Mobile signature: what really makes your customers sign
The majority of signatures are done on mobile. Yet few journeys are designed for a 6-inch screen. Here is what a good mobile journey requires, and how Sign-Hub responds to it concretely.
Signing on your phone: what it changes for your signatories
Most electronic signatures are now done on mobile. A recent study indicates that more than 70% of users open a signature link on their phone. Yet many signature journeys are still designed for a computer screen: PDF displayed in a cramped frame, blurry signature pad, button out of view. The result: signatories who give up, contracts that drag on.
This article details what a mobile signature journey must offer to be truly effective, and how Sign-Hub, a French electronic signature service, meets these requirements.
Why mobile has become the primary signature channel
Professionals on the move, individuals who don't have a printer, customers who prefer to finalize a purchase from their couch: the phone has become the default signing tool. For a company, this means that the signature journey must be flawless on mobile, otherwise the signature rate will drop. A high signature rate is directly linked to the smoothness of the journey: the simpler it is, the more the signatory will complete it.
What a good mobile journey concretely requires
Native document reading
On a phone screen, a PDF is not read like on a computer. A good mobile journey must display the document full width, with precise pinch zoom, and smooth navigation between pages. A document unreadable in a 300-pixel frame encourages abandonment. You must be able to read every clause, every figure, effortlessly.
Signature tracing at screen density
Signing with a finger on a touch screen is nothing like using a mouse. The trace must be smooth, without jolts, and must adapt to the screen resolution. A blurry or pixelated signature pad gives an impression of sloppiness, and can even make the signature difficult to recognize. A good journey records the trace with sufficient density so that the signature is sharp, whatever the screen size.
Six-digit code
Verifying the signatory's identity by email is a standard. A six-digit code sent by email is more secure than a simple click on a link, because it proves that the person has access to their mailbox. On mobile, entry must be simple: a suitable keyboard, a single field, and immediate validation. A code that is too long or poorly displayed is a source of errors and abandonment.
Button always visible
The "Sign" button must be accessible at all times, even after a long scroll. On mobile, the thumb is the main tool: the button must be in the lower area of the screen, clearly visible, and not hidden by the keyboard or banners. A button at the bottom of the page, after a long text, is often missed.
How Sign-Hub meets these requirements
Sign-Hub is an electronic signature service designed to be used via an API, but the signatory journey is designed for mobile. Here is what Sign-Hub concretely does on each of the previous points.
A document readable on any screen
When a signatory opens the Sign-Hub signature link, the document is displayed in an interface adapted to small screens. The PDF is rendered page by page, with smooth pinch zoom. The text is sharp, even on scanned documents. Reading is comfortable, which reduces abandonments linked to a poor reading experience.
A precise and sharp signature pad
The Sign-Hub signature pad is optimized for touch. It records the trace with a resolution adapted to the screen, which guarantees a sharp signature, without blur. The signature area is large enough to sign comfortably, but not too large so as not to encroach on the document. The trace is smooth, without lag, even on entry-level devices.
A six-digit code to secure the act
Sign-Hub proceeds in two steps to verify the signatory's identity. After opening the link, the signatory checks an explicit consent box, then enters a six-digit code received by email. This code is essential to finalize the signature. On mobile, entry is guided: a single field, a suitable numeric keypad, and immediate validation. This double verification strengthens the proof of intent to sign, without making the journey heavier.
A signature button always accessible
On Sign-Hub, the "Sign" button is fixed at the bottom of the screen. It remains visible even after a long scroll, which avoids having to look for the button at the end of the document. The button is large enough to be operated with the thumb, and it is disabled as long as consent has not been checked and the code entered. This constant accessibility improves the completion rate.
Why this increases your signature rate
A well-designed mobile journey reduces friction. Every unnecessary or poorly adapted step is an opportunity for abandonment. By reading the document comfortably, signing effortlessly, and validating in a few seconds, the signatory completes the process. The result: a higher signature rate, shorter sales cycles, and satisfied customers who don't have to print, scan or fax.
Sign-Hub: a service designed for developers, but also for signatories
Sign-Hub is an API-first service, which means that everything can be automated: creating a signature request, sending links, receiving webhooks. But the signatory journey itself is entirely managed by Sign-Hub: you don't have to develop a mobile interface. You create a request via the API, and Sign-Hub provides a public link that you send to your customer. The signatory has nothing to install, they open the link in their mobile browser and follow the steps.
Moreover, Sign-Hub offers advanced features that strengthen the probative value of the signature: the evidence file is signed with an Ed25519 key, whose public key is published on the Sign-Hub website, which allows independent verification. The signed PDF is sealed in PAdES format, and an RFC 3161 timestamp is possible as an option. All data is hosted in the European Union, and Sign-Hub is compliant with the RGPD.
Limits to be aware of
Sign-Hub offers a simple electronic signature within the meaning of the eIDAS regulation, reinforced by email verification and PAdES sealing. It is neither an advanced nor a qualified signature. For acts requiring a higher level of security, other solutions such as Universign or DocuSign offer advanced or qualified signatures. However, for the majority of common uses (quotes, sales contracts, agreements), a simple signature with email verification is legally valid in France, in accordance with article 1367 of the civil code.
In summary
A good mobile signature journey must offer comfortable reading of the document, a precise signature trace, verification by six-digit code, and a signature button that is always visible. Sign-Hub meets these requirements, which translates into a higher signature rate for your contracts. And thanks to its simple API and signed webhooks, you can integrate electronic signature into your tools effortlessly.
Try Sign-Hub for free
Sign-Hub offers a free Discovery plan, which includes 10 acts per month, with no mandatory subscription. You can test the mobile signature journey by creating your first request right now. Go to sign-hub.newvisionofapps.fr to create an account and explore the API documentation.