The AssureSign integration development team has developed a model for integrating Microsoft Dynamics® CRM, Microsoft SharePoint and AssureSign.  As Microsoft Certified Partners,  AssureSign developed this model as a pattern for Microsoft integration developers working on extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Visual Studio Team System provides an easy entry point into starting to extend the Dynamics CRM platform, offering out of the box templates for creating Microsoft Dynamics plug-ins.  Extending the plug-in application to connect to AssureSign DocumentNOW® services is as simple as adding a DocumentNOW .NET service reference.  For an integration provider that already understands the Microsoft Dynamics CRM entity model,  the only thing to learn may be the DocumentNOW methods for mapping data to AssureSign Document Templates.

The AssureSign engineers started with a basic standalone Microsoft Dynamics CRM installation using SharePoint services for storing documents.  A simple plug in was created in Visual Studio to perform the operations of pulling a selected document out of SharePoint, and attaching it to be streamed in to the AssureSign DocumentNOW web services.  The metadata on a selected entity in Microsoft Dynamics CRM is queried and matched to AssureSign template parameters.  AssureSign DocumentTRAK™ services are used to push data back to Microsoft Dynamics CRM and trigger the application to pull the completed document back into SharePoint, while updating the Dynamics entity with standard AssureSign document history.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM end user experience is seamless.  In this model, a contract matching an AssureSign template is chosen to be sent out for signing.  All data from the contact entity is sent along with the document behind the scenes, and a signing invitation is sent to the signatory.  Upon signing, the DocumentTRAK™ services trigger updates to the document and the history displayed in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, where the user receives real-time information about the document status.

If you are a Microsoft integration provider, a Microsoft Dynamics CRM customer, or are evaluating AssureSign or Microsoft Dynamics CRM, please contact the AssureSign sales team at sign@assuresign.com for a demonstration of this application.

September 23, 2009 - 2:00PM EDT 

Today's changing market demands that carriers incorporate industry best practices into the customer acquisition process. Carriers must enable agents and consumers with the ability to quickly quote and bind business.

During this webinar we'll discuss some of the best practices that you should be incorporating into your process and cover some of what's available in today's modern technologies to help you do just that. We'll take a look at LexisNexis® Policy Decisions Personal - a complete policy administration solution as well as the AssureSign electronic signature capabilities that are pre-integrated into the software.

Click here to Register Today!

AssureSign, LLC is excited to introduce the newest option available to users to make it easier to send documents:  AssureSign DocumentLAUNCH™ for Windows. 

AssureSign DocumentLAUNCH for Windows provides a simple desktop alternative to sending documents from within the AssureSign site.  After the DocumentLAUNCH application is installed and the user’s account information is entered, an AssureSign user will be able to access their AssureSign templates from their desktop without logging in to the AssureSign site.

The DocumentLAUNCH application allows a user to stream in documents they have created that match an AssureSign template, or pass along data to be applied to a stored document template in AssureSign.  The application provides simple drag-and-drop capability for supported document types, and also installs a Windows context menu option for sending documents to AssureSign.

DocumentLAUNCH provides a simple desktop platform for interfacing with the AssureSign DocumentNOW® services, providing an option for organizations to quickly create desktop integration to AssureSign with little or no technical cost. 

Existing AssureSign users may download the Windows XP/Vista/Vista 64 installation – as well as generate a configuration file to simplify the setup process for their account – from the Help/Tools section of the AssureSign client website. If you have any questions, contact the Support Team at support@assuresign.com.

New Version Redesigned in 100% Apex Code for Tighter Salesforce Integration

AssureSign LLC, a leader in electronic signature technology, today announced the general availability of a new release of the AssureSign Tool for salesforce.com users, AssureSign for Salesforce CRM 2.0. This new version enhances ease-of-use and performance for Salesforce CRM users as part of their integrated workflow.

AssureSign for Salesforce CRM enables users to create documents dynamically using Salesforce data fields and send to one or many signatories for signature using a single application, without the need for additional hardware or software. AssureSign’s Salesforce Integration Tool has been redesigned by replacing custom S-Control code and integration with 100% Apex Code, resulting in a cleaner, broader, deeper and tighter integration with Salesforce. AssureSign is the first electronic signature partner on the Salesforce AppExchange to have 100% Apex Code integration, along with a VisualForce user interface.

New and/or improved capabilities include:

• New look-and-feel leveraging VisualForce
• Dynamic document creation with fields from any Salesforce tab or custom object data
• Immediate Presentment introduces new views and user interface for in-person signing or counter-signing
• AssureSign-side Wizard for exporting completed documents back into Salesforce or other data stores
• Ability to initiate workflow upon receipt of document status change or completed documents via AssureSign-side Wizard
• Easy to select data elements (fields from any tab or custom object data) for integration with dynamic document creation via AssureSign templates and workflows
• New views of document progress status and ability to create unique dashboards
• Easier Setup and ‘New Release Update’ reminders

“AssureSign is committed to providing customers with the latest technology and the simplest integration into their business process workflows,” said David W. Brinkman, Chief Executive Officer of AssureSign LLC. “Redesigning AssureSign for Salesforce CRM in Apex Code provides improved integration and collaboration, increasing the value that we deliver and emphasizing the strong partnership that we have with salesforce.com.”

Not to sound cliché as this has certainly been used a lot this week, but AssureSign will take a ‘Giant Leap’ next week when the new AssureSign for Salesforce CRM 2.0 is released.  Since inception, the power of AssureSign has been recognized most when integrated with existing business processes.  AssureSign’s API capabilities via DocumentNOW® and DocumentTRAK™, allowing our ability to dynamically create documents for signature from ‘other systems’, has always been at the core of our customer implementations and has contributed to their success with AssureSign.  AssureSign was the first electronic signature solution to create documents dynamically using Salesforce data fields; the first to offer the ability to sign in-person from within Salesforce and the first to secure biometric signatures using a mouse.

So, what is the giant leap?  Well, we believe that AssureSign will be the first and only electronic signature AppExchange partner to have 100% ApexCode integration along with a VisualForce user interface.  AssureSign has completely redesigned its Salesforce Integration Tool by replacing custom S-Control code and integration with a 100% ApexCode.  This means a much cleaner, broader, deeper and tighter integration with Salesforce.  AssureSign customers have always enjoyed comprehensive integration, but here are some highlights that are new or improved:

• New look-and-feel leveraging VisualForce
• Dynamically create documents with fields from ANY Salesforce tab or custom object data
• New views and UI for in-person signing or counter-signing (also known as immediate presentment of documents)
• AssureSign-side Wizard for exporting completed documents back into Salesforce or other data stores
• Ability to initiate workflow upon receipt of document status change OR completed documents via AssureSign-side Wizard
• Easy to select data elements (fields from any tab or custom object data) for integration with dynamic document creation via AssureSign templates and workflows
• New views of document progress status and ability to create unique dashboards
• Easier Setup and ‘New Release Update’ reminders

Look for more information next week as AssureSign takes a ‘giant leap’ when AssureSign for Salesforce CRM 2.0 is officially released.

New version provides extended inter-connectivity with existing business systems

AssureSign LLC, a leader in electronic signature technology, today announced the official release of the latest offering of its AssureSign product, AssureSign v2.0.4. With this new release, AssureSign delivers a higher degree of automation and enhanced document tracking capabilities via the introduction of DocumentTRAK™ web notifications.

AssureSign is a web-hosted service that facilitates the managed processing of documents in an all-digital, highly secure environment. Since its inception, AssureSign has included a rich event model that enabled email notifications of document status to be triggered by various workflow events throughout the signing process, such as beginning and completion of steps and completion of document signing. 

The new DocumentTRAK component enables users to send communications to their own web-accessible applications, which are triggered by specified events defined in a document template workflow configuration. The DocumentTRAK wizard, launched from within the workflow editor, walks users through configuring the AssureSign system to send data according to their schema, to a specified location, at a specified point in the signing process, including Document Started, Before Step Started, After Step Completed, Landing Page Visited, Document Completed or Document Pre-Expiration Warning. DocumentTRAK notifications may be generic data-only communications or document transmissions, which may only be triggered by a Document Completed event.  The entire signed and completed document, or information collected in the signing process, can be sent to existing business systems for appropriate workflow integration or storage.

“With the introduction of DocumentTRAK, AssureSign users have the ability to integrate the management of document tracking into their existing business processes. ” said David W. Brinkman, AssureSign’s Chief Executive Officer. “DocumentTRAK simplifies and expedites the process of integrating a new technology into an existing business process.”

Biometric Electronic Signature Solution Enhances Organization’s Green Initiative

AssureSign LLC’s Biometric Electronic Signature Technology has been selected as the electronic signature solution by the Carbon Trust Standard Company, a UK-based organization that measures and certifies real carbon reduction by companies. Carbon Trust Standard Company is part of the Carbon Trust, whose mission is to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organizations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.

As an organization that works to promote low carbon technology, the Carbon Trust Standard Company was looking for a paperless, electronic signature solution to expedite document authorizations for carbon emission estimations. They wanted a solution which would support their efforts to aid the environment, as well as save the organization time and money, with complete Salesforce CRM integration.

AssureSign for Salesforce CRM enables the Carbon Trust Standard Company to pull existing data from standard Salesforce tabs to quickly and easily create a document and send it to a client to be signed immediately. AssureSign Electronic Signature Technology enables the Carbon Trust Standard Company to obtain Carbon Trust Standard certification orders in a highly efficient manner, greatly reducing carbon emissions and waiting periods associated with documents returned by mail.

Since the entire AssureSign Electronic Signature process is tracked digitally, users have a complete forensic audit trail of the delivery and signing process. This enables users to know exactly when documents are received, when they are signed, and who has or has not signed them, providing users with complete control over the signing process. With the implementation of AssureSign, the Carbon Trust Standard Company can follow the signing process from start to finish in Salesforce CRM and receive notification the moment that signing is complete.

“AssureSign is responsive to our needs and is always looking for ways to enhance their application,” said Ben Ingram, at the Carbon Trust. “The Salesforce integration was simple and took very little time, and we were able to customize AssureSign to fit our needs.”

“Requiring nothing more than a mouse, an Internet connection and our patent-pending electronic signature, AssureSign enables the Carbon Trust to obtain expedited signatures and document management in Salesforce CRM,” said David W. Brinkman, chief executive officer of AssureSign LLC. “It saves the organization time and money, which is essential for the durability of a nonprofit organization, and as a paperless solution, supports their commitment to the protection of the environment.”

AssureSign Version 2.0.4 is currently being qualified for release in early July.  In regards to this release, we have already been sharing documentation with certain clients in regards to one of the most compelling components we have added lately to the application: the DocumentTRAK™ component.

From our first design of AssureSign, we have always had a rich event model that allowed email notifications to be triggered on any number of events.  In addition, for some clients we have built custom export components that send status updates and push down documents based on their unique needs.  A do-it-yourself model for wiring AssureSign events to custom web services has been a goal of our development team for quite a while.   

DocumentTRAK provides just such an environment.  In a nutshell, the DocumentTRAK wizard walks you through configuring  the AssureSign system to send data according to your schema, to your location, at a point in the signing process that you choose.  (If I was in marketing, that might have been written “Your Data.   Your Location.  Your Time.”).

For the techies among our clients who may wonder what this entails, setting up a notification endpoint can be as simple as pointing us to your service definition (got WSDL?), telling us which method to call, specifying security, and telling us where to populate the data.  After you have defined the notification simply edit a template workflow definition and assign the DocumentTRAK notification to an event.  Want to send the completed document along?  Embed it in a web service call or send it via SFTP; we have a wizard for that as well.

More information will be coming from our sales team as we prepare for the release.  Want more information now?  Contact moreinfo@assuresign.com for a more detailed description of the possibilities.

Get the most of AssureSign by leveraging the customization and branding tools that are standard with all implementations.   AssureSign, the most flexible and easy to use electronic signature solution, enables users to customize the look and feel of the signing process to seamlessly replicate existing business processes.

Immediate Presentment
The simplest way to transparently get documents signed in a self-service application is to deploy AssureSign via immediate presentment. Web services and XML allow AssureSign to easily become a part of your customers’ existing web experience.  From your web-portal, you can create dynamic documents to be signed while signatories are still on your site.  You can use existing web pages, data collection pages or documents, and bring them up in the same web application for signature – no emailing required.  The ‘landing page’ for signatures can be branded with custom text, instructions and graphics, such as your logo.  During the signing process the header can be customized to maintain a uniform look and feel while keeping branding consistent.  You can even chain multiple documents together for signing in a single signing ceremony.

Email Presentment
The more traditional method for obtaining electronical signed documents is to send email notification of a document available for signature.  AssureSign offers sophisticated workflows allowing all signatories, document creators or just about anyone who needs to know, where a document is in the workflow.  Each step of the workflow process can be reported on via the AssureSign web portal or can be exported to external applications via the AssureSign DocumentNOW® API.  A high level overview of the email possibilities includes:

• Document sent for signature (notifies all interested parties that a document was sent)
• Document available to sign (recipient receives email notification of document available to sign and requests signature)
• Document under review ( notifies all interested parties that a signatory has opened the document for signature)
• Completed signature (notifies all interested parties of a multi-signature document that someone has signed)
• Completed Document (notifies all interested parties that all signatories for the document have signed) 

Each of these email notifications (and more) are completely customizable for internal and external use.  The email content and graphics can be modified to reflect custom instructions and display customer logos and branding.

To learn more about how to customize your AssureSign implementation, select ‘Help’ from the upper right of your AssureSign main application page and select ‘Quick Reference Guide’ or visit the Video Classroom and view the 2.0.2 Feature Introduction video.  You may also contact the Support Team at support@assuresign.com if you have any questions.

Electronic signature solutions have been around since the ESIGN Act of 2000, yet they have been a part of Salesforce AppExchange for only a couple of years. Why did it take so long for electronic signatures to become an integral part of CRM applications? There is an easy answer – web-based tools and platforms. It has not been until the last couple of years that electronic signature solutions became available to the masses in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, with easy integration to CRM applications via web-services, XML, SOAP and the like.

AssureSign has the most sophisticated and thorough document creation and electronic signature process available today for Salesforce CRM users. AssureSign is the only application that can map Salesforce data fields into document templates, creating unique documents and then route them for signature. Taking the valuable CRM data that is relevant to the ‘account’, ‘opportunity’, ‘contract’ or any other Salesforce CRM tab and creating dynamically unique documents means minimal input from users. All activities are initialized within salesforce.com and there is no need for users to enter any other application.

No other AppExchange solution offers signature options as strong as AssureSign. There can be a single signatory or a virtually limitless number of signatories in a workflow, and documents can be signed in series or parallel. Oh, and the signature, well it can be a biometric mouse-based signature or a ‘certified’ typed signature; and they can be mixed within a document signing workflow. AssureSign is the only mouse-based signature solution on AppExchange – providing a wet-like signature and a sense of ‘really’ signing a document. AssureSign documents can also collect unique data from signatories during the signature process and insert them into the document.

Oh, and we’re not done yet… In-person or face-to-face sales, can be accomplished with AssureSign “Immediate Presentment”, which allows a Salesforce CRM user to have a document presented right to their PC, laptop or tablet PC, within Salesforce, so they can get the deal signed without the need to send an email. All the back-end workflow, including multiple signatories, is also supported.

Lastly, if you can’t report on the workflow or know where your documents are in the signature process it’s no better than fax or overnight, so AssureSign exposes all the document forensics to you within Salesforce CRM. You will know when each signatory has reviewed, signed and/or completed documents with time stamps and detailed signatory forensics such as email address, IP address and more.

AssureSign for Salesforce CRM is available for integration via the Salesforce AppExchange. Integrate AssureSign today with Salesforce CRM or any other legacy system for a shorter, more efficient signature cycle.