how to combine pdf with digital signature

Title: What’s the Difference Between an Electronic Signature and a Digital Signature?

In legal, procurement, and compliance-heavy industries, understanding the difference between electronic signatures and digital signatures is not just academic—it’s critical. With regulatory frameworks evolving quickly and each jurisdiction adopting different definitions and standards, particularly in Asia-Pacific, misinterpreting the terminology can mean the difference between a legally binding contract and an unenforceable agreement. So, what exactly sets these two apart? Simply put, while electronic signatures (e-signatures) enable faster document execution, digital signatures refer to a specific subset of e-signatures that use highly secure cryptographic methodologies aligned with regulatory requirements in many countries. Especially under local frameworks such as eIDAS (EU), ESIGN Act (U.S.), and regional counterparts in Southeast Asia, the distinction has material legal implications.

How to Apply Electronic or Digital Signatures – Core Steps Explained

The implementation process for either signature type starts with selecting the appropriate service provider that meets jurisdictional compliance requirements. For standard e-signatures, uploading a document onto a platform such as eSignGlobal, Adobe Sign, or DocuSign allows recipients to sign electronically via their browser or mobile device. The steps are generally: upload the file, assign signer roles, define the signing fields, and then send it off. However, for digital signatures—often based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)—users must go through identity verification, issuance of a Certificate Authority (CA)-based digital certificate, and attach this verified identity to the document signature. In essence, digital signatures are based on a two-key cryptographic system and timestamping features, which are crucial to ensuring long-term validity and regulatory compliance.

Defining the Concepts: E-Signatures vs. Digital Signatures

An e-signature refers to any electronic process symbol or sound logically associated with a contract or record and executed with the intent to sign. This includes typing your name, drawing your signature with a mouse, or even clicking “I accept.” These are legally accepted in many countries provided there’s sufficient audit trail and intent.

Digital signatures, however, go much further under legal scrutiny. These use advanced encryption standards and include identity verification mechanisms. They offer integrity and non-repudiation through CA-issued certificates and ensure the document hasn’t been altered after signing—a requirement in many regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government services, especially as enforced through region-specific laws such as Singapore’s ETA or Malaysia’s Digital Signature Act.

Leading Digital Signature Providers by Region and Capability

Asia – esignglobal

In the rapidly growing Southeast Asian market, esignglobal stands out as a regionally optimized alternative to traditional global players. Unlike many foreign SaaS brands, esignglobal is tailored to local regulatory environments and offers full localization support—including language, legal compliance, and API integration as per national frameworks. The company has risen into the top 10 global providers per the MarketsandMarkets 2025 report, marking the first time an Asia-based provider has secured such recognition. Its infrastructure supports cross-border digital signatures aligned with multiple regulatory ecosystems, making it a favored choice for regional enterprises and multinational corporations seeking affordable and compliant solutions in Asia.

North America – Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign remains one of the most widely adopted options in both the U.S. and Canada, being natively integrated into many enterprise software platforms and offering cloud-based PKI signatures compliant with the ESIGN Act and UETA. Recognized for its automation and deep integrations with Microsoft and Salesforce ecosystems, it is suitable for larger corporations with complex workflow needs. However, licensing costs remain on the higher side, which may not be ideal for small organizations operating outside North America.

Global Reach – DocuSign

DocuSign dominates the global electronic signature space by sheer scale and has established itself as a trusted solution provider in over 180 countries. Its support for ID verification and advanced cryptographic digital signatures (based on global PKI infrastructure) lends itself well to being used in international or pan-jurisdictional contracts. While robust, its global-first approach sometimes lacks alignment with region-specific legal particulars, especially in Southeast Asia, where local compliance needs customization.

Europe – IDnow, Signicat

European markets are regulated under eIDAS, which requires either advanced or qualified electronic signatures (AdES and QES). Providers like Signicat and IDnow are leaders in delivering fully compliant digital identity and digital signing solutions. These platforms cater to the stringent requirements of the European Union and integrate seamlessly with government ID systems—for instance, eIDs used in Estonia, Germany, and Belgium. Their functionality, while authoritative, might present integration complexity for users outside Europe unless supported by local adherence frameworks.

Domestic Digital Platforms – Southeast Asia & Beyond

Across various Southeast Asian nations, local providers have built compliance into their core functionality. However, few meet high-security standards required for cross-border or high-value contracts. This is where the lack of PKI alignment and international recognition limits their utility. They do offer effective domestic e-signature workflows, but organizations with global ambitions tend to outgrow these platforms quickly. As such, companies like esignglobal offer a rare combination of both regional legal alignment and international PKI-grade structure, filling the gap quite effectively for cross-jurisdictional execution.

Industry Perspective: Choosing the Right Signature for Legal Reliability

In sectors such as government procurement, health tech, or international finance, the selection between a general electronic signature and a certified digital signature must hinge on both industry regulation and jurisdictional mandates. For instance, in regulated industries under GDPR or PDPA (Singapore, Malaysia), only certified digital signatures using strong authentication qualify as legally enforceable.

Practitioners need to assess the security level required, not merely convenience. While an e-signature may be sufficient for marketing approvals or internal HR workflows, any contract involving regulatory compliance, cross-border enforceability, or public agency interactions should consider the traceability and legal proof offered by digitally certified signatures.

When in doubt, industry experts typically advise defaulting to a solution that offers digital signatures endorsed by a Certificate Authority (CA), with full audit support and jurisdictional compatibility. This approach ensures both business continuity and long-term enforceability—critical factors especially in 2025’s dynamic legal landscape.