Question 1

What manual work can I automate with eSignatures?

Accepted Answer

You can automate the distribution of documents that need signatures by triggering eSignatures workflows based on events in other tools, such as sending a contract when a record is created or a condition is met. You can also automate follow-up actions after a document is signed, like updating a database, sending notifications, or moving the record to the next stage of a process. This removes the need to manually prepare, send, and track documents across email or manual systems.

Question 2

How does data flow between eSignatures and other tools?

Accepted Answer

When a document is signed in eSignatures, the signature status and signed document data can be sent to other connected tools via webhooks or API calls, allowing downstream systems to receive and act on that information. Conversely, you can populate eSignatures forms and documents with data from other tools before sending them for signature, so contact information, terms, or other details pre-fill automatically. This two-way data flow means signed documents trigger further actions in your workflow without manual re-entry.

Question 3

What goes wrong when automating eSignature workflows?

Accepted Answer

Common issues include mapping form fields incorrectly, which causes pre-filled data to land in the wrong places on the document. Timing mismatches can occur if you send a document before upstream data is ready, or if you try to act on a signature before the webhook notification arrives. Mobile rendering issues may also cause forms to display incorrectly on certain devices, affecting the signing experience and potentially causing users to abandon the process.

Question 4

How should I organize documents and templates in eSignatures for reliable automation?

Accepted Answer

Create clearly named, reusable templates with consistent field naming conventions so automated workflows can reliably map data to the correct signature blocks and form fields. Store templates by document type and version control them to avoid automations breaking when templates are updated. Document the required input fields and their formats for each template, and test end-to-end workflows before relying on them in production.

Automate the manual work in eSignatures

eSignatures by the numbers

Top 5 eSignatures friction points when done manually

Tracking eSignatures across email chains

Chasing down missing eSignatures manually

Manually organizing signed eSignature documents

Re-sending documents for eSignatures repeatedly

Verifying eSignature compliance and audit trails

What you can automate in eSignatures

Create contracts in eSignatures.io for new or updated records in Airtable

Save your signed eSignatures.io documents in Dropbox

Send outbound emails in Email by Zapier when new contracts are signed in eSignatures.io

Update Airtable records when new contracts are signed in eSignatures.io

Update Airtable records when new eSignatures.io contracts are signed by all

Upload your signed eSignatures.io documents to Google Docs

Tools commonly connected to eSignatures

eSignatures Automation questions

Ready to automate your work in eSignatures?