As a software publisher specializing in electronic signatures, it was our duty to provide an overview of the use of electronic signatures in France. We've done just that, in partnership with YouGov France. 

The purpose of this study is to provide you with valuable insights into : 

  • Companies' current needs for electronic signatures, 
  • The current challenges to which electronic signatures provide a response,  
  • Essential criteria for companies when selecting electronic signature software, 
  • The main obstacles to the adoption of an electronic signature tool by companies. 

We hope that this overview of the uses and requirements of companies with a wide range of profiles will enlighten you on this tool, which has become essential for ensuring the security of digital transactions and legal documents, in France and throughout the European Union. We'll also look at how our tool can meet the challenges and concerns of today's businesses.  

 

Methodology : 

Conducted in partnership with the research institute YouGov France, the survey ran from January 25, 2024 to the 1stst February 2024.

It was carried out among 703 French decision-makers, including managers, founders and chairmen, from companies of different sizes and in a variety of sectors. 

 

How far has the adoption of electronic signatures progressed in France?

Widespread adoption, regardless of company size

L'he use of electronic signatures has become widespread among French companies, as our study shows:

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  • Of these, 57% are very small businesses, 89% of SMEs and 83% of ETIs and GEs use an electronic signature solution.

corporate electronic signature 

The adoption of electronic signatures is thus already well established in corporate practice, across all sectors and company sizes. In terms of usage, it should be noted that it is mainly used for signing employment contracts or low-value purchase orders, and is therefore widely adopted within Human Resources and Purchasing departments.

 

Recognition of its advantages, particularly in terms of efficiency

Nearly 7 out of 10 decision-makers recognize the benefits of equipping their company with an electronic signature solution:

  • 24% of them even think it's essential to have one, 
  • While 44% believe it offers significant advantages.

The main reason given for adopting such a tool in the study was the significant significant time savings it provides:

  • An overwhelming majority (87%) of decision-makers say that electronic signatures save them valuable time,

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  • 44% say they save several days of work,

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  • 29% say they save between several hours and a day,
  • 14% report savings of less than two hours.

Decision-makers frequently use electronic signatures 

The frequency of use confirms the trend towards the widespread use of electronic signatures in everyday business practices:

  • 41 % of decision-makers surveyed use this tool at least once a week, or even daily.
  • 49 % use it at least once a month.

These figures show that electronic signatures are now part of the daily operational life of part of managers' day-to-day operations. It enables business to be conducted efficiently and cost-effectively.

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🌟 Le + Lex Enterprise

At Lex Persona, we combine legal security and ease of use. Our qualified remote electronic signature solution, launched in September 2023, is the first and only French sovereign solution to comply with the three signature levels defined by the eIDAS regulation. Unlike other solutions on the market, which require tedious identity verification for each signature, Lex Enterprise enables documents to be signed, in just a few clicks, usingLa Poste's digital identity, verified only once every five years.

This approach eliminates the time-consuming steps and interruptions that often characterize remote signature processes. With Lex Enterprise, you benefit from the highest legal security without sacrificing ease of use. Our customers are free to choose the level of electronic signature best suited to their needs.

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What are companies' main criteria when choosing an electronic signature solution?

Criteria common to all company sizes

Decision-makers apply rigorous selection criteria to ensure that the electronic signature solution they choose perfectly meets their needs. 

Our study sheds light on executives' priorities. They focus mainly on : 

  • The ease of use Simplicity of use: this criterion topped the list, with 39% of managers surveyed, underlining the need for intuitive, user-friendly user-friendly.
    A word from Lex Persona: "If electronic signatures are sometimes perceived as a complex solution (if we rely on the 42-page eIDAS regulation or the ANSSI's very detailed website), the role of software publishers (such as ourselves) is to precisely is to do everything possible to mask this complexity and make it easier to use.

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  • The data protection : 35% of decision-makers make this an absolute priority, which can be explained by strict European regulations in this area (RGPD).

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  • A tool capable of manage different levels of legal security A tool capable of managing the different levels of legal security required for electronic signatures is essential for 30% of managers. Indeed, the solution must be able to adapt to the level of legal security required by the company's different activities, without having to multiply the number of tools.

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The managers we interviewed also told us thatother important but secondary criteria to those mentioned above, including :

  • Cost: 28% of executives say that budget remains a key factor in the decision-making process.
  • Ease of integration Integration: 25% of respondents expressed the need for the tool to integrate easily into their company's information systems and business applications.
  • Visit interface customization Customization of the interface: 22% of managers want the solution to be able to adapt to their company's branding, and to avoid any disruption to the user experience.

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  • Solution reputation 21% of decision-makers use this criterion to assess the reliability of a software vendor.
  • Data hosting in France 20% of respondents consider this criterion to be important, as it guarantees compliance with French regulations.

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Note that these last 4 criteria are more important for companies with more than 20 employees. 

 

💡 Lex Persona's advice: choose the right platform... and adapt!

These requirements highlight the importance of choosing a solution that is adapted to the way your company operates, taking into account team organization, user management and user rights. For this, ease of configuration is key. The solution must also enable the choice of the level of legal security to be implemented, taking into account the multiple uses of a company and the risks associated with its activities.

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🌟 Le + Lex Enterprise

Un electronic signature platform is first and foremost a solution solution to protect the company that signs its customers, suppliers, employees, partners and so on.

In this context, this protection must serve to enhance the value of the company and not its electronic signature provider. That's why Lex Persona provides its customers with a fully customizable fully customizable signature platform.

Even better: thanks to its ultra-powerful API, our platform integrates easily with your business applications. All employees benefit from the same functionalities, so you don't need to multiply solutions.

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Specific criteria for companies with more than 20 employees

Companies with more than 20 employees also indicated that they take two additional criteria into account.

An On Premise solution

68% of managers in companies with more than 20 employees express a clear preference for on-premise rather than SaaS electronic signature solutions. These solutions, installed and managed locally on the company's serversThese solutions, installed and managed locally on the company's own servers, offer greater control, better integration with internal systems, and greater compliance with security policies specific to each organization.

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This preference underlines the importance these companies attach to the security and confidentiality of their data.

 

A solution from a French publisher

63% of managers of companies of this size prefer a French French electronic signature solution over an international solution. This choice reflects a strong demand for sovereignty. In particular, it guarantees better compliance with French and European regulations, and more appropriate customer support.

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This preference can also be explained by considerations of data security and privacy, whose standards may be lower in other countries.

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🌟 Le + Lex Enterprise

Lex Enterprise is a 100% French electronic signature solution combining reliability, compliance and innovation. Our data centers, as well as all our service providers, are based in France, reflecting our commitment to data sovereignty and security.

For organizations preferring to keep their data entirely under their own control, our solution can be deployed On Premise on your servers. In this way, no signed documents are transmitted to Lex Persona.

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Adopting electronic signatures: what are the main obstacles faced by companies? 

Even if its adoption is becoming more widespread, not all companies are currently equipped with an electronic signature tool. Here are the main obstacles to its adoption highlighted by our study (and our response to these obstacles) :

 

  • The price (initial cost, maintenance, upgrades, etc.): This is the main obstacle for decision-makers (27% of respondents).

Our answer: Unlike many solutions on the market which limit access according to the number of users and adjust their rates accordingly, Lex Enterprise offers unlimited access to all company employees. You choose a volume of credits, deducted as you use them (depending on the volume of documents signed and the type of signature). 

Everyone in the company can benefit from electronic signatures at no additional cost. This not only improves operational efficiency, but also enhances corporate compliance, as all important documents can be securely and compliantly electronically signed, whether in PDF, structured document (XML) or binary (image, video, zip, etc.) format.

 

  • Complexity of implementation For 15% of managers, the complexity of implementing electronic signatures is a problem.

Our answer: our REST-based API (application programming interface) makes it easy to connect a new service (the electronic signature platform) to your information system, securely and to ensure continuity of use. Implementation is quick and easy.

 

  • Lack of certification and qualifications 8% of decision-makers point to a lack of certifications and qualifications for solutions.

Our answer: it's often the most technical part, but no less essential, because the security of your data is at stake. That's why we take this point very seriously: we comply with the highest technical, functional, organizational and legal security requirements, as evidenced by our certifications and qualifications.

 

Lex Enterprise: simplifying the adoption of electronic signatures in the enterprise

We have developed a solution that addresses the main concerns of decision-makers when choosing an electronic signature solution.

Lex Persona is committed to making electronic signatures accessible to companies of all sizes, thanks to an easy-to-use, highly secure platform. The aim is to support companies in their transition to complete digitalization of their administrative and contractual processes.

When you choose Lex Enterprise, you benefit from a number of advantages significant advantagesincluding :

  • From savings on expenditure items (consumables or archiving costs),
  • A easy integration with your systems and software thanks to a free API and our customer service,
  • A user experience for both internal signatories and external partners,
  • Numerous labels and certifications (including those required by the European eIDAS regulation).

 

This survey reveals a significant evolution in French companies' practices and attitudes to electronic signature solutions.

Against a backdrop of increasing digitalization in French companies, the growing use of electronic signatures is proof of their relevance, both operationally and strategically. 

According to François Devoret, founder of Lex Persona, " the electronic signature has a bright future ahead of it, as two fundamental trends will strengthen and develop its uses: regulation, which aims to make companies and citizens more accountable in administrative, civic and commercial procedures; and the fight against fraud, identity theft and cybercrime, which will need to be stepped up as the digital transformation of society continues to develop. "

And to ensure that all companies are convinced, it's our job to dispel any concerns, ensuring that the solutions we develop are precisely tailored to the specific needs of each market. Our aim is to ensure that every company, whatever its size, can make the most of the benefits of electronic signatures.

For a complete and concise overview of our study, see all the key figures in our dedicated infographic.

 

👉 Download the full infographic