Electronic signatures – what are they and how do they work?

An electronic signature is electronic information associated with a document and used by a person to sign it.

Electronic signatures can take different forms. In many business processes, the signer actively confirms and signs the document electronically. In other situations, additional identity verification may be required.

When a document is signed through DealBuilder, information about the signature and the signing process is recorded.

This makes it possible to document who signed, how the document was signed and when the signing took place.






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DealBuilder supports several types of electronic signatures.

Electronic identity and BankID
For processes where stronger identity verification is required, DealBuilder also supports electronic identity solutions.

These include Norwegian BankID, Swedish BankID, Danish MitID and Finnish Trust Network.

This allows businesses to combine simple international signing processes with stronger electronic identity verification where appropriate.

Click-to-sign electronic signatures
Click-to-sign is a simple and efficient way to sign documents electronically.

The signer receives access to the document, reviews the content and signs by actively confirming the signature.

The signing action is recorded and linked to the document and the signing process.

Click-to-sign works particularly well for high-volume business processes where additional electronic identity verification is not required.

The signer can complete the process on a computer, tablet or mobile device without installing additional software.

Handwritten electronic signatures
With a handwritten signature, the signer can draw their signature directly on a mobile phone or tablet.

On a computer, the signer can use a mouse or trackpad to draw their signature.

The handwritten signature is linked to the document and documented together with the rest of the signing process.

This gives businesses a familiar signing experience while retaining the benefits of a fully digital workflow.

Choosing the appropriate signing method
Businesses can choose the appropriate signing method for each use case.

The level of identification and documentation required determines whether click-to-sign, handwritten signatures or electronic identity verification is appropriate.




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DealBuilder is designed for small and large businesses that want a simple but comprehensive solution for electronic signatures and document workflows.

Some of the most common use cases are proposals and agreements with customers and HR documents, including employment agreements, contract amendments, performance review documents and other employee-related documentation. DealBuilder is also used for board documents, procurement and supplier agreements, powers of attorney, internal approvals and a wide range of other business documents.

The platform can support anything from occasional signatures to large document volumes across multiple departments, companies and countries. Sales, HR, administration, boards, procurement, operations and legal teams can work in the same solution with their own documents, workflows and access permissions.

Businesses can sign existing PDF documents, create reusable document templates, choose between different signing methods and connect DealBuilder to other systems through integrations, API and automation.

DealBuilder is used by businesses across different industries and company sizes, including Dr.Dropin, Sigdal Kjøkken, Burger King, Solid Media, Falck, Avonova, Homely and Energima Group.

DealBuilder has also been selected as the digital signing technology for DRIVE Mobility, the Norwegian automotive industry's joint digital initiative representing around 330 dealerships.

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An electronic signature solution is not only about the visible signature. The documentation surrounding the signing process is equally important.

When a document is signed through DealBuilder, information from the signing process is recorded. Depending on the signing method, this can include who the document was sent to, who signed it, when it was sent, opened and signed, which signing method was used, verified identity information where electronic ID is used, IP address and other relevant events in the signing process.

A completed DealBuilder document contains the signed document, any attachments and information documenting the signing process.

This creates an audit trail that can be used to document how the signature was completed.





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DealBuilder is built on PAdES (PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures), an open international technical standard for digital signatures in PDF documents.

PAdES defines how digital signatures, certificates, timestamps and information required for validation can be embedded directly into a PDF document. The standard is used internationally and also forms part of the standards framework for electronic signatures under eIDAS in Europe.

Encrypted data transfer: Customer data and documents transferred to and from DealBuilder are encrypted in transit using TLS. TLS protects information while it is transferred between the user's device and DealBuilder.








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The completed signed document is self-contained and includes the information required to document the signing process. This includes information about signers, certificates, signing times and relevant steps in the signing process.

The documentation therefore remains with the PDF document rather than depending solely on the original signing platform.














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Signatures are timestamped using a qualified electronic timestamping service.

The required validation information is stored directly in the PDF document to support Long Term Validation (LTV).

Long Term Validation preserves the information required to validate a digital signature over time.

This allows a signed document to be checked in the future to confirm that the signatures and certificates were valid when the document was signed.






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Digital signatures use cryptographic mechanisms that link the signature to the content of the document.

A mathematical checksum, or hash, is calculated from the document's content. If the content is changed after signing, the resulting value changes.

This makes it possible to verify the integrity of the document and detect whether signed content has been modified.

A signed DealBuilder document can be opened and checked using a standard PDF reader that supports digital signatures.

The PDF reader can verify the digital signature, the integrity of the document and information about the certificates used. Certificate status and revocation information may also form part of the validation process.

Together with timestamping and Long Term Validation, this enables signatures to be validated even years after the original signing process.


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Yes. Electronic signatures can be legally binding, and electronically signed documents can be used as evidence.

Within the EU and EEA, electronic signatures are governed in part by the eIDAS framework.

A key principle of eIDAS is that an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence solely because it is electronic or because it does not meet the requirements of a qualified electronic signature.

A Qualified Electronic Signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature under eIDAS.

Electronic signatures are therefore widely used for ordinary commercial agreements and document processes. The appropriate signing method depends on the document, the level of identity verification required and the documentation the business needs around the transaction.

Simple, Advanced and Qualified Electronic Signatures
Electronic signatures are commonly described using three levels.

A Simple Electronic Signature (SES) is the basic category and covers electronic data used by a signer to sign.

An Advanced Electronic Signature (AES/AdES) meets additional requirements relating to the connection between the signature and the signer, identification of the signer and the ability to detect later changes to the signed data.

A Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) is an advanced electronic signature that also meets additional requirements relating to qualified certificates and the creation of the signature. Under eIDAS, a QES has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.

Not every document requires the strongest possible signing method. The appropriate method depends on the specific use case and the level of assurance required.


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DealBuilder is designed to support international electronic signing workflows.

For many international business processes, click-to-sign or handwritten electronic signatures provide a simple way to sign agreements and documents regardless of where the parties are located. The same DealBuilder workflow can therefore be used for customer agreements, proposals, HR documents and other business processes involving recipients in different countries.

Where stronger electronic identity verification is required, DealBuilder also supports Norwegian BankID, Swedish BankID, Danish MitID and Finnish Trust Network.

Electronic signatures are recognised within legal frameworks across many markets. In the EU and EEA, eIDAS provides the central framework. In the United States, legislation including the ESIGN Act and UETA provides a legal framework for electronic signatures and electronic records.

DealBuilder uses PAdES, an international technical standard for signed PDF documents.

DealBuilder can also help businesses determine which signing method is most appropriate for different use cases, based on factors such as identity verification, documentation requirements and the desired signing experience.


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Do recipients need a DealBuilder account to sign?
‍No. Documents can be sent directly to recipients for signing without requiring them to become DealBuilder users.

‍Do I need BankID to sign a document?
‍No. DealBuilder supports click-to-sign and handwritten electronic signatures, which can be used without BankID. Electronic ID can be used when stronger identity verification is required.

‍What is click-to-sign?
‍With click-to-sign, the signer receives access to the document and signs by actively confirming the signature. The signing action and information from the signing process are documented and linked to the completed document.

‍Can DealBuilder be used internationally?
‍Yes. DealBuilder can be used for international signing processes using click-to-sign and handwritten signatures. Electronic identity methods such as Norwegian BankID, Swedish BankID, Danish MitID and Finnish Trust Network can also be used where appropriate.

‍Can an electronically signed document be used as evidence?
‍Yes. Electronically signed documents can be used as evidence. The signing process, information about the signer and the integrity of the signed document provide documentation of what was signed, by whom and when.

‍Can I check whether a signed document has been changed?
Yes. The digital signature is cryptographically linked to the document content. Changes made after signing can be detected during validation.

‍Can a signature be validated years later?
‍Yes. DealBuilder uses PAdES, qualified timestamps and Long Term Validation to preserve information required for future validation.

‍Ready to start signing electronically?
‍With DealBuilder, you can send agreements, proposals, HR documents and other business documents for click-to-sign, handwritten signature or electronic identity verification. Create a free account and get started in minutes. Try for free
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