E-signatures: Streamlining Operations for the Education Industry

In March 2020, the closure of American K-12 public schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the extent of the digital divide and the resulting inequities.

Around 30% of K-12 students (approximately 15 to 16 million children) did not have the necessary internet service or e-learning devices to continue their education effectively from home.

However, many states and districts took swift action to address the digital divide, utilizing emergency funding authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This included purchasing devices and hot spots and partnering with providers to offer sponsored services to eligible households. Congress has since passed two other economic recovery bills - the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) in March 2021 and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 in December 2020 - providing additional funding for K-12 education, including initiatives aimed at closing the digital divide. This funding presents an opportunity for states and districts to permanently address this issue, with more than 40 states now dedicated to expanding broadband availability, affordability, and adoption.

Quality education is one of the fundamental components of the United Nations' sustainable development 2030 agenda. Given the paramount importance of digitization in the education industry, institutions have started adopting intelligent tools to support the growing needs of their staff and students. The online digital signature solution is one of those technologies that have significantly impacted industries across the work by streamlining their operations while working remotely. Dive in below to learn how educational institutions can benefit from electronic signatures and how you can start your digitization journey with DrySign.

Digitization in the education industry 

The education industry is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, driven by factors like the increasing demand for remote learning and administrative processes, the need for cost reduction and operational efficiency, and the widespread adoption of mobile technology. As a result, educational institutions are recognizing the benefits of digital solutions in streamlining workflows, reducing paperwork, and improving services for students and staff. Among the most effective digital technologies are electronic signatures, which enable institutions to sign and authenticate documents digitally, eliminating the need for physical paperwork.

Electronic signatures can reduce costs associated with printing, storing, and processing paperwork while increasing efficiency, speed, and security. They also enable students, parents, and staff to sign and approve documents remotely using any internet-enabled device, anytime. By leveraging eSignatures, educational institutions can achieve their digital transformation goals and meet the changing demands of the education industry.

Here are six ways eSignature solutions can benefit educational institutions.

6 Ways eSignature software can benefit education industry 

Individuals working in the education sector are frequently inundated with burdensome and time-consuming paperwork. As a result, educational institutions are actively seeking ways to incorporate new technologies to streamline their academic and administrative operations. Additionally, students and parents are increasingly becoming more technologically savvy and are expect an entirely digitized experience in the future.

Thankfully, new technologies are emerging to simplify these processes in numerous areas, including the education industry. Adopting an eSignature solution eliminates the need for paperwork, streamlining company processes while minimizing errors. This offers significant benefits to students, parents, and staff members. Here are the benefits of electronic signature solutions in educational institutions.

1. Streamline students' application process

   The conventional method of handling student admissions, fee collections, and event registrations through paper-based processes can be arduous and time-consuming. In addition, this approach necessitates handwritten signatures for acceptance, which can cause delays in the process flow. Fortunately, the use of electronic signature generators allows for the signing of documents online by staff members, parents, and students from any location, reducing the need for in-person visits to schools for signature purposes. Most online digital signature solutions also provide automatic reminders for mandatory fields and signature locations to ensure that all necessary steps are taken, enabling managers to monitor document progress in real-time and avoid potential disruptions.

2. Organize educational institutions effectively

   Educational institutions are continually evolving to cater to the ever-evolving needs of their staff and students. However, most changes necessitate extensive paperwork that can be challenging to manage if not handled efficiently. It is vital for these institutions to equip their administrative personnel with cutting-edge technology to ensure seamless operations. In addition, the increasing tuition fees exert immense pressure on schools, colleges, and universities to manage costs effectively.

   To address these challenges, many educational institutions are embracing novel technologies to digitize their processes and deploy their systems online. One notable solution is the online digital signature system, which eliminates the need for paper, postage, storage, and archiving of physical documents. In addition, this software offers speed and visibility and streamlines the entire documentation process, benefiting all parties involved.

3. Stay secure

   Securing the databases of educational institutions is crucial to safeguarding sensitive documents, including student and staff data. Electronic digital signatures offer a secure way of sharing critical documents with concerned entities as and when needed. With advanced solutions, signature details such as who signed the document, when, and where can be captured. As more documents are shared online, the risk of tampering, misplacement, or loss is eliminated.

Also Read: 10 E-signature Statistics that will Blow your Mind

4. Third-party integrations

   The infrastructure of learning institutions typically comprises various software solutions and integrated applications to enable seamless data transfer. For instance, signature systems can often be integrated with existing systems and applications, such as sales automation, document management software, student records management, and enterprise content management. This integration eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors that can occur in such processes. As a result, the various systems can work together more effectively, streamlining operations and improving efficiency.

5. Support full mobile enablement

   In today's fast-paced, mobile-first world, merely having an online presence is no longer sufficient. Regardless of size, all organizations must be mobile-enabled to keep up with the pace of the modern business world. The conventional method of logging into a system to process applications is outdated. Most contemporary solutions natively support Android, iOS, and Windows devices. With digital signature solutions, users can perform any documentation with institutional management quickly and effortlessly via their smartphones, improving accessibility and convenience. Online digital signature solutions enable users to sign a document from their viewing device, eliminating the need for countless unnecessary waiting hours.

6. Process automation

   It is imperative for institutions to automate workflows to optimize administrative processes. Adopting an online signature platform eliminates the need for physical paper, minimizing the possibility of errors. Conventional paper-based processes entail several costs, such as paper and ink, printer maintenance, and shipping/postage costs.

   By utilizing online digital signature solutions, most of the expenses involved in manual approval processes can be eliminated. Additionally, there may be several indirect savings, such as the time required to fill out each document manually, tracking down lost documents, rekeying in data, and other related tasks.

Use cases of e-signatures in educational institutions. 

Electronic signatures enable you to automate a range of document processes, including:

• Student application forms
• Tuition responsibility forms
• Class enrolment forms
• Financial aid and scholarship forms
• Transfer requests forms
• Student petitions forms
• Interdisciplinary application forms
• Grant request forms
• Scholarship request forms
• Permission forms
• Transcript release forms
• Progress reports
• Change of major forms
• Travel request forms
• Course assignments
• Teacher’s report
• Offer letters

Get Started with DrySign 

As long as you have an apt strategy and appropriate tools in place, no one can stop you from accomplishing your goals. DrySign is one such platform that provides legal and secure eSignatures, supporting students and educational institutions to simplify and accelerate the application process. As many colleges start to integrate e-signatures, online admissions have become less intricate and daunting for students. No matter where the students' dream university is located, they can effortlessly fill up application forms and apply for universities, insurance, loans, and scholarships from anywhere, in just a few clicks!

Here's how DrySign can help educational institutions operate efficiently:

• Efficient functionality – Legal, secure, and easy-to-use e-signature & document storage solution.

• Zero offline workflow – Access all your documents in just a few clicks.

• Robust security – 128-bit, end-to-end encryption for all documents; safe from theft or loss.

• Paperless solution – Save time and money on printing, manual signing, and physical storage.

• Quick & convenient workflow – Sign admission and application forms from anywhere, anytime

• Fraud protection – Comprehensive, real-time mail trails of all documents, safely backed up on the cloud.

• Intelligent dashboard – Decisive, actionable insights at a glance; easier decision-making.

• Group sign – One or more persons can sign the same document in minutes.

• Real-time notifications – Set up reminders and get real-time notifications to stay updated.

• Seamless integration – One-click integration with Salesforce, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox.

• Remote-work proof – Enables brisk and efficient collusion from anywhere, anytime.

Use DrySign e-signatures to achieve your goals! Try the DrySign Free Version to get started!

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.

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