Google Launches eSignature Beta for Google Docs and Google Drive Users

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A New Era for Document Storage and Management

Electronic signatures have become an essential tool for companies involved in document storage and management. It’s no surprise, then, that Google has announced the open beta of its new eSignature capability in Google Workspace. This feature will be available specifically for Google Docs and Google Drive for individual and group accounts.

A Seamless Workflow Experience

The new eSignature feature is designed to simplify the process of collecting and tracking digital signatures right within a document. Gone are the days of printing, signing, scanning, and emailing documents just to get a signature. With this feature, you can request and add signatures directly in Google Docs, streamlining your workflow.

Key Features

Native Integration: eSignature is natively integrated into Google Docs, allowing for seamless interaction between the two tools.
Easy Signature Collection: Request and add signatures to official contracts directly within Google Docs.
Audit Trail Report: Track signatures in Google Docs documents with an upcoming audit trail report feature.

Market Trends and Competition

Google’s move is not surprising given the market trends. Box introduced a similar capability, Box Sign, back in 2021, while Dropbox acquired HelloSign in 2019 but chose not to bundle it as a standard feature like Box and Google.

Insights from Industry Expert Alan Pelz-Sharpe

Alan Pelz-Sharpe, founder and principal analyst at Deep Analysis, sees this move as Google aligning with the market. By offering eSignature for free, customers can easily integrate it into their workflow:

"It’s been on the cards now for a while that digital signature will become a bundled feature function. Box provides it as standard, now Google. Over time it’s likely Dropbox and Microsoft will do the same or at least provide an alternative to third-party options."

Availability and Rollout

The new eSignature feature is rolling out at no cost to individual Workspace users over the next 15 days. Group users can participate by having their Workspace admins apply for the beta.

How to Get Started with Google’s eSignature Feature

Individual Users: No action required, as the feature will be automatically available after the rollout period.
Group Users: Apply through your Workspace admin for access to the beta.

By embracing electronic signatures, companies can save time and reduce paperwork. With Google’s new eSignature capability in Google Workspace, you can easily collect and track digital signatures right within a document. Take advantage of this seamless workflow experience today!