DocuSign is the electronic signature and agreement management platform that fundamentally changed how contracts get signed. Instead of printing, signing, scanning, and emailing documents, DocuSign lets parties sign legally binding agreements from any device in minutes. For custom web application development, the DocuSign eSignature API is critical for building any workflow that involves contracts, proposals, NDAs, or consent forms. Developers can generate documents from templates, embed the signing experience directly within their application, track signature status in real time, and trigger automated workflows when documents are completed. Any custom application that handles agreements benefits enormously from DocuSign integration.
How It Started
DocuSign was founded in 2003 by Tom Gonser, Court Lorenzini, and Eric Ranft in Seattle, Washington. The founders recognized that the process of getting documents signed was one of the last major business workflows that had not been digitized. At the time, most businesses still relied on fax machines, overnight mail, or in-person meetings to collect signatures. DocuSign was not the first electronic signature company, but it became the dominant player by focusing on ease of use and building a massive ecosystem of integrations. The company went through multiple CEOs before Keith Krach took over in 2011 and accelerated its growth toward the IPO in 2018.
Unknown Fact
The legal foundation that makes DocuSign possible was established years before the company was founded. The U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, known as the ESIGN Act, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 2000 using, fittingly, an electronic signature. This legislation gave electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten signatures in the United States. Without this single piece of legislation, DocuSign's entire business model would not have been legally viable. Clinton reportedly used a smart card and a digital certificate to sign the act, making it one of the first federal laws signed electronically.
Visit: docusign.com