The Tipping Point(s) for Web Signatures, and the U.K. Postal Strike

This week, EchoSign presented at the 5th Annual Houlihan Lokey Technology Conference and part of the discussion was on the tipping point for web / electronic signatures.  I.e., when will the majority of routine contracts and documents be signed on the web?

The reality is there probably will be no single tipping point, but rather a confluence of smaller events that help, each on their own, to accelerate a trend already in place.

One we're seeing right now in the U.K. in the postal strike.  As The Times notes, there is essentially no point in putting anything in the post in the U.K. right now.  Since the "last mile" postal workers are on strike, nothing will be delivered (though it will be picked up).

The Times, eWeek Europe, and a number of others have noted that we are seeing a dramatic uptick in interest and sign-ups for BT eSignature (our brand in the U.K.).

The postal strike won't tip web signature penetration from it's current 2-3% (up from essentially 0% a few years ago) of contracts to 50% overnight.  But it's a small piece of what will, in a few years, look like a tipping point.