Digital Signatures for SharePoint and other ECMs explored in research report by AIIM

San Francisco, California, May 4, 2010

ARX (Algorithmic Research), a leading provider of digital signature solutions, is proud to have co-sponsored a first-of-its-kind research conducted by AIIM on the use and benefits of digital signatures, entitled ‘Digital Signatures for Document Workflow and SharePoint’. The study is based on a survey of both organizations that haven’t implemented a digital signature solution and those that have, and compares the expectations of the former with the reported results of the latter.

Among the various metrics explored in AIIM’s digital signature research were the impact of the need for paper-based signatures, the ROI experienced by organizations that have implemented digital signatures, and the benefits those organizations have experienced.

Results showed that 63% of surveyed organizations that do not use a digital signature system are forced to print documents solely for the purpose of obtaining signature approvals, which delays business processes and increases organizational costs. At the same time, those organizations that have invested in digital signatures claim that streamlined business processes and time savings are among the greatest benefits they enjoy. Further, 63% of the surveyed users of digital signatures achieved a complete ROI in 12 months or less. 

AIIM’s research also explored the use of digital signatures integrated with popular electronic document management (EDM) systems such as Microsoft® SharePoint®. The research found that 43% of the surveyed organizations that use SharePoint aim to apply digital signatures to their SharePoint workflow processes.

“The most striking thing we found in our research was that for non-users, on average 3.5 additional copies of process documents are printed just to collect signatures, and that for most, this adds a day to process time, with 23% reporting over a week’s process delay waiting for physical signatures,” said Doug Miles, Director of Market Intelligence for AIIM.

AIIM’s research, Digital Signatures for Document Workflow and SharePoint is available for free download.

“AIIM’s report provides yet another factual source of information about the real benefits experienced by organizations using digital signatures,” says Gadi Aharoni, CEO, ARX. “We’re very excited to have co-sponsored this valuable research and to share it with anyone who is exploring digital signatures.”