Signority’s Commitment to Canada and Post Acquisition Plans

June 11th, 2024

It’s been a week since we announced FileCloud’s acquisition of Signority! As we continue to navigate this transition, we want to assure all Signority customers of our commitment to them. We are focused on maintaining the transparent and open communication that we value so highly here at Signority.

In the following blog post, Jane He, our founder and new SVP of the Signority Business Unit will address some of the concerns and questions our customers have brought to us, while outlining our strategies to continue ensuring excellence and reliability of Signority.

Data Sovereignty

With this acquisition, Signority remains committed to data sovereignty, particularly when it comes to hosting data centers in Canada. We understand the importance of local data handling for our Canadian customers, and we see this as a pivotal opportunity for our customers concerned with data sovereignty to also have the opportunity to leverage FileCloud’s robust on-premises deployment options. We remain dedicated to keeping your data secured within Canadian borders—aligning with regulatory requirements—while continuing to provide our customers with the peace of mind of knowing their data is protected.

Clarification of Signority’s Status

We want to clarify that Signority remains a proudly Canadian entity, fully operational within Canada, while functioning as a separate subsidiary of FileCloud. This status reinforces our foundational ties to Canadian values and business practices, ensuring that our operations, management, and data governance continue to meet the expectations and regulations specific to Canada.

Customer Support

We understand that our customers have a strong preference for local customer support, and we are committed to maintaining our Canadian-based customer support operations while also integrating with FileCloud’s 24/7 global support framework. This hybrid approach will enhance our responsiveness and ability to address your needs quickly and effectively, ensuring the support you need is available whenever and wherever you need it.

Moving Forward

In the coming weeks, the team at Signority will continue to engage with you through various channels. This will include a scheduled Product Marketing meeting in June (details to follow) led by Jason Dover—FileCloud’s CPO— to discuss these topics in greater depth. We also plan to send out a detailed customer letter reiterating these points and more, ensuring that you remain fully informed and confident in the direction we are heading.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We are excited about the future and are committed to growing together, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed your expectations.

Your success is our success, and we look forward to achieving great things together.

Stay tuned for further updates, and as always, we value your feedback and welcome any questions you may have via our Contact Form.

Jane He
SVP, Signority Business Unit

FileCloud + Signority: Simplifying Secure, End-to-End, Content Workflow Automation

by Jason Dover – Chief Product Officer, FileCloud

May 23rd, 2024

In today’s fiercely competitive business landscape, the call for automation has never been louder. This demand stems from the necessity to cultivate competitive edges and operate with swifter agility to meet customer demands. To further assist organizations in addressing these imperatives, FileCloud is proud to announce its acquisition of Signority, an industry leading, Canadian-based provider of e-Signature and document workflow automation solutions. This strategic move enriches FileCloud’s enterprise file sharing and sync portfolio by integrating Signority’s end-to-end secure, automated digital signature solution. Signority’s offerings, being both SOC 2 and CSA-Level 2 certified, facilitate seamless digital transactions, governance, and compliance, aligning perfectly with Canadian data sovereignty and residency requirements. This acquisition synergizes with FileCloud’s existing content workflow automation capabilities, enhancing them and enabling customers to streamline their content-centric business workflows effectively.

The Significance of e-Signatures in Content Automation

In conventional file and document workflows, authoring or ingestion into an enterprise environment marks just the beginning. Facilitating adequate collaboration among stakeholders, enforcing appropriate security measures and access controls, and ensuring proper categorization and retention of content are additional pivotal components. FileCloud’s robust automation and policy framework fulfill these requirements comprehensively. However, the surge in enterprise digitization demands, particularly in recent years, has intensified the need for embedded e-Signature capabilities within file and content management processes. As content lies at the core of modern businesses, crucial processes and transactions often necessitate a signing step. Meeting this burgeoning customer demand with Signority represents a fundamental aspect of our ongoing automation strategy.

Integration and User Experience Enhancements

While numerous e-Signature solutions abound, they often operate disparately, resulting in subpar user experiences for both employees and external parties involved in the process. Moreover, signed content typically requires long-term storage in third-party cloud services, diminishing the owning organization’s control. As we progress with integrating our product portfolios, customers will gain the ability to ensure on-premises or self-managed public cloud storage of signed documents by designating FileCloud as a storage target. Furthermore, forthcoming product updates will empower customers to trigger signing workflows directly from within FileCloud, thus optimizing the user experience. This integration promises a streamlined approach to tackling typical document workflow processes.

Compliance Assurance

Ensuring compliance with industry-specific and jurisdictional standards ranks high on the priority list for CIOs across organizations of all sizes. Non-compliance with these standards could entail significant financial repercussions. Often, achieving compliance necessitates substantial changes to IT infrastructure, processes, and content management methodologies. It demands standardized approaches to document access management, storage, and electronic signature handling, particularly for content containing sensitive data. FileCloud offers an array of capabilities for generating and automatically applying policies based on content characteristics. Additionally, templates are available for configuring the content ecosystem to comply with relevant standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and NIST 800-171. The integration of e-Signature capabilities further enhances FileCloud’s solution, simplifying the process of compliance with required standards.

Looking Ahead

We are excited to welcome Signority’s established product and talented team into the FileCloud organization. These capabilities will significantly empower us to simplify end-to-end workflow automation for our customers. In the upcoming quarters, we will facilitate product integrations across our portfolio, making it easier for customers to address their content automation challenges and advance their digital transformation initiatives.

Our commitment to the Canadian market remains steadfast, and we aim to build upon Signority’s successful business while extending FileCloud’s strong value propositions globally. We are enthusiastic about the prospects this acquisition brings and the added strength it lends to our impactful portfolio.

Stay tuned for further updates!

Navigating Change Management In The Shift From Traditional To Digital Signing

Navigating Change Management in the Shift from Traditional to Digital Signing

January 18th, 2024

As digital transformation becomes a pivotal goal for many organizations, the shift from traditional to digital signing marks a significant evolution. This transition reshapes operational processes, challenges ingrained employee habits, and demands a redefinition of roles and responsibilities. A common hurdle in this journey is overcoming digital adoption fatigue. In this blog, we delve into these aspects of change management and explore how Signority’s Customer Lifecycle Journey can guide organizations towards a successful digital transition, driving business growth and innovation.

Understanding the Change Dynamics

Operational Process Changes
Transitioning to digital signing represents a shift from manual, paper-based methods to automated digital workflows. This transformation necessitates a thorough reevaluation of existing procedures, paving the way for more efficient, streamlined operations.
Adjusting Employee Habits
Adopting digital signing requires employees to move away from familiar manual processes to embrace new digital methods. This shift involves not just learning new technologies but also adopting new ways of working.
Evolving Roles and Responsibilities
With the automation of previously manual tasks, employees find their roles evolving. The focus now shifts towards managing digital systems, presenting opportunities for professional growth and development.
Combating Digital Adoption Fatigue
The continuous introduction of new technologies can be overwhelming, leading to fatigue or resistance. Effective change management strategies, characterized by empathy and clear communication, are essential to navigate this challenge.

Signority’s Customer-Centric Lifecycle Journey in Change Management

To navigate these changes effectively, Signority has a proven customer-centric onboarding and professional service on demand process provides a structured framework.

Preparation and Planning
The journey towards digital signing with Signority begins with a meticulous preparation phase. It’s crucial to first gain a deep understanding of the existing processes and pinpoint opportunities for digital integration. Our team collaborates closely with customers to identify the best starting point for this transition.

During this stage, we engage with clients to select a core group of internal champions. These individuals are pivotal in the ‘train-the-trainer’ approach, becoming the knowledge-bearers and advocates for the digital signing process within the organization. We assist in identifying key administrators and users who will play a central role in the rollout of the digital signing system.

A critical aspect of this phase is defining a tailored adoption roadmap. This involves initiating smaller-scale pilot programs focused on specific use cases. We work with clients to determine the most suitable templates and workflows, ensuring they seamlessly integrate into and enhance existing operational processes. This step includes a careful review of any IT and legal policies that may impact the setup of accounts, templates, and workflows, ensuring compliance and smooth integration.

An important part of our planning process also involves the transformation of existing paper forms into digital formats. This digitization isn’t just about conversion; it’s about optimization. We help streamline and simplify processes through automation, enabling our clients to concentrate on their core business activities more efficiently. This transformation is not just a technological shift but a strategic move towards operational excellence.
Training and Support: Tailored for Efficiency and Effectiveness
At Signority, we recognize that the success of any digital transition heavily relies on the confidence and proficiency of the employees using the new tools. To this end, our training and support are designed to be comprehensive yet streamlined, ensuring that your team can quickly adapt to the digital signing tools without feeling overwhelmed.

Our training approach is use case-based and focused on practical application. Instead of lengthy, generic online tutorials, we offer concise, 30-minute training blocks, each tailored to specific use cases. This method ensures that the learning is relevant, directly applicable, and respectful of your team’s time and existing workload. We understand that our clients are professionals in their fields, not expected to be Signority experts, and our training reflects this philosophy.

Following each training session, we actively seek feedback from our clients to not only gauge the effectiveness of the training but also to gather insights on product feature requests. This feedback loop is essential in ensuring that our support is aligned with your specific needs and challenges. Additionally, all training sessions are recorded, providing a valuable resource for future reference and review.

To further enhance the support experience, each enterprise client is assigned a dedicated Account Manager. This personalized approach ensures that you have a consistent point of contact familiar with your organization’s unique needs and preferences. Our online support team is always available, providing an additional layer of assistance. We pride ourselves on our customer-centric support model, where every query is logged and meticulously followed through to ensure complete customer satisfaction. This commitment to support is a cornerstone of our approach, ensuring a smooth and successful transition to digital signing for your organization.
Continuous Engagement and Feedback: Fostering a Collaborative Growth Environment
At Signority, we believe that the key to successful digital signing implementation lies in ongoing engagement and open channels of feedback with our clients. This continuous interaction is vital for fine-tuning the digital signing process to align perfectly with the unique requirements of each organization.

We proactively conduct regular focus groups, at least annually, with our enterprise customers. These sessions are more than just check-ins; they’re opportunities for in-depth discussions, allowing us to gather valuable insights directly from the users. This feedback is essential for us to understand how our digital signing solutions are being utilized in real-world scenarios and how they can be improved or adapted to better serve the evolving needs of our clients.

Monitoring usage patterns forms a crucial part of our engagement strategy. By keeping a close eye on how our solutions are used, we can ensure that adoption is not only taking place but is also effective and efficient. This monitoring allows us to provide timely assistance and support, addressing any challenges as they arise and ensuring a smooth experience for all users.

Beyond initial adoption, our commitment to our clients continues as we strive for widespread, corporation-wide integration of our digital signing solutions. We work closely with our clients to expand the range of use cases, continuously adapting and expanding the scope of our services. Our professional team is dedicated to creating custom templates and designing workflows that are not just functional but optimized for efficiency. This tailored approach ensures that every aspect of Signority’s offerings is leveraged to its fullest potential, contributing to the seamless digital transformation of your organization.
Long-term Partnership: “We Win Only When You Win First”
At Signority, our approach to digital signing technologies transcends the typical vendor-client transaction; we embark on a journey of long-term partnership. In a digital landscape that’s constantly evolving, staying ahead of technological trends is imperative for sustained success. Committed to this ethos, we provide ongoing support and frequent updates, ensuring our digital signing solutions are always at the cutting edge.

Our relationships with clients are rooted in mutual trust and respect, and we treasure the confidence our customers place in us. When they choose Signority, they’re not just selecting a service provider; they’re gaining a partner genuinely invested in their success. This commitment is at the heart of how we interact and grow with our clients.

The role of our Account Managers is crucial in nurturing these relationships. Through regular, meaningful interactions, they gather valuable insights and feedback, helping us understand how our clients leverage our digital signing solutions in their unique contexts. This feedback is instrumental in continually refining and enhancing our services.

We’re constantly exploring ways to improve and innovate, whether through upgrading existing features or introducing new ones. Our proactive approach ensures that our partnership with each client is not static but evolves dynamically, in tandem with the fast-paced digital world. With Signority, clients embark on a path of growth and innovation, where their victories are our victories.

As digital reliance grows, so do the complexities of legal requirements and security concerns. We’re committed to evolving alongside these legal changes, ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of legality and security. Whether it’s adapting to local regulations like Quebec’s Bill 64 or broader legislative changes, legal compliance is at the core of what we do.

We take pride in listening to our clients, considering their feedback and requests as integral to our product development roadmap. This customer-centric approach ensures that our solutions are not only advanced but also highly tailored to meet the specific needs of our diverse client base.

For those transitioning from other eSign vendors, we understand the weight of the trust placed in us. Signority’s customer-centric culture is designed to make this transition seamless and rewarding. We go above and beyond to honor the trust of new members joining our community, ensuring their switch to Signority is met with unparalleled support and a commitment to excellence.

Join us at Signority, where your growth and success define ours, and experience a partnership that goes beyond the conventional, into a future of digital excellence and mutual triumph.

The shift to digital signing is a transformative step for any organization, bringing efficiencies and modernization to traditional processes. By understanding the challenges of this transition and leveraging the structured approach of the Signority Customer Lifecycle Journey, organizations can ensure a smooth and successful adoption of digital signing. This journey is not just about technology adoption; it’s about reshaping your business practices to thrive in a digital future.

Ready to begin your digital signing journey? Reach out to Signority at sales@signority.com for tailored guidance and support, and set your organization on the path to digital excellence.

Shifting Organizational Perspective on eSign

How to Shift Organizational Perspective on eSign from Cost to Cost-Savings Solution

December 14th, 2023

In the digital age, eSign technology is revolutionizing business processes. Yet, a common misconception frames eSign as a cost rather than a cost-saving solution. This blog aims to demystify eSign technology, showcasing its benefits and efficiency gains.

This blog encourages businesses to reassess their processes and consider eSign as a key tool for cost savings and efficiency.

What is eSign or an eSign ceremony?

eSign actually refers to an “eSign ceremony”. An eSign ceremony is a meticulously organized and secure process used for the digital signing of documents. This procedure encompasses several critical steps, such as verifying the identity of the signatory, confirming their intent to sign, and ensuring adherence to legal standards like the ESIGN Act in the U.S., PIPEDA in Canada, or eIDAS in Europe.

The purpose of an eSign ceremony goes beyond merely capturing signatures for approval; its true value lies in its workflow. This workflow guides recipients through a legally compliant and secure signing process, ensuring the integrity and legality of electronic signatures. It merges the formalities of traditional document signing with the advantages of digital technology, offering a blend of efficiency and security. Post-signing, it provides the assurance that the signed document remains unaltered, maintaining its authenticity and reliability.

Understanding the Cost Implications of Traditional Signature Processes

Traditional signature processes, involving physical documents and in-person signings, have been the norm for decades. However, this method incurs significant direct and indirect costs, often overlooked in the business world. Understanding these costs is crucial for organizations considering a transition to digital solutions like eSign technology.

Direct Costs:

Printing Costs: The need for physical copies of documents requires substantial use of paper and ink. For instance, a large organization may use thousands of sheets of paper annually for contracts alone, leading to considerable expenses in paper and printer maintenance. Diverse case studies from sectors like insurance, legal, and medical demonstrate substantial reductions in document processing time and paper-related costs.
Mailing Expenses: Sending documents via mail for signatures involves costs for postage, envelopes, and other mailing supplies. For urgent documents, the use of express or courier services further escalates these expenses.
Storage and Archival: Physical documents must be stored securely, often necessitating filing cabinets, storage rooms, or offsite facilities. Additionally, the costs for organizing and maintaining these records can be substantial.

Indirect Costs:

Time Delays: The manual process of printing, sending, receiving, and storing documents is time-consuming. Delays in obtaining signatures can stall business processes, affecting project timelines and potentially leading to lost opportunities.
Labor Costs: Manually handling documents requires significant employee time, from administrative staff organizing paperwork to executives reviewing and signing documents. This time could be more productively spent on core business activities.
Environmental Impact: The environmental cost of paper consumption is considerable. The paper industry is a major contributor to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing paper usage not only has a financial impact but also aligns with corporate social responsibility goals.

Real-World Examples and Statistics:

According to InformIT, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that on average, an organization spends $20 in labor to file a document, $120 in labor to find a misplaced document, and $220 in labor to reproduce a lost document.

According to Square 9, the typical office consumes about 10,000 sheets of paper per worker each year, contributing to significant environmental and financial costs.

A report by Gartner highlighted that professionals spend 50% of their time searching for information, with much of this time dedicated to navigating through physical documents. Professionals spend about half their time searching for information and on average take 18 minutes to locate each document

The traditional signature process, while familiar, is laden with hidden costs and inefficiencies that can impact an organization’s bottom line and operational efficiency. By understanding these implications, businesses can make more informed decisions about transitioning to digital solutions like eSign technology, which offers a more cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative.

Common Misconceptions About eSign as a Cost

Often viewed as an additional expense, eSign technology is actually a cost-saving tool. Initial investments in software and training are quickly offset by savings in paper, printing, mailing, and document storage, as well as reduced labor costs.

Real-World Example:

Consider a medium-sized business that spends approximately $5,000 every year on paper-related expenses and an additional $3,000 on mailing. By switching to an eSign solution, with an average annual subscription of just $2,000, this business can achieve significant cost reductions immediately.

The investment in eSign not only offers immediate savings but continues to provide financial benefits year after year, compared to the ongoing costs of traditional methods. The efficiency and productivity gains, along with the environmental benefits, further reinforce the value of this investment in eSign technology. It’s not only a modern solution but also a financially sound decision for businesses.

Other Facts Highlighting Capabilities of eSign Unattainable with Traditional Paper Signing

eSign technology introduces functionalities and benefits that are simply unachievable with traditional paper-based signing methods. These unique capabilities not only enhance efficiency but also provide a level of security and convenience that paper documents cannot match. Here are some key aspects where eSign excels:

Customizable Workflow Automation
eSign technology allows for the customization of signing workflows to suit specific business processes, a level of automation and personalization that paper signing processes lack.

Legally Binding Across Borders
eSignatures are recognized as legally binding in numerous jurisdictions, making them ideal for international transactions, unlike paper signatures which may require additional verification steps across borders.

Remote Signing
eSign allows documents to be signed from any location, eliminating the need for physical presence. This global accessibility is impossible with paper signing.

Instant Delivery and Confirmation
eSign technology enables instant sending and receiving of signed documents, along with immediate confirmation, a process that is time-consuming with paper.

Error Reduction
eSign technology often includes features like automatic form-filling and validation checks, significantly reducing the likelihood of errors common in paper forms.

Document Tracking
Real-time tracking of document status (opened, in progress, completed) is a unique feature of eSign, offering transparency that paper documents can’t.

Time-Stamped Audit Trails
eSign solutions provide a detailed audit trail, recording each action’s date and time, a feature paper documents can’t offer.

Enhanced Security
With encryption and secure authentication methods, eSign offers superior security against tampering and fraud compared to physical documents.

Exploring User Applications of Signority eSign Technology

eSign technology is more than just a tool for capturing signatures; it’s a workflow enhancer that drives accuracy and speed in document processing. Here are several common applications:

Application 1:
While eSign is often associated with remote signing, its utility in in-person scenarios, especially post-COVID, is significant. The misconception that eSign is unnecessary for in-person interactions overlooks the hidden costs and inefficiencies of paper-based processes.
Signority eSign facilitates In-Person Signing while simultaneously handling data entry and transfer. This integration eliminates the need for manual data backup to backend systems, reducing both costs and the likelihood of errors.
All data and signatures are securely tracked. For customers using APIs, Signority enables seamless synchronization with other platforms, ensuring efficient, error-free operations.

Application 2:
In the insurance brokerage sector, brokers rely on the timely signing of agreements for their payments. eSign expedites this process, ensuring brokers receive their dues promptly without the delays common in paper-based transactions.

Application 3:
Sales teams leverage eSign to close deals swiftly. The technology’s speed and efficiency in processing agreements facilitate faster decision-making and turnaround, crucial in sales environments.

Application 4:
Medical clinics use Signority Link Sign as a customer acquisition tool for patient onboarding and treatment processes. This streamlined approach not only improves patient experience but also ensures clinics receive payments more quickly.
For sensitive medical information, Signority’s HIPAA-compliant eSign solution provides a secure platform for patients to submit their health information, enhancing the overall efficiency of medical services.

Application 5:
Businesses, especially medical clinics, are leveraging Signority’s Linksign feature for effective customer engagement and data collection. With an easy-to-use onboarding template embedded on their websites, they capture essential information from interested visitors efficiently. This tool is particularly valuable for medical clinics adhering to SOC2 and HIPAA standards, as it securely facilitates the submission of sensitive health information through eReferral and contact forms, ensuring data security and compliance.

Each of these applications underscores the flexibility and efficiency of Signority eSign, demonstrating its effectiveness in both conventional and innovative use cases across various industries. Please contact sales@signority.com for detailed use cases and template setups.

Discover the clear benefits for yourself. Contact our team at sales@signority.com to discuss solutions tailored to your business needs.

Securing Your Trust: Signority’s Compliance Journey

October 5th, 2023

Signority’s security & compliance principles guide how we deliver our products and services, enabling people to simply and securely access the digital world.

Secure Personnel

Child & Family Services encompass an array of responsibilities, from safeguarding children against harm to providing necessary support to families in crisis. Each interaction, whether it’s an initial intake, assessment, or even volunteer onboarding, requires multiple layers of documentation. Historically, this has meant paper forms, manual logging, and significant administrative overhead.

The Practical Benefits of Signority’s Digital Approach

Signority takes the security of its data and that of its clients and customers seriously and ensures that only vetted personnel are given access to their resources.

All Signority contractors and employees undergo background checks prior to being engaged or employed by us in accordance with local laws and industry best practices.
Confidentiality or other types of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are signed by all employees, contractors, and others who have a need to access sensitive or internal information.
We embed the culture of security into our business by conducting employee security training & testing using current and emerging techniques and attack vectors.

Secure Development

All development projects at Signority, including on-premises software products, support services, and our own Digital Identity Cloud offerings follow secure development lifecycle principles.
All development of new products, tools, and services, and major changes to existing ones, undergo a design review to ensure security requirements are incorporated into proposed development.
All team members that are regularly involved in any system development undergo annual secure development training in coding or scripting languages that they work with as well as any other relevant training.
Software development is conducted in line with OWASP Top 10 recommendations for web application security.

Secure Testing

Signority deploys third party penetration testing and vulnerability scanning of all production and Internet facing systems on a regular basis.

All new systems and services are scanned prior to being deployed to production.
We perform penetration testing both by internal security engineers and external penetration testing companies on new systems and products or major changes to existing systems, services, and products to ensure a comprehensive and real-world view of our products & environment from multiple perspectives.
We perform static and dynamic software application security testing of all code, including open source libraries, as part of our software development process.

Cloud Security

Signority Cloud provides maximum security with complete customer isolation in a modern, multi-tenant cloud architecture.

Signority Cloud leverages the native physical and network security features of the cloud service, and relies on the providers to maintain the infrastructure, services, and physical access policies and procedures.

All customer cloud environments and data are isolated using Signority’s patented isolation approach. Each customer environment is stored within a dedicated trust zone to prevent any accidental or malicious co-mingling.
All data is also encrypted at rest and in transmission to prevent any unauthorized access and prevent data breaches. Our entire platform is also continuously monitored by dedicated, highly trained Signority experts.
We separate each customer’s data and our own, utilizing unique encryption keys to ensure data is protected and isolated.
Client’s data protection complies with SOC 2 standards to encrypt data in transit and at rest, ensuring customer and company data and sensitive information is protected at all times.
We implement role-based access controls and the principles of least privileged access, and review revoke access as needed.

Compliance

Signority is committed to providing secure products and services to safely and easily manage billions of digital identities across the globe. Our external certifications provide independent assurance of Signority’s dedication to protecting our customers by regularly assessing and validating the protections and effective security practices Signority has in place.

Signority Acquires SOC 2, CSA Level 2, and HIPAA Compliance

October 3rd, 2023

Ontario, Canada, September 27, 2023 – Today, Signority celebrates achieving the SOC 2 Type II compliance, in line with the standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), commonly referred to as SSAE 18. With an unqualified opinion supporting this achievement, Signority underscores its dedication to enterprise-level security, ensuring the safety of customer data within its system.

Furthermore, Signority has earned the CSA Star compliance, adhering to the Cloud Security Alliance’s Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk Registry benchmarks.

With a global footprint, Signority provides a cloud-secured digital signature solution. Our platform’s security and compliance credentials were meticulously audited by the reputed Prescient Assurance, known for their expertise in B2B and SaaS sector assessments. We extend our gratitude to Secureframe for their pivotal support in this journey.

Our SOC 2 Type II and CSA Star audit certifications offer a solid reassurance to our existing and future clientele about Signority’s steadfast commitment to maintaining superior standards in security and compliance.

If you ‘d like to acquire Signority’s attestation letter, please reach out to compliance@signority.com.

About Signority

Catering to a worldwide user base, Signority champions in providing leading-edge digital signature workflow solutions. We pride ourselves on ensuring legal compliance, efficiency, cost savings, and enhancing overall productivity for our clients.

Media Relations

Jane He
1.833.222.1088
mediarequests@signority.com

Digitizing Canadian Child & Family Services: Signority’s Impact

Canadian Child & Family Services:

A Digital Transformation

Canadian Child & Family Services:

A Digital Transformation

Digitizing Canadian Child & Family Services: Signority’s Impact

September 26th, 2023

Children represent the future, and families are the cornerstone of our society. In the heart of community resilience and strength lies Child & Family Services organizations. They play an indispensable role in ensuring the safety, health, and overall well-being of our most vulnerable members – our children. Yet, like many sectors with deeply embedded traditional processes, Child & Family Services have often been bound by paper-heavy methods, which can delay vital interventions and take crucial time away from direct service.

Signority: Transforming Child & Family Services with Digital Solutions

Child & Family Services encompass an array of responsibilities, from safeguarding children against harm to providing necessary support to families in crisis. Each interaction, whether it’s an initial intake, assessment, or even volunteer onboarding, requires multiple layers of documentation. Historically, this has meant paper forms, manual logging, and significant administrative overhead.

The Practical Benefits of Signority’s Digital Approach

Streamlined Consent Processes: Child & Family Services often require consent forms for various activities, including medical treatment, counseling, urgent response service plan (URS), and educational support. Signority’s digital signature solution simplifies the process of obtaining and managing these consents. Social workers can send consent forms electronically, and clients or guardians can sign them from anywhere, reducing delays and ensuring that necessary permissions are in place promptly.

Efficient Document Signing: Whether it’s agreements, service contracts, or parental consent forms, Signority enables Child & Family Services to send, receive, and sign documents quickly and securely. This efficiency is vital in situations where time-sensitive decisions must be made to protect the well-being of children and families.

Data Security: Signority hosts Canadian customer data exclusively within Canada. Our platform employs advanced encryption and security measures to safeguard sensitive information. Given that Child & Family Services handle confidential data daily, Signority’s robust security features, including masked tags for data security, guarantee that personal identifiable information (PII) remains confidential and fully compliant with data protection regulations.

Environmental & Cost Savings: By shifting away from paper-based processes, agencies can reduce their reliance on physical documents, saving money on printing, storage, and transportation. Additionally, this eco-friendly approach aligns with the broader societal trend towards sustainability.

Access from Anywhere: Signority’s cloud-based platform allows social workers and professionals to access necessary documents from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility ensures seamless service delivery, even when working remotely or in the field.

Efficient Onboarding: For Child & Family Services that rely on volunteers or need to conduct background checks, Signority’s digital signature solution streamlines the onboarding process. Volunteer applications and criminal record checks can be seamlessly integrated, ensuring that the agency has the right people on board quickly and safely.

Audit Trails for Accountability: Signority provides audit trails for every signed document, enhancing accountability and transparency within the organization. This feature is particularly valuable in cases where document validity and compliance are essential.

Faster Response Times: Digital signatures expedite the signing process. Social workers can get the necessary approvals in place swiftly, reducing response times and ensuring that children and families receive the support they need without unnecessary delays.

These benefits underscore how Signority’s digital signature solution is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of Child & Family Services by simplifying administrative tasks, ensuring data security, and enhancing efficiency in a sector where time and accuracy are critical for protecting vulnerable children and families.

Ultimately, the mission is clear. It’s not just about digitization for the sake of modernity. It’s about providing Child & Family Services with the platform they need to do their job more efficiently, so more time and resources can be allocated where they matter most: directly with children and their families.

By leveraging the power of Signority, Child & Family Services organizations can ensure that every child’s story is not just heard but also acted upon with the efficiency, care, and urgency it deserves.

Signority is proud to be a part of this transformative journey, offering solutions that make a tangible difference in the lives of many.

The Story Behind Signority’s AI Development

The Story Behind Signority's AI Development

A challenging Ecosystem

Ontario is home to a thriving innovation ecosystem with numerous start-ups and SME’s working on cutting-edge technologies and highly focused on innovation within the Canadian industry. However, many of these innovators face severe challenges when it comes to securing funding to develop and scale their projects. As a Canadian start-up Signority, a key player in the eSignature industry, was no stranger to these challenges in 2022, when our paths crossed with the NCFDC.

“We’ve had plans to adopt AI technology to enhance the ease of use of our platform for some time, but funding restrictions prevented us from implementing it.”

Jane He, CEO and founder of Signority.

An Innovation Ally

The Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC) is an independent business development corporation dedicated to providing financing and strategy for entrepreneurs based in Ontario, Canada. The NCFDC is committed to supporting local innovators by providing them with the necessary funding to help bring their ideas to life. Through their programs and services, this organization is helping to drive innovation and economic growth in Ontario and in all of Canada, as this is one of its economic centers. They achieve their ultimate goal through a range of funding options, including grants, loans, and equity investments, to help innovators take their ideas to the next level.

There are five ongoing programs currently run by a group of passionate and experienced staff. Their goal is to help promote economic development and job creation in the region by providing support to innovative and promising business ideas.

“We support innovation and entrepreneurship as a pathway to future prosperity.”

NCFDC

thriveFORWARD: The Program that Revolutionized Signority

Signority specializes in providing secure and easy-to-use eSignature solutions to businesses of all sizes. It was founded by a team of entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to streamline the signing process and reduce paper waste. That was only the beginning. Using this type of technologies, other companies in countless industries have been able to adopt innovation as part of their day to day.

After 10 years of being a key player in the eSignature ecosystem it is key to keep Signority at the forefront of its field. Technology is ever evolving and so are our customer needs. There is one concept that in recent years has become common and furthermore, a synonym of innovation, productivity, and efficacy in the SaaS world: Artificial Intelligence.

AI is a rapidly growing field, and many companies are looking for ways to incorporate AI into their products and services. The goal is to use it to overcome challenges that traditional technologies are not equipped to achieve. Here at Signority, we were at this very stage.

The biggest challenge for companies when adopting eSignature solutions is an ever evolving user with habits that are not easy to change related to document sending and signing processes. This could include team permission hierarchy, different tags and behavior of those tags, messages for senders, types of senders, types of documents or even a mistrust of technology. Every single one of those setups must comply with legal acts, bylaws and privacy policies depending on the document sensitivity. This can be different for each organization or team. Thanks to AI technology, Signority has approached this challenge through an innovative framework.

However, developing AI technology can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. This is where funding from organizations like NCFDC can be a game-changer. With thriveFORWARD we were able to revolutionize eSignature usability by leveraging AI technology. This translates to more value for users and a user experience taken to the next level.

The thriveFORWARD fund was a key aspect of this journey, becoming the fuel to an engine that allowed us to implement fundamental AI components to our platform and revolutionize eSigning.

This achievement represents a critical milestone in Signority’s history, and we’re proud to have created many highly skilled jobs in Canada. We’re grateful to the NCFDC team for helping us realize our vision of building a strong Canadian tech company.” Jane He, CEO and Founder of Signority.

Our NCFDC Experience

We are extremely grateful for the support we received from the NCFDC. The experience we have had at Signority for applying to the thriveForward SME fund has been highly efficient and pleasant, from the very first touchpoint to receiving the grant.

Entrepreneurship is a wonderful journey but not an easy one. It is filled with long hours, sleepless nights and a lot of unknowns. Frustration is the word of the day almost everyday, for the modern entrepreneur. When an organization like NCFDC truly understands your needs, it can make all the difference in the world.

As processes go, lengthy, and confusing explanations were expected, as with any grant request (cue frustration). This is something that would inevitably delay the application process as we got acquainted with all that was required. However, from the very first step, the online application guides were clear and provided enough detail for us to understand what was expected.

Things were looking up, could this be a company that understood what we needed and had a team of people actively working towards helping us achieve our goal? We decided not to get ahead of ourselves and enjoy the clarity and easy journey they offered.

Requirements, eligibility, terms, conditions, and measurement were clear and concise as well transparent and understandable. This translated to a great beginning to our customer journey with them. The site was easy to navigate and finding information was simple, which helped avoid jumping around different pages and losing track of readings.

As with any grant application, as the process continued moving forward questions arose and the need for a human touch was clear. This was when NCFDC proved that they do not only provide services, they provide a whole experience for their users. The staff and consultants were great listeners, they clearly knew their craft but beyond that, they were actively focused on providing the support needed at each stage. They answered all our questions within hours and were ready and willing to provide help regarding all topics needed. Sometimes those topics were not only questions about filling up forms, but a friend who actively reminded us of where we were going. Someone who continuously provided emotional and technical support throughout a tiring journey.

Grants are not easy to apply for, anyone can tell you that. From lots of forms to a myriad of deep data is required to even fit the eligibility criteria. After writing for hours and staring blankly at documents with thousands of questions and spaces that need to be filled out, it can be refreshing to talk to someone who eases that path. There is not much anyone can do to avoid all those forms, but NCFDC proved to us that there is a lot an organization can do to make that journey lighter, calmer and even unique.

The reporting stage was no different. Help was always easy to get, email reminders were constant but evenly spaced, allowing our team to work on the documents with enough time in hand. Not only that but by now we had built rapport with them, we felt we could talk freely and they would listen. By now we had a deeply ingrained belief that they cared about us and understood us.

This made it clear to us this organization is run by highly trained professionals with a clear understanding of their brand vision and values, as well as their goal. As users, our entire experience felt unique, easy, and streamlined. NCFDC made us feel welcome and important. They are a customer centric organization that puts their customers at the center of everything they do. When you find a company that understands your needs more than any other, it’s natural to feel grateful. This feeling is a testament to the quality of their work which reverbated inside Signority. It is important to recognize the efforts of companies like NCFDC and appreciate them. With more companies like this we could all turn the world of business and tech into an even more nurturing and fulfilling experience than it already is.

Our CEO and founder, Jane He, mentioned the following when talking about the experience:

As a Canadian eSignature company competing in the global market, innovation is essential for us to remain a market leader. We’ve had plans to adopt AI technology to enhance the ease of use of our platform for some time, but funding restrictions prevented us from implementing it. Thanks to the thriveFORWARD fund, we were able to develop the fundamental components necessary to build interactive document preparation and improve our platform’s functionality before documents are sent for signatures. This achievement represents a critical milestone in Signority’s history, and we’re proud to have created many highly skilled jobs in Canada. We’re grateful to the NCFDC team for helping us realize our vision of building a strong Canadian tech company.

How Business Relationships play a key role in growth

How Business Relationships play a key role in growth

Relationships are a key aspect of business, from relationships with employees and internal players that make sure the business runs smoothly to other external relationships that can be key to success. These Business Relationships are often the results of deliberate efforts on both sides to understand each other’s needs, and help each other grow. The bottom line is, Business relationships are extremely important. Whether the relationship is between individual contacts or a partnership between organizations, these relationships can build trust between people and companies, create more opportunities for business, and enhance your standing within the industry and your community.

It is clear that AWS (Amazon Web Services) still understands this. As an organization, as big as they are, to still appreciate and recognize the value of meeting your clients face to face is impressive. Especially after Covid when many are still nervous to go out and get back to ‘business as usual’.

Signority has chosen AWS to host the Signority eSignature Solutions Platform and one of the reasons is their Shared Security Responsibility Matrix, a secure solution that helps Signority maintain high security and privacy standards. They were also chosen for the great importance they give to their Business Relationships and their client support.

In our most recent contact with them as their client, they invited us to come and meet our account manager and another AWS partner, Arctic Wolf, at an Ottawa Senators hockey game in Ottawa, Canada, where we are based. You might have heard of this hockey team before, it is the one that movie star Ryan Reynolds wants to purchase, and rumor was circulating that Ryan was at the game that very night..

The timing of this invitation was perfect. Signority is not only going through our SOC 2 TYPE 2 and CSA STAR Level 2 audits, but we had some questions on Quebec’s Law 25, An Act to Modernize Legislation Provisions Respecting the Protection of Personal Information as well as the Canadian federal government’s Protected B. What better time to discuss some business than while enjoying a great hockey game in great company?

At the game (our Ottawa Senators beat the Florida Panthers 5 – 2), our team had the pleasure of meeting our AWS Account Manager Steve Blaszko and his colleagues Michaela Clarke and Gavin Harmon.

From left to right: Li Zeng and George Grimes, Michaela Clarke and Steve Blaszko.

We also met Geoff Blair and John Hipp of Arctic Wolf. Another new relationship that Signority is considering expanding. A great example of what can happen when a business partner listens to your needs – they help introduce you to one of their other partners who may be able to help.

This memorable experience could only have happened because we enjoy a functional and nurtured Business Relationship with AWS. One in which we are both open to new conversations on how to expand our relationship and meeting new business contacts who can help improve on the high quality standards we have set for our clients. But, above all else, our relationship is built on respect and honesty. This is how a well established relationship can play a key role in our growth, and in our entertainment as it seems.

Geoff Blair at 2023 Hockey Game.

Amazon Web Services Arctic Wolf AWS Business Relationships Partners

Cost cutting Move to eSignatures

A Solution to Cost Cutting: Move to eSignature

The global economy has experienced a significant depreciation in recent months. Companies are now forced to cut costs where they can. The tech industry, one that has seen rapid growth in recent years, is facing mass layoffs and hiring freezes.

Major companies like Apple, Google, and Meta have lost trillions of dollars amid the stock market crisis. Simply put, companies are struggling. While major enterprises are generally well-equipped to handle an economic downturn, many companies are not so fortunate.

So, what’s the solution? While placing a freeze on hiring is certainly one way to cut costs, it’s just as important to consider trimming overhead. For most companies, the costs associated with document execution can be quite expensive.

Some companies still go with the traditional method of printing documents, obtaining signatures, and scanning them in. Others have opted for a simpler method, such as automating documents and signing workflows using services like Docusign.

Whatever the case may be, the above approaches are not always the most cost-effective. Fortunately, Signority offers a high value and cost-effective service (and DocuSign alternative) that saves customers both time and money.

Cutting costs with digital signing...

Signority is a cloud-based eSignature service provider that simplifies document signing without having to opt for the traditional, time-consuming print/sign/scan method.

Signority is a great DocuSign alternative primarily due to its pricing structure. While DocuSign pricing is around $35 CAD per month per user for a standard plan, users can purchase a similar plan from Signority for just $30 CAD per month for unlimited users. Interested parties can get started with a free trial now.

With a subscription to Signority, users not only have a way to automate their document signing workflows, but they can also ensure documents are always maintained in a way that provides top-level security and confidentiality. This is made possible by storing all customer data in Canada, a country known to be a leader in security and privacy.

In addition, Signority’s recipient controls feature adds another layer of security by allowing subscribers to restrict actions such as changing signers or viewing/downloading a document after it has already been executed. Other ways to Increase security include a multi-factor authentication option and masked text (used to hide sensitive information such as SINs/SSNs or birthdays).

...while improving the customer experience

For those considering transitioning to an e-sign service, it’s a great alternative to traditional methods and a great way to improve the customer experience. For example, due to the Covid-19 pandemic there is a hesitancy by many to travel to an office, or anywhere public, just to sign a contract.

Others simply find it inconvenient because they have used e-sign methods in the past and find them much more efficient and secure. Think about it. Less shuffling documents through multiple hands leads to better confidentiality and less room for error. No more missing documents!

Even further, workloads have doubled for companies that have needed to implement mass layoffs. Automation with a platform like Signority is a cost-effective, fast option to ensure both customer and employee satisfaction.

Cost savings for all

Signority is not just an effective solution for small business owners; it also helps large enterprises by making document execution simple and secure.

The team at Signority understands that enterprise documentation requirements can be complex (e.g., requiring integrations with other apps). Pressure is certainly added when it comes to handling sensitive documents that require the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). The team is always keeping its eyes on any new legislation that arises related to data protection and security. It’s important that Signority customers remain confident knowing their information is safe without any violations.

So, whether you’re looking to cut costs (as many companies are) or simply need a quicker workflow to increase customer and employee satisfaction, Signority may be the best option for you. Sign-up now for a free trial today or contact one of our business professionals.

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The Story Behind Signority's AI Development

A challenging Ecosystem

An Innovation Ally

“We support innovation and entrepreneurship as a pathway to future prosperity.”

thriveFORWARD: The Program that Revolutionized Signority

Our NCFDC Experience

How Business Relationships play a key role in growth

A Solution to Cost Cutting: Move to eSignature

Cutting costs with digital signing...

...while improving the customer experience

Cost savings for all