Question 1

What is the benefit of saving 500 sheets of paper?

Accepted Answer

The digital signature is not only efficient, secure and legally valid, but also an alternative with a strong ecological effect to conventional paper-based processes. When we consider that around 420 million tons of paper (or cardboard and paperboard) are produced worldwide every year (source: statista.com), it seems almost utopian and bleak to think of reducing this huge numerical value. But each individual can make his or her contribution: saving just 500 sheets of paper reduces waste by 7.5 kilograms of wood, 130 liters of water and 26.8 kilowatt hours of energy.
The CO2 balance of a largely paperless office is correspondingly positive: according to Deutsche Post AG, electronic invoicing alone saves every German household an average of 2.5 kg of CO2 per year. Other documents such as contracts or deeds can also be digitally signed without further ado - and thus contribute their share to climate protection. This is a positive side effect that is prompting more and more companies to introduce a signature platform.

Question 2

What are the benefits of a secure cloud solution?

Accepted Answer

1) A cloud solution is ready to use within about 2 hours without own hardware 2) There is no need for servicing as the cloud is maintained externally 3) The software can be accessed from anywhere, even on the move

Learn more

Question 3

Are signatures created with sproof legally valid?

Accepted Answer

Yes, signatures created with sproof sign are legally valid. In the EU, this is clearly regulated by law in the eIDAS Regulation. Digital signatures created with sproof sign comply with the eIDAS Regulation. A special distinction is also made between advanced digital signatures and qualified digital signatures. Both can be created with sproof sign. The qualified digital signature requires a unique identification and the created signatures are equal to the handwritten signature.

Question 4

When do you need a qualified electronic signature (QES)?

Accepted Answer

There are basically three signature standards. The qualified digital signature is legally equivalent to the handwritten signature. Therefore, only the qualified signature should be used for contracts that require writing. Learn more

Question 5

What if someone is supposed to countersign qualified but does not have anything to sign qualified? How does the person get validation?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to be validated free of charge via evotrust. This allows you to sign in sproof with a QES. However, sproof does not provide any guarantee or support for the validation. In principle, it is also possible to buy a USER+ for the person in question, in which case validation via our partner Swisscom is included and sproof can also provide support.

Question 6

Do I have to register to use sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign works without registration, but it is useful and sensible if you create a free account. This will give you access to a dashboard where documents and invitations are listed. You can also create signature profiles with your own images of your signature and sign even faster.

Question 7

Do externals have to pay for signature or be sproof sign user:in?

Accepted Answer

No. You can obtain an electronic signature from external parties without them having to pay for the signature. As a rule, you pay the costs for the signatures yourself. The recipients do not have to be registered with sproof sign as business or private customers, but can open the document and sign it online immediately.

Question 8

Where are the sproof sign servers located?

Accepted Answer

In Austria, Germany, Netherlands and France. All servers are operated in Europe and there is no US connection, making sproof sign compliant with the GDPR even after the ruling on Privacy-Shield ("Schrems 2") by the EUGH. The data centers are ISO 27001 certified.

Question 9

It seems my invitations to sign are not being delivered?

Accepted Answer

If you have invited a person but they have not received the invitation, please proceed as follows:

Please wait for some time first. We send out invitations immediately, but sometimes it may take several minutes for delivery. If we receive feedback that an email cannot be delivered temporarily, we will make a new delivery attempt.
Please check the correct spelling of the email address;
Please ask the invited person to check the contents of your spam folder;
For professional email addresses, ask the invitees to contact your system administrator to check if the emails cannot be delivered or have been rejected.

Question 10

How does the identification for the Primesign signature work?

Accepted Answer

The issuance of a primesign MOBILE certificate can be started around the clock from home or office and takes only a few minutes. Identification by video is possible daily from 07:00 to 22:00 (CET).

Question 11

What do we look for in cloud providers?

Accepted Answer

European Cloud
Availability (24/7)
Highest security

Question 12

How does the identification for a qualified signature with the Estonia ID work?

Accepted Answer

The Estonia ID then allows you to sign documents electronically and conduct official business online - without having to exchange physical documents. This makes it not only more secure than traditional methods of identity verification but also much faster and more convenient in everyday life! Learn more.

Question 13

Are signatures created with Primesign legally valid?

Accepted Answer

PrimeSign complies with the highest security standards and legal requirements that apply to electronic signatures in the EU, in particular in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation.

Question 14

How to Restore Mobile ID?

Accepted Answer

You have reinstalled the MobileID app or have a new smartphone? Here you will learn how to restore your MobileID in order to be able to continue signing qualified with sproof sign.

Initial situation
You have already successfully identified yourself once via a VideoIdent procedure for a qualified digital signature. You have now reinstalled the MobileID app or you have received a new smartphone and now want to reinstall the MobileID app. You want to reactivate the MobileID to be able to sign qualified again without another VideoIdent procedure.

Solution
With backup code
You made a note of the backup code when you first installed the MobileID app. Before you set up the app again, go to https://www.mobileid.ch/de/login, enter your phone number and restore your identification. Now you can sign qualified again with sproof sign without any further identification.

Without backup code
You have lost the backup code or you had a backup code but have set up the Mobile ID app again in the meantime. In this case, a new identification is required. Proceed as follows:

Uninstall the MobileID App (if the app is not currently installed, skip this action).
Reinstall the MobileID app and make a note of the backup code. Keep this code in a safe place.
Perform a new identification in the settings under QES Setup.

Question 15

Can anyone manage their documents in sproof?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once you have registered for free, you can manage a limited number of documents.

Question 16

Can I freely design my signature?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One of sproof sign's strengths is creating meaningful and aesthetic signature titles. A signature style is a visual representation of your signature, for example an image of your handwritten signature or a company stamp. With sproof you can create different styles to very quickly create your signature and then use it.

Question 17

How many people can I invite to sign a document?

Accepted Answer

As many as you like.

Question 18

Can signature recipients also choose other signature providers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the QES hub of sproof sign enables the signing person to decide for himself with which QES provider he wants to sign. This increases the chance of a fast and smooth signature progress and enables EU-wide collection of legally valid signatures.

Question 19

Do you need help with the first-time QES identification with the Mobile ID app?

Accepted Answer

For this purpose, we have set up an assistant to clarify any problems with identification via our partner Swisscom Trust Services GmbH (Mobile ID App).

To the troubleshooting assistant ->

Question 20

What is the added value of the Fastlane?

Accepted Answer

Signatures & data from external parties can be captured efficiently and scalably. The recipients of the contracts sign free of charge, in your branding, with just a few clicks. All signed contracts are returned error-free and securely archived by you. You save yourself and your end customers time-consuming paper-based processes and media disruptions.

Question 21

How do I get a legally valid, qualified digital signature?

Accepted Answer

With sproof sign, business customers receive a legally valid, qualified digital signature. For this purpose, after creating an account and purchasing a corresponding business plan, the registration for the qualified signature is automatically suggested. For the identification you need your photo ID, a cell phone and a PC with webcam and about 5 minutes for a video call. There are also many other so-called trust service providers in Europe which can issue a qualified electronic signature to EU citizens. Thanks to the intelligent interface, many of these signature types are available directly in sproof sign.

Question 22

What are the signature standards?

Accepted Answer

There are simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures. But only the qualified signature is equal to the handwritten signature by law throughout Europe. Learn more about the signature standards.

Question 23

Can I sign or initial a document more than once?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is possible. However, this is not necessary in principle for digital signatures, since a digital signature (technically) always includes the entire document.

Question 24

Is the annual subscription to sproof sign automatically renewed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your subscription will be renewed automatically. You can cancel a subscription at any time in your account.

Question 25

How to sign with Primesign in sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign makes it possible to obtain legally valid signatures across borders with different eIdentity providers (trust service providers) and thus makes qualified electronic signing a very low-threshold affair. With sproof, users can select various Europe-wide recognized eIdentity providers for internationally legally valid signing. 1) Upload document 2) Select the qualified signature as the signature type 3) Dial in directly to the external signature provider via sproof sign 4) Sign with second factor

Question 26

How to sign with the Evrotrust in sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign makes it possible to obtain legally valid signatures across borders with different eIdentity providers (trust service providers) and thus makes qualified electronic signing a very low-threshold affair. With sproof, users can select various Europe-wide recognized eIdentity providers for internationally legally valid signatures. 1) Upload document 2) Select qualified signature as signature type 3) Dial in directly to external signature provider via sproof sign 4) Sign with second factor

Question 27

Can I also use sproof sign privately?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free Private Account is available to you for this purpose. Learn all about our plans here.

Question 28

Where is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

Your data is stored in the personal account in our European, ISO-certified and GDPR-compliant data centers. Optionally, documents can be automatically deleted from our servers after 30 days. A manual download and deletion or a query and deletion of the documents is possible at any time.

Question 29

How long is the identification for a qualified digital signature valid?

Accepted Answer

Identification is valid for 5 years or until your photo ID expires.

Question 30

How to sign with yes in sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign makes it possible to obtain legally valid signatures across borders with different eIdentity providers (trust service providers) and thus makes qualified electronic signing a very low-threshold affair. With sproof sign, users can select from various Europe-wide recognized eIdentity providers for internationally legally valid signatures.

1) Upload document
2) Select the qualified signature as signature type
3) Dial in directly to the external signature provider via sproof sign
4) Sign with second factor

Question 31

Is the digital signature 100% legally valid?

Accepted Answer

The introduction of the eIDAS Regulation (EU) 910/2014 (Electronic Identification and Authentication Services) in 2006 laid the foundation for legally compliant digital signing throughout Europe. It lays down the exact regulations regarding the highest level of security and conformity for digital signatures. The regulation governs the legal recognition of electronic proof of identity and authentication services.

Question 32

Does sproof sign have access to the document content?

Accepted Answer

For the application of digital signatures, direct access to the document or subsequently to its content is necessary. Also, for qualified digital signatures in certain legislatures, the transmission of the document to the trust service provider is necessary so that it can be displayed again to the person signing it. sproof, however, ensures that all transmissions are encrypted and secures access to the documents through technical and organizational measures.

Question 33

How can forms and contracts be sent to recipients?

Accepted Answer

Forms and contracts can be sent to recipients in various ways: by link/email, by QR code on a letter, by QR code on site, integrated as a snippet or via the API interface.

Question 34

Are the documents modifiable after signing?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no. With digital signature, the complete document is signed digitally, but as soon as the digital document is edited afterwards, the digital signature loses its validity. So YES it can be edited and NO because this makes the digital signature invalid.

Question 35

Is there any support for the integration?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the documentation can be found at https://docs.sproof.io/

Question 36

How does the identification for a qualified signature at D-Trust work?

Accepted Answer

In order to identify yourself at D-Trust for a qualified signature, you must appear in person at a D-Trust identity checkpoint and identify yourself with a valid ID card or passport. Alternatively, you can also identify yourself using the Postident procedure or the Video-Ident procedure.

In the case of the Postident procedure, you must fill out a corresponding form and send it to D-Trust together with a copy of your identification document. An employee of the post office will then verify your identity on the basis of the ID and forward the data to D-Trust.

With the Video-Ident procedure, on the other hand, the identity check takes place via video chat. To do this, you need a computer or smartphone with a camera and microphone as well as a stable Internet connection. A D-Trust employee will then identify you via a video connection and check the data.

Please note that there may be a charge for identification at D-Trust and that the exact processes and requirements may vary depending on the type of signature and provider. Learn more

Question 37

Can I also get a qualified signature via sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

With sproof sign, users (from User+) receive a legally valid, qualified digital signature. For this purpose, after creating an account and purchasing a plan, the registration for the qualified signature is automatically suggested. For the identification you need your photo ID, a cell phone and a PC with webcam and about 5 minutes for a video call.

Question 38

Can I sign in different functions and still use the same account?

Accepted Answer

You can connect several email addresses to your profile and sign them in different functions. For example, if you have a private and a professional email address with which you send signature requests or with which you are invited to sign, you can manage them collectively in your profile.

Question 39

Does the use of sproof sign have an impact on the climate?

Accepted Answer

The digital signature is not only efficient, secure and legally valid, but also an alternative with a strong ecological effect to conventional paper-based processes. When we consider that around 420 million tons of paper (or cardboard and paperboard) are produced worldwide every year (source: statista.com), it seems almost utopian and bleak to think of reducing this huge numerical value. But every individual can make his or her contribution: saving just 500 sheets of paper reduces waste by 7.5 kilograms of wood, 130 liters of water and 26.8 kilowatt hours of energy. The CO2 balance of a largely paperless office is correspondingly positive: according to Deutsche Post AG, electronic invoicing alone relieves every German household of an average of 2.5 kg of CO2 per year. Other documents such as contracts or deeds can also be digitally signed without further ado - and thus contribute their share to climate protection. This is a positive side effect that is prompting more and more companies to introduce a signature platform.

Question 40

Can I use my own certificate for signing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Enterprise customers can use their own certificates as company seals or for advanced signatures.

Question 41

What happens when I delete a document - is it then also deleted from the recipients?

Accepted Answer

If your recipients do not have an account, they lose access to the document by deleting it. Otherwise, the document is retained.

Question 42

Is a signed document also valid when printed out?

Accepted Answer

No. Digital signatures cannot be verified when printed out. However, the qualified digital signature is equivalent to the handwritten signature and as such is also accepted digitally instead of printed documents. Learn more.

Question 43

How can digitally signed documents be verified?

Accepted Answer

For the validation of the document, there are licensed bodies that can finally ensure the legal validity (e.g. RTR etc.). sproof sign itself offers an integrated verification service. This is a special feature and again saves digital ways. It is checked who has signed a document, when, with which digital signature or certificate.

Question 44

Which e-signature standards does sproof sign offer for your company?

Accepted Answer

Signatures created with sproof sign are 100% legally valid and meet the legal requirements of the eIDAS Regulation. sproof sign uses advanced electronic signatures (AES) and qualified electronic signatures (QES), the two highest signature standards for high compliance and probative value for contracts with different liability risks.

We would be happy to analyze your individual use case. Simply contact us here. You can find a guide to choosing the right e-signature standard here ->

Question 45

What happens if I have a new cell phone or phone number?

Accepted Answer

When changing your cell phone or switching to a new phone number, a new identification is necessary. Please contact your administrator to receive a new invitation for identification.

Question 46

How is the reference to the person established with an advanced signature?

Accepted Answer

The reference to the person is established via the e-mail address. In a corporate environment, an additional (optional) second factor can be used via a single sign-on.

Question 47

How does the identification for a qualified signature work with yes

Accepted Answer

yes, allows you to sign documents electronically and conduct official business online - without having to exchange physical documents. This makes it not only more secure than traditional methods of identity verification but also much faster and more convenient in everyday life! Learn more.

Question 48

For which industries & use cases is sproof sign suitable?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign is an all-in-one solution for legally valid internal as well as external signature workflows.

This means measurable added value for companies in almost all industries: tax, legal, insurance, finance, real estate, government and public sector, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and many more.

It is important to understand the different signature processes that exist in daily business and which ones need to be digitized.

Question 49

Can I refuse a signature?

Accepted Answer

If you receive a document that you cannot or do not want to sign, you can also refuse to sign it and give a short explanation.

Question 50

How to sign with the D-Trust in sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign makes it possible to obtain legally valid signatures across borders with different eIdentity providers (trust service providers) and thus makes qualified electronic signing a very low-threshold affair. With sproof, users can select various Europe-wide recognized eIdentity providers for internationally legally valid signatures. 1) Upload document 2) Select qualified signature as signature type 3) Dial in directly to external signature provider via sproof sign 4) Sign with second factor

Question 51

What is a digital signature?

Accepted Answer

A document to be signed is digitally signed by creating a unique digital fingerprint (hash value) of the document and signing it cryptographically. The signature can be applied directly to the digital document (PDF) and allows the identity of the signer to be established. If the document is subsequently modified, e.g. by changing the content, the digital signature is no longer valid because the digital fingerprint changes. This means that subsequent changes can be detected (integrity).

Question 52

How do I get a digital signature?

Accepted Answer

A digital signature is uniquely linked to your person. Either via your email address in the case of an advanced digital signature or via your cell phone in the case of a qualified digital signature. You can obtain a digital signature via existing providers such as sproof sign. With sproof sign you get your own legally valid digital signature (legally equivalent to a handwritten signature). Identification is a very straightforward process with sproof sign and takes no more than 10 minutes. Learn more

Question 53

Which legal, security and compliance regulations does sproof sign meet?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign is 100% GDPR compliant. All electronic signatures are legally valid according to eIDAS. All data centers are certified in the EU and ISO 27001. sproof sign has no relation to third countries (especially not to the USA) and is therefore GDPR compliant even after the ruling on Privacy-Shield ("Schrems 2") of the EUGH. sproof sign complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and is also IÖB-awarded for use in public administration.

Question 54

When will the introduction of digital signatures start paying off?

Accepted Answer

As a rule of thumb for evaluating individual use cases, we calculate that an analog signature run takes about 10 minutes to process. (If signatures are obtained by mail, approval usually takes significantly longer). At Sony DADC, a well-known customer of sproof, this means a saving of 292 person working days for 9350 documents signed annually. When the costs for integration and use of the platform are taken into account, the introduction of the digital signature in this example has already paid for itself after 12 weeks. Of course, in addition to the time and personnel costs, there are other resources such as paper costs, printer costs, shipping costs and logistical resources such as the space required for archiving the documents, which are not yet included in this calculation.

Question 55

"I already have the signature on my phone." Why is the digital signature alone not enough? Why use a signature tool?

Accepted Answer

The digital signature alone is usually completely insufficient in the business environment. What is missing are processes; customized workflows. However, many entrepreneurs are not aware of the benefits of a company-wide platform for digitally signing documents.
Define actions
Define sequence
Define signature type & signature position
Keep track of progress
Customization and branding

Question 56

How does the identification for a qualified signature with Evrotrust work?

Accepted Answer

Evrotrust makes it possible to sign with a reusable digital identity in your hands. The identity verification process is fast, user-friendly and fully KYC and AML compliant. Evrotrust checks off a variety of identity documents and a full list of verifiable personal attributes, facial recognition and liveness check. All this is verified within 2 minutes by our experts. Learn more

Question 57

How does signing with sproof sign work?

Accepted Answer

Documents are on your "digital table" or in your digital dashboard, which gives you an overview of all your documents. You can now decide for yourself which signature standard (advanced or qualified) you want to use to sign one or more documents. Or you can invite others by mail to do the same for you. When collecting signatures, you can also define the signature standard, signature positions, and more. You don't have to wait for anyone, automatically remind the signers, and in the set case you can immediately forward documents to others with a few clicks. No scanning, no way to the printer or to the post office.

Question 58

Can I undo a document sent in error?

Accepted Answer

If the invited person has not yet signed the document, you can remove the person under Signature Progress or delete the document for everyone in the dashboard.

Question 59

Where is there a writing requirement everywhere (especially in DE & AT) for QES?

Accepted Answer

As a general rule, we are not permitted to make any legal recommendations. In case of doubt, the respective individual case must be examined by a lawyer. For documents with a high liability risk, for service contracts, for contracts between internal and external persons or for potentially legally critical documents, a QES is preferable. For purely internal documents (time records, travel expense reports, internal contracts, etc.), an AES is usually sufficient.

Question 60

What digital signature providers are there in Germany?

Accepted Answer

In Germany, there are various ways to sign digitally. Many citizens use the service of D-Trust, for example. With sproof sign you get your own legally valid digital signature and can of course sign in Germany with it. The signatures are legally equivalent to handwritten signatures and can be obtained in just a few minutes. sproof sign also has the option of signing with various QES providers thanks to a simple interface. Learn more

Question 61

Can a team & signature quota be managed independently with sproof sign?

Accepted Answer

sproof sign enables simple user and rights management for users within a plan. In addition, the signature quota can be managed centrally and various important settings can be made for the entire plan. Learn more ->

Question 62

Which e-signature standard is used for signing with the Fast Lane?

Accepted Answer

The Fast Lane enables signing with the e-signature standard AES (Advanced Electronic Signature) or QES (Qualified Electronic Signature).

Question 63

How is IT security ensured? (Are there also documents/certifications for this?)

Accepted Answer

You also show that sproof is 100% eIDAS compliant (in future also eIDAS2 compliant) and 100% GDPR compliant. How is this ensured? Does a valid eIDAS certification exist for the sproof solution?

Question 64

What happens when my Business-Plan expires?

Accepted Answer

Business plans are renewed automatically. You can cancel the plan at any time before renewal without notice.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)