E-Signing Overview
The SharePoint Connector integrates with electronic signature services, allowing you to send documents for signature directly from Business Central. This page provides an overview of the e-signing capabilities.
E-Signing Features
What is E-Signing?
Electronic signature integration allows you to:
- Send documents for digital signature
- Track signature status
- Retrieve signed documents
- Store signed documents in SharePoint
Supported Services
| Service |
Support |
| Adobe Sign |
Full integration |
| DocuSign |
Full integration |
End-to-End Workflow
Typical E-Signing Process
1. Document in SharePoint
↓
2. Select for signature
↓
3. Configure signers
↓
4. Send for signature
↓
5. Signers receive request
↓
6. Signers sign document
↓
7. Status updates in BC
↓
8. Signed document retrieved
↓
9. Stored in SharePoint
Step-by-Step
- Prepare document - Upload or generate document
- Initiate signing - Select document, choose e-sign action
- Configure - Add signers, message, settings
- Send - Document sent to signing service
- Track - Monitor status in BC
- Complete - Receive signed document
- Store - Signed copy saved to SharePoint
When to Use E-Signing
Common Use Cases
| Document Type |
Scenario |
| Sales contracts |
Customer agreement required |
| Purchase orders |
Vendor acknowledgment |
| Employment docs |
HR document signing |
| NDAs |
Confidentiality agreements |
| Approvals |
Internal approvals |
Benefits
| Benefit |
Description |
| Speed |
Faster than mail |
| Tracking |
Know when signed |
| Legal validity |
Legally binding signatures |
| Convenience |
Sign from anywhere |
| Automation |
Integrated workflow |
Prerequisites
E-Signing Service Account
You need an account with Adobe Sign or DocuSign:
| Service |
Requirement |
| Adobe Sign |
Adobe Sign subscription |
| DocuSign |
DocuSign subscription |
Business Central Configuration
| Requirement |
Purpose |
| SharePoint configured |
Document storage |
| Table mapping |
Documents accessible |
| E-sign setup |
Service credentials |
Integration Architecture
How It Works
Business Central
↓
SharePoint (document)
↓
E-Signing Service (Adobe/DocuSign)
↓
Signers (email)
↓
Signed document
↓
SharePoint (stored)
Data Flow
- Document retrieved from SharePoint
- Sent to signing service API
- Service sends to signers
- Signers interact with service
- Status reported back to BC
- Signed document returned
- Stored in SharePoint
Feature Comparison
Adobe Sign vs DocuSign
| Feature |
Adobe Sign |
DocuSign |
| Send for signature |
Yes |
Yes |
| Track status |
Yes |
Yes |
| Download signed |
Yes |
Yes |
| Multiple signers |
Yes |
Yes |
| Custom messages |
Yes |
Yes |
Choosing a Service
| Consider |
Adobe Sign |
DocuSign |
| Existing subscription |
Use what you have |
Use what you have |
| Features needed |
Compare features |
Compare features |
| Integration requirements |
Both supported |
Both supported |
E-Signing Status Tracking
Status Lifecycle
The Adobe Status and DocuSign Status fields on the e-Signature Overview page are Text[30] free-text fields populated directly from the signing service's response. They are not a BC-defined option set.
Typical values you will see (exact casing matters -- the connector uses exact-string matching when auto-downloading signed documents):
| Service |
Typical values |
| Adobe Sign |
Sent to Adobe (initial, set by the connector), OUT_FOR_SIGNATURE, SIGNED, CANCELLED, EXPIRED |
| DocuSign |
sent, delivered, completed, declined, voided |
Status values returned by the Adobe Sign service are uppercase (for example SIGNED), but the initial value written by the connector itself is mixed case (Sent to Adobe). DocuSign status values are lowercase. If you build custom logic with exact-match comparisons, match the exact casing of each individual value -- do not assume all Adobe-related values are uppercase.
Tracking in BC
The e-Signature Overview EFQ page (page 70319488) shows:
- All documents sent for signing
- Current status of each (Adobe Status and DocuSign Status)
- Sent date
- Signed date (when complete)
- Signed document name
- Actions to check Adobe Sign status and DocuSign status
Automated Status Checking
The e-Signature Checker EFQ (report 70319477) is a processing-only report that checks the status of all pending e-signatures. It can be scheduled as a Job Queue entry to automatically monitor signature progress. It checks:
- DocuSign documents that are not yet "completed"
- Adobe Sign documents that are not yet "SIGNED"
Getting Started
Setup Steps
- Subscribe to Adobe Sign or DocuSign
- Configure the service in BC (see service-specific guides)
- Test with a sample document
- Train users on the workflow
Quick Start Checklist
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Obtain e-signing service account |
| 2 |
Configure service in BC |
| 3 |
Connect and authenticate |
| 4 |
Send test document |
| 5 |
Verify workflow |
Security Considerations
Data Security
| Aspect |
Handling |
| Document transfer |
Encrypted API calls |
| Signer authentication |
Service-managed |
| Storage |
SharePoint security |
Compliance
E-signing services provide:
- Audit trails
- Tamper-evident sealing
- Compliance certifications
Limitations
Current Limitations
| Limitation |
Description |
| External dependency |
Requires service subscription |
| Network required |
Internet connectivity needed |
