Overview
Crelate's native E-Signature allows you to send signing requests directly from Contacts and via Checklists in Crelate. Completed documents are automatically attached to the originating record. You can set up reusable templates to make recurring sends fast and consistent.
Step 1: Enable Permissions
Before users can send eSignatures, an admin must enable the appropriate permissions for each user role.
Go to Settings → User Roles.
Select the role you want to update.
Enable Full eSignature permissions for any role that needs to create or send eSignature requests.
Repeat for each applicable role.
Note: This is a new dedicated permission for native eSignature. Even if a user previously had Dropbox Sign permissions, this must be set separately.
Step 2: Create eSignature Templates
Templates allow you to pre-configure your documents and signing fields so sending is fast and repeatable.
Navigate to Settings → eSignature Templates
Click Add New Template using + symbol.
Upload your document (PDF or Word file) and Name the template. Multi file uploads isn't currently supported. Make sure to create a pdf package or include all files into a single word prior to upload.
Configure signers and signing order if multiple signers are required. To enforce a signing order (e.g., Signer 1 must sign before Signer 2), check the Enforce Signing Order option when setting up your template.
Here is a list of signing roles available to select. Keep in mind that if a signer is an internal crelate user, their user should be selected rather than a contact or email entered. When using the 'select role' option, keep in mind this is made available to sign in app by any user of that role and no email notification is sent out.
Tab over to add signing fields to the document. Start by selecting the signing role to ensure the fields are properly assigned. There are several supported field types to choose from including signature, initials, name, job title, date, text box, checkbox and more. These can be selected from the lower left pane and upper right corner.
If you need to delete a field, you can either select and click the trash icon or use backspace to remove.
Feel free to customize an email message in the last tab. You can also add CC recipients to keep additional parties informed, make sure to include a name for each CC recipient.
Save your template.
Step 3: Send an eSignature Request
Open the record you want to send from and use the 'This Contact' dropdown to select Click Send eSignature Request
Choose to send using a template or one-time send option.
If using a template, most fields will auto populate. If using the one time send option - you will need to add signers, upload your doc, and include your sign fields.
Review and hit send.
The signer will receive an email with a link to review and sign the document. Once all parties have signed, the completed document is automatically saved to the originating record as an eSignature document type.
Tracking Signature Status
You can monitor the status of any eSignature request from the record it was sent from. Simply open the document from the activity stream or from the documents tab. Statuses include In Progress, Completed, Cancelled, Finalizing, and Error.
Using eSignature in Onboarding Checklists
eSignature templates can be added as process items within Onboarding Checklists, allowing signature requests to be triggered automatically.
When setting up a Checklist Template, select eSignature as the process item type and link it to the appropriate template.
If you previously used Dropbox Sign process items in your checklists, those must be updated to point to Native eSignature templates, they will not update automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the completed document get saved?
Completed eSignatures are saved to the record the request was sent from, using the eSignature document type. At this time, completed documents cannot be reassigned to a different document type.
Can I see previously completed Dropbox Sign documents after migration?
Yes. Any eSignature documents completed through Dropbox Sign prior to migration will remain visible on the relevant records in Crelate.
What happens to Dropbox Sign requests that were already sent but not yet completed?
Any in-progress Dropbox Sign requests will continue to completion normally. Only new requests must use Native eSignature.
Can I add a clickable hyperlink inside a document?
Clickable links embedded in document images are not supported. You can add a plain URL in a text field within the document as a workaround.