The electronic signature accelerates contracts and approvals, reduces risks, facilitates audits, reinforces security and allows compliance with the regulations of electronic invoicing.
In SAP ecosystems, integrating the digital signature reduces time, increases traceability and prepares the organization for present and future B2B mandates. It is integrated into purchasing, sales, HR. HH., quality and taxation without “touching” the core.
At Brait we integrate electronic signature solutions/eSignature so that you have advanced/qualified signing and data anonymization covered in your company, aligned with eIDAS and regulations of e-billing.
What is an electronic signature and what types are there
- Simple Electronic Signature (SES): confirms intention, sufficient for low-risk agreements.
- Advanced Electronic Signature (AES): links signature to identity and detects changes. Valid for most B2B agreements.
- Qualified Electronic Signature (QES): issued by a trusted service provider (QTSP) with a qualified device. In the EU it is legally equivalent to handwriting (eIDAS).
What electronic signatures are used for in companies
- Purchasing and Finance (P2P): purchase orders, framework agreements, invoice approvals, acceptance of payment terms and discounts.
- Sales and legal (O2C): contracts, NDAs, renewals, addenda, compliance documentation.
- Human Resources: hiring, onboarding, internal policies, consents, teleworking agreements and payroll where applicable.
- Operations and quality: delivery notes, releases, protocols.
- Taxation and auditing: evidence of approval and time stamping.
- B2B obligations and regulatory framework:
- European Union: for B2B invoices, “authenticity and integrity” must be guaranteed; advanced/qualified electronic signature, EDI or reliable management controls are allowed. The signature requirement depends on the electronic invoicing scheme adopted (e.g., some platforms validate without requiring the issuer to sign, as is the case of Poland others require a stamp/signature, such as electronic invoicing in Bulgaria And the electronic invoicing in Italy which requires a Timestamp).
- Latin America and other CTCs: Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, etc., electronic invoice schemes with validation/seal by an authorized authority or supplier operate.
- India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam, and others, operate CTC schemes where authenticity is guaranteed via registration and sealing/validation by the authority.
Requirements vary by country and type of document; a flexible architecture and partners with regulatory coverage are appropriate.
Electronic Signature Security: What a CFO/CIO Should Require
- Cryptography and PKI: certifications, secure storage (HSM/QSCD), time-stamping and long-term validation.
- Identity and access control: verification of the signatory, segregation of functions and recording of evidence (audit trail).
- Integrity: hash of the document, signatures detectable in the event of any alteration.
PKI (Public Key Infrastructure): set of technologies, policies and processes that allow the issuance, management and validation of digital certificates and cryptographic keys. It is the technical basis that makes electronic signatures possible with guarantees of identity and document integrity.
Benefits of electronic signatures/eSignature
- Reduction of cycle time in contracts, purchases and collections (days to hours/minutes).
- Reduced compliance risks thanks to robust identity, integrity and traceability
- Better experience for customers and suppliers; faster accounting closures.
- Preparation for e-invoicing/e-reporting mandates and frictionless audits.
Why integrate electronic signatures in your SAP with Brait?
- We collaborate with the most cutting-edge technologies in the market, through strategic alliances with partners such as Signaturit and Validated ID, which can also be complemented with solutions of anonymization of data like Nymiz.
- We have a Clean Core approach, so our integrations are certified, follow SAP recommendations and procedures, in order to keep the SAP core untouched and updatable.
- We have an international team with long experience and highly certified, so you will have end-to-end legal/technical support and ready to operate in multiple countries if necessary.
Do we prepare a free assessment for you? ¡Contact us now!
