keep.
- The contract lifecycle in a businessThe stages of a business contract’s lifecycle: receipt, checks, signature, deadline tracking and archiving — without losing the reference version.
- NDAs in business: a simple processSet up a short NDA workflow: templates, approval, signature and archiving. Stop losing confidentiality agreements in your inbox.
Terms and product pages
Related pages to refine your research.
- Contract managementContract management software for French SMBs and mid-sized companies: intake, OCR/AI, approval workflows, deadline tracking and searchable archiving. Free trial, EU hosting.
- Contract approvalSet up clear contract approval workflows: steps, roles, notifications, rejections with reasons and an audit log with DocPilot.
- Contract automationAutomate how you process contracts: e-mail intake, AI extraction, routing to the right approvers, notifications and archiving with DocPilot.
- Document approvalThe formal process by which the relevant roles (business, legal, management) approve a document before signature, distribution or archiving.
Take action
Sign faster, archive better
Prepare, approve and centralise your contracts in DocPilot — before and after signature.