Tech Journal How Digital Document Processes and E-signatures Are Driving Business Resilience in a Time of Economic Upheaval
By Rob Elliot / 13 Sep 2021 / Topics: Microsoft 365 Modern workplace Mobility Windows 10
By Rob Elliot / 13 Sep 2021 / Topics: Microsoft 365 Modern workplace Mobility Windows 10
In the spring of 2020, when COVID-19 transformed the global business landscape virtually overnight, companies in every industry had to pivot to adapt and survive. Many transitioned their employees to remote work, and then had to quickly establish new ways of getting things done. Sales of collaboration and productivity technologies like digital document and e-signature software rose as companies made every effort to keep business moving forward.
At Adobe, we wanted to understand exactly how companies were using these solutions to manage day-to-day processes, connect employees across distances, continue providing exceptional customer and employee experiences, and ultimately facilitate business recovery in a challenging economic climate. We commissioned Forrester Consulting to dig into the details, find answers and discover insights.
Between May and June of 2020, Forrester surveyed senior IT and business decision-makers in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. Survey responses showed that, as remote work grew, it became even more important that employees and customers were able to securely share, review, sign and store digital documents — without the need for hard copies.
Survey participants reported that their organizations were relying on digital document processes to help them serve their customers, reduce business risk and more. Here are just a few of the findings:
The Forrester study also revealed that e-signatures are becoming essential to business evolution. This seems to be because, as in-person interactions decline, both customers and employees expect to be able to sign documents digitally.
In the study, 58% of respondents said the pandemic had caused their organization to accelerate the adoption of e-signature capabilities. In addition:
Even before the pandemic, businesses were realizing productivity gains and cost savings by integrating e-signatures into their everyday digital document workflows. Take the case of Adobe Sign.
Microsoft's preferred e-signature solution, Adobe Sign is deeply integrated across so businesses around the world can create documents, send them for signature and manage workflows right from apps like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Dynamics365 and Power Automate.
In an Adobe-commissioned study conducted in 2019, Forrester interviewed customers who use both Microsoft 365 and Adobe Document Cloud. The study showed that using Microsoft 365 with Adobe Sign and Acrobat DC has the potential combined benefits of $9.1 million over three years. Findings included the following:
While time and cost savings are critical, digital document and e-signature solutions also need to be secure and compliant, and they should easily scale as businesses grow. That’s why, for 25+ years, Adobe has been the trusted leader in digital documents.
Adobe Document Cloud is a complete solution that helps companies transform paper-based workflows into digital experiences, removing friction from business processes. And it includes Adobe Sign, which supports the strictest e-signature regulations while complying with legal, industry and regulatory requirements around the world.
As the pandemic has shown how critical it is for companies to be able to conduct business remotely, digital document and e-signature solutions are proving to be sound investments that address both immediate and long-term needs. They drive resilience during difficult times and help businesses establish new ways of working that can boost productivity — giving employees more time to focus on the innovations that will ensure future success.
Adobe Business Manager, Insight
Rob manages the Adobe team across three countries as a Senior Manager. He has been in the IT field since 1999 in many capacities from Network Administrator to Senior Manager. Working with vendors such as Microsoft, Red Hat Adobe and Cisco, Rob has found the journey to be rewarding and challenging.
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