David Kern, CEO
Digital identity and verification software vendor, SiNERIX, has launched its upgraded e-signature and digital onboarding platform under the brand name VirtualSignature, with added features for digitally witnessing, electronically signing and sealing deeds.
The new VirtualSignature platform has been designed to make the online customer experience smoother, enabling law firms, conveyancers, estate agents, and accountants to onboard new clients more quickly and efficiently. In addition to the electronic signature, document exchange and digital onboarding platform they are familiar with, existing SiNERIX customers will gain access to three new products within the VirtualSignature platform: VirtualWitnessing; digital deed signing; and embedded e-signature blocks.
The VirtualWitnessing feature was developed after solicitors expressed concerns about the delays and difficulties of gaining witnesses’ signatures on deeds because of the social distancing required during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an update to its guidance on witnessing the signing of deeds during the current pandemic, The Law Society advises that, “it remains best practice for the witness to be physically present when the signatory signs, rather than through a live televisual medium. However, it’s accepted that, with COVID-19 public health restrictions in place, it will not be possible to follow such best practice and therefore it will be necessary to modify practice to suit current circumstances.”
Commenting on the new digital deed signing product, David Kern, CEO and co-founder of SiNERIX said, “People have become accustomed to using digital services to work from home during the COVID-19 lockdown and they now want to complete other transactions without having to travel. There is no longer a reason to delay transactions if people cannot be physically present to sign and witness legal documents. VirtualWitnessing is a product for our times.”
The new VirtualWitnessing and Sign and Seal applications are currently being trialled by a number of local councils, including Bury Council. The feature allows them to remotely witness and electronically sign deeds and upload up to ten seals to the VirtualSignature platform.
The white-labelled e-signature block was developed for a firm of solicitors that wanted to make the customer journey seamless on its portal, so that new clients can electronically sign all the necessary documents to initiate a claim, without leaving the solicitor’s website. With many law firms being the target of fraudulent e-mail scams, the tool gives added security as recipients do not rely on an e-mail link for the signing process. An additional benefit is that up to twenty signatures can be captured within a single session.
Explaining the rebrand, David Kern, CEO and co-founder of the company said, “While we provide a whole suite of identity verification and document exchange products, most of our customers are looking for electronic signature software in the first instance. VirtualSignature does what it says on the tin and helps professional service companies to find us online as they adapt their working practices post COVID-19.”
The new VirtualSignature.com platform is available from today to local government, property and conveyance, legal practices, financial services, HR and recruitment companies.
