Prefilling tabs using API

Understanding Prefilling Tabs in eSignature APIs

In the evolving landscape of digital agreements, electronic signature platforms have become essential for streamlining workflows in businesses worldwide. One key feature that enhances efficiency is prefilling tabs using APIs, allowing developers to automate the population of form fields before sending documents for signing. This capability reduces manual entry errors, speeds up processes, and improves user experience, particularly in high-volume environments like sales, HR, and legal teams. From a commercial perspective, integrating prefilling via API can significantly lower operational costs by minimizing back-and-forth communications and enabling seamless data integration from CRM or ERP systems.

Prefilling tabs refers to the process of pre-populating specific fields—such as names, dates, addresses, or calculated values—within a document template using programmatic instructions. This is especially valuable in APIs from platforms like DocuSign, where tabs (or fields) are the building blocks for interactive elements in envelopes (the containers for documents and signers). By leveraging API calls, businesses can pull data from external sources and insert it dynamically, ensuring consistency and compliance without requiring signers to input basic information repeatedly.

Comparing eSignature platforms with DocuSign or Adobe Sign?

eSignGlobal delivers a more flexible and cost-effective eSignature solution with global compliance, transparent pricing, and faster onboarding.

👉 Start Free Trial

Implementing Prefilling Tabs Using DocuSign API

DocuSign’s API stands out for its robust support of prefilling, making it a go-to for enterprises seeking scalable solutions. The process begins with creating an envelope via the REST API (version 2.1 or later), where tabs are defined using the Tabs object within the Signers or Documents resources. To prefill, developers use the TextTab or DateSignedTab properties, setting the Value attribute to the desired content.

For instance, consider a sales contract scenario. Using the DocuSign SDK (available in languages like Java, .NET, or Python), you first upload a document and anchor tabs to specific positions via AnchorString for reliable placement. Then, in the CompositeTemplates endpoint, inject data like a customer’s name:

{
  "textTabs": [
    {
      "tabLabel": "customerName",
      "value": "John Doe",
      "xPosition": "100",
      "yPosition": "200",
      "documentId": "1",
      "pageNumber": "1"
    }
  ]
}

This JSON snippet pre-populates the “customerName” field. Authentication is handled via OAuth 2.0, ensuring secure access. DocuSign’s EnvelopeDefinition API allows conditional prefilling—e.g., using ConditionalRules to show/hide tabs based on prior inputs—ideal for complex forms. However, developers must handle quotas; exceeding envelope limits (e.g., 100 per user/year in Business Pro) can incur overage fees.

Challenges include precise tab positioning, especially with varying document formats. DocuSign mitigates this with auto-placement tools, but testing across PDF versions is crucial. From a business angle, this feature integrates well with Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics, reducing signing time by up to 50% according to industry benchmarks. For advanced use, the PowerForm API extends prefilling to public forms, enabling embedded experiences on websites.

In practice, a step-by-step implementation involves:

1. Obtain API Token: Use JWT or Auth Code Grant for production.
2. Create Template: Define tabs in the DocuSign web app or via API.
3. Populate Data: Call /envelopes POST with prefilled SignHere or InitialHere tabs.
4. Send and Monitor: Track status via webhooks to confirm delivery.

This API-driven approach not only automates but also ensures audit trails, vital for regulated industries. Commercially, it positions DocuSign as a leader in API maturity, though pricing tiers (starting at $10/month for Personal) scale with usage.

Prefilling in Other Platforms: A Broader View

While DocuSign excels, similar capabilities exist across competitors, each with nuances suited to different business needs. Adobe Sign’s API (Adobe Acrobat Sign REST API) uses “form fields” instead of tabs, prefilling via the PUT /agreements/{agreementId}/formData endpoint. Data is mapped using field names, supporting JSON payloads for bulk updates. It’s particularly strong for PDF-heavy workflows, integrating natively with Adobe Document Cloud.

HelloSign (now Dropbox Sign) simplifies prefilling through its v3 API, where SignatureRequest objects include form_fields_per_document arrays. Values are set directly, e.g., {"name": "Email", "value": "user@example.com"}, making it developer-friendly for SMBs. However, it lacks some advanced conditionals found in DocuSign.

For global operations, platforms like eSignGlobal offer API prefilling with a focus on regional compliance, using endpoints like /documents/{id}/fields to set values pre-send. This ensures data sovereignty in APAC markets.

Comparing Leading eSignature Platforms

To aid decision-making, here’s a neutral comparison of key players based on API prefilling capabilities, pricing, and features. Data draws from 2025 public sources, emphasizing mid-tier plans for fairness.

DocuSign Overview

DocuSign remains a market leader with its comprehensive eSignature suite, powering over 1 million customers globally. Its API supports advanced prefilling with tabs, including formulas and attachments, ideal for enterprise automation. Pricing starts at $120/year for Personal (5 envelopes/month), scaling to $480/user/year for Business Pro with bulk send and payments. Strengths include deep integrations (e.g., 400+ apps) and strong security (SSO, audit logs). Limitations: Seat-based pricing can escalate for large teams, and APAC latency may affect performance.

Adobe Sign Overview

Adobe Sign, part of Adobe Document Cloud, focuses on seamless PDF handling and enterprise collaboration. Prefilling occurs via API form data updates, supporting dynamic fields and e-signatures compliant with ESIGN/UETA. Pricing is $10/user/month for individuals, up to $40/user/month for teams, with add-ons for SMS ($0.50/message). It shines in creative industries with tools like shared templates and mobile apps, but API quotas (e.g., 100 transactions/month base) may require upgrades. Neutral observation: Excellent for Adobe ecosystem users, though less flexible for non-PDF formats.

eSignGlobal Overview

eSignGlobal positions itself as an APAC-optimized alternative, compliant in 100 mainstream global countries and regions, with particular strengths in Asia-Pacific. The region features fragmented regulations, high standards, and strict oversight—unlike the framework-based ESIGN/eIDAS in the US/EU, APAC demands “ecosystem-integrated” approaches, including deep hardware/API integrations with government digital identities (G2B). This raises technical barriers beyond email verification or self-declaration models common in the West. eSignGlobal’s API enables prefilling fields via simple JSON payloads in its Professional plan, supporting unlimited users without seat fees. Pricing is competitive: Essential at $299/year (~$24.9/month), allowing 100 documents, unlimited seats, access code verification, and integrations like Hong Kong’s iAM Smart or Singapore’s Singpass for seamless compliance. It’s cost-effective on compliant foundations, undercutting rivals slightly while expanding into Europe/Americas for full competition.

Looking for a smarter alternative to DocuSign?

eSignGlobal delivers a more flexible and cost-effective eSignature solution with global compliance, transparent pricing, and faster onboarding.

👉 Start Free Trial

HelloSign (Dropbox Sign) and Other Competitors

HelloSign offers straightforward API prefilling for quick setups, at $15/month for Essentials (20 envelopes). It’s user-friendly for startups but lacks enterprise-scale features like advanced analytics. Other notables include PandaDoc (strong in proposals, $19/user/month) and SignNow (affordable at $8/user/month, good for mobile prefilling).

This table highlights trade-offs: DocuSign for scale, Adobe for documents, eSignGlobal for APAC value, HelloSign for ease.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Fit

Prefilling tabs via API transforms eSignature workflows, offering efficiency gains across platforms. Businesses should evaluate based on volume, compliance, and integrations. For DocuSign users seeking alternatives, eSignGlobal emerges as a neutral, regionally compliant option with strong APAC advantages and competitive pricing.