Welcome to another interview by Website Planet. Bringing you insights on how the best companies are solving the current challenges in their industry, and how they are planning ahead for the future.
My guest today is Roni Oeschger, co-founder and CEO of Skribble and entrepreneur since the age of 16 with a Master’s degree in Computer Science from ETH Zurich.
We discussed two overlooked facts about eSignatures:
- The multiple reasons why you need them now or eventually later
- Why implementing legally-binding and easy-to-use, efficient digital signatures is harder than it looks
We then looked at the approach to digital signatures at Skribble AG, one of the leading e-signing providers in the DACH region.
Founded in March 2018, it now counts 3,000+ business customers in over 30 countries such as Baloise Group, DATEV, easyJet, SBB, SEG Automotive, leading international auditing and consulting firms as well as law firms.
Handwritten signatures waste money, time and resources
In the e-signature industry, one of the unique challenges we face is the underestimation of the inefficiencies tied to traditional, handwritten signatures. Many individuals and businesses don’t realize the extensive amount of time, money, and natural resources, like paper, that are wasted through manual signing processes. This oversight is particularly relevant because it directly impacts operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability—three pillars that are increasingly critical in today’s world.
🌍 How paper production (which is used for handwritten signatures) causes deforestation, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions:
- The pulp and paper sector was responsible for just under 2% of all emissions from industry in 2022 (source https://www.iea.org/energy-system/industry/paper).
- The production of one sheet of A4 pulp paper can consume up to 10 litres of water.
- 33–40% of all industrial wood traded globally is used by the pulp and paper industry
Sources:
https://www.earthandanimals.com/advocate/wild-earth/params/post/1278141/deforestation-clearing-the-path-for-wildlife-extinctions#:~:text=A%20horrifying%2050%2C000%20species%20become,vanishing%20at%20an%20alarming%20rate.
https://neo-online.co.uk/how-much-water-is-required-to-make-1-piece-of-a4-paper/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/pulp-and-paper
The reason this issue is often overlooked could be attributed to a ‘that’s how it’s always been done’ mindset. There’s a comfort in familiarity, even if it means sticking to processes that are no longer the best option. This reluctance to change is understandable but also poses a significant barrier to adopting more efficient, secure, and eco-friendly practices.
Another reason is that people tend to unconsciously ignore the amount of work and therefore money put into a handwritten signature. The printing, mailing, scanning, archiving etc. is forgotten when one thinks about the cost of a hand-written signature, so one jumps to the conclusion that a signature costs nothing.
If this challenge isn’t addressed, the implications are multifaceted:
- Operationally, businesses continue to lag, bogged down by slower transaction times and cumbersome paperwork management.
- Financially, the costs associated with the overhead of manual labor of handling physical paper as well as the direct costs of paper, printing, and physical storage can accumulate significantly over time.
- Environmentally, the continued reliance on paper contributes to deforestation and higher carbon footprints. Additionally, the physical transport of documents to the signatories or, in some cases, the transport of the signatories themselves is a contributing factor as well.