Did you know that electronic signature is now accessible from within Realfast2Go, real estate forms software from Realfast? Used by over 61,000 real estate professionals in more than 12 states, Realfast2Go now seamlessly integrates with our electronic signature service, providing end-to-end web-based automated real estate forms. With advanced electronic signature functionality, Realfast users can accelerate the real estate document signing process and ensure deals close faster, while leveraging complete visibility into the document process.

In a competitive market, minutes can literally make the difference when closing a deal. With Realfast2Go, real estate professionals can more quickly prepare documents for client electronic signature anytime, anywhere. With a simple click of the mouse, real estate professionals can access DocuSign from within Realfast2Go. In minutes, users can tag any document with DocuSign’s familiar yellow Stick-eTabs. Once the document tagging process is completed, the sender’s client receives an email notification, is authenticated and can quickly navigate through the electronic signature process. By extending the integration of DocuSign within Realfast2Go, real estate agents can further simplify the real estate contract signing process, save hours of time each week, eliminate signing errors and accelerate deal close rates.

John Mayes, chief executive officer of Realfast, shares:

Realfast listens to our customers and adds the features to Realfast2Go that will maximize agent productivity. Electronic signature capability is in high demand and DocuSign is the market leader in electronic signatures. Now Realfast2Go users will have unparalleled convenience and ease of use to quickly send forms to clients for electronic signature with DocuSign. Realfast2Go really is the easiest way for real estate professionals to complete a paperless transaction.

Realfast users can now join more than 30,000 real estate professionals in eliminating paper and expediting real estate transactions with DocuSign. Rather than driving across town to get a signature or forcing clients to find a fax machine, real estate professionals use DocuSign to execute agreements with buyers and sellers electronically. With real estate forms signed in minutes, not days, DocuSign real estate professionals achieve higher sales, increase client satisfaction and maintain a competitive edge. Safe and secure, the DocuSign e-signature process is also easy to use and legally compliant.

Dave Thorpe, market director at DocuSign, explains how providing electronic signature in real estate forms benefits real estate professionals:

Realfast and DocuSign provide real estate professionals with state of the art technology to better manage workflows, and close real estate transactions faster and easier. Real estate professionals can now leverage the power of DocuSign electronic signature services directly from Realfast2Go anytime, anywhere for a rich, complete and convenient end-to-end forms management process. This partnership with Realfast is another example of DocuSign’s leadership as the standard in electronic signature solutions for real estate professionals.

Click for more information about DocuSign and Realfast2Go.

General Contract Signing Process
The following stages represent a generalized, high-level cycle for any contract signing process. Without DocuSign, the contract signing process is “print-ship-sign-copy-return-scan”.

Stage 1: Document and Envelope Preparation
During this stage, the sender will provide transaction data and instructions. This information might come in manually or automatically from a variety of the data sources. The sender will add documents, templates, signing locations, initials locations, data fields, recipients, and reminder and expiration information. Without DocuSign, the sender has to print the documents to paper, ensuring sufficient print time and printer ink.
With DocuSign, you can work with the DocuSign team to automate this stage according to your business specifications. The documents and envelope will be ready to be sent at the completion of this stage.

Stage 2: Transaction Execution
Stage 2 begins when the sender sends the envelope of documents. Without DocuSign, this might entail faxing every sheet of paper and confirming receipt. If the documents are overnighted, someone must either drop off the envelope or schedule a pickup. Then the sender must wait for the recipient to receive the documents. If a critical page is missing or illegible, there may be emails, phone calls or other back-and-forth communication. The recipient must also be physically available to wet-sign. Last minute business trips or other delays can add days to this process.

If the sender were to use DocuSign, the DocuSign services execute all of the actions defined in stage 1 once the envelope has been sent. The envelope is routed via email to the proper recipients in the appropriate order. The recipients enter the required data (as applicable) and electronically sign and initial (as applicable) in all the required locations. Senders can control what happens to an envelope after it has been sent. For example, a sender may correct an e-mail address in case it was mistyped, a sender may stop execution and void the entire transaction before completion. However, more major changes are not allowed without first voiding. For example, senders cannot add an addendum after a signer has signed.

Stage 3 – Filing and Storage
After the transaction has been executed, contracts are typically filed and the data is manually entered into business systems. Sometimes other processes are initiated.
With DocuSign implementation, the filing and storage stage can be automated with some amount of investment.
This discussion of a high-level, generalized contract signing cycle provides a process framework for understanding where and how automation using DocuSign electronic signature and online contract execution adds value. The next section describes how to leverage DocuSign technology and service to automate your contract execution process and turn it into electronic contract execution.

Degrees of Automation
DocuSign offers a web interface, desktop software, and an application programming interface (API) called DocuSign Connect. These different options apply to all three stages in the lifecycle of a contract.

Web interface
The DocuSign web interface allows a user to send, sign, add data, initial, download, and get status of documents. The flexible WYSIWYG interface allows users to get started immediately and work from almost anywhere. Anyone who can use e-mail and a web browser should feel comfortable interacting with the system very quickly.

Standard automation solutions
In addition to the web and software solutions, the DocuSign service provides several standard solutions which automate steps in the electronic contract execution process.

These solutions allow you to:
•    Create a DocuSign envelope out of a blank PDF form using DocuSign PowerForms,
•    Automate document and envelope sending with DocuSign desktop software,
•    Automate data entry of status updates and data collected during the electronic contract execution process to SalesForce with DocuSign Connect for SalesForce,
•    Automate document and data retrieval from the DocuSign service to a server behind your firewall with DocuSign Export,
•    Automate the transport of the authoritative copy of documents to another secure location with eOriginal Vaulting.

These solutions require configuration and possibly installation. The target audiences for these solutions are office “power users” and IT administrators.

Application Programming Interface
The DocuSign API, DocuSign Connect, allows other systems to interact with the DocuSign service and automate the processes around sending, correcting, status, and download.

DocuSign Connect is exposed as a standard SOAP XML Web Service, protected by transport level security and message level security based on WS-Security standards.

DocuSign Connect enables greater automation capability. The most common automations are:
•    Automation of sending process: Senders can send documents with one click. This requires additional programming by the DocuSign customers. This programming enables the automatic selection of the document, data collection requirements, and signers. Using this capability, step 1 of the electronic execution process can be almost entirely automated.
•    Store and update documents and data automatically: Using data from DocuSign Connect, update internal systems with documents, data collected, and status information. DocuSign Connect provides all the information about the transaction at any point in its lifecycle. These capabilities can automate most of the processes in step 3 of the electronic contract execution process.
•    Embedded signing experience: You may embed the DocuSign signing and data collection processes in your portal or website using an IFRAME. This capability keeps your brand in front of the signers at all times in the electronic contract execution process.

A shared understanding of the general contract signing process and how DocuSign’s electronic contract execution process differs enables you to think about which steps of the process are repeatable and appropriate for automation. Understanding the various options around creating an automated electronic contract execution process for your organization and how they each fit into the contract lifecycle may help you communicate the value of adopting electronic signature and ECE technologies and processes.