Let’s face it — electronic signature solutions can be expensive. As usage ramps up, the envelope costs can multiply into significant dollars pretty quickly. Enter Indio. Indio provides a basic, built-in e-signature solution. While it doesn’t provide some of the tools that the name-brand providers have, it does meet the needs of sending the lion’s share of documents required for average processing. If your agency is already using Indio, then leveraging its e-signature capability could save the agency significant costs since there are no per-envelope costs for e-signature usage. If Indio is not yet being used in your agency, but you’re evaluating it, consider how the savings achieved by using Indio’s e-signature solution could offset some of Indio’s costs.

Pros and Cons of Indio E-Signature

Pros

I already mentioned the fact that there are no per-envelope charges for using Indio e-signature. Even though there is not yet full integration with EPIC, e-signature in Indio is very easy to train and use. The workflow is intuitive, short and uncomplicated which I will cover later. The list of elements to add is fairly short which aids in it being simple yet provides the essentials needed to complete transactions. Multiple signers can be defined and the signing order is also definable. The elements allow being assigned to specific signers so that each signer then only has access to their elements. Elements can be defined as “required.” For instance, a checkbox element can be defined as required to make sure the signer is aware of something specific or agrees to a requirement. In this instance, unless the user checks the box, they cannot submit the document.

Cons

Indio’s e-signature is a basic solution. Its lack of some features could be considered a drawback. The one thing I wish it had is the ability to define templates for repetitive documents or forms. As it is, each document must be set up each time it is sent. This consideration really only comes into play if you are sending standard forms with many elements, but it is a consideration.

While integrations have been provided for several third-party e-signature providers, Indio’s e-signature is not in that list. E-signature integrations provide for the ability to send attachments directly to e-signature with a click and then have the returned, signed document automatically attached when received. Indio is not yet supported for that, at the time of this article’s publication. As a result, there are more steps required to send from EPIC attachments using Indio than may be required using an integrated partner. Also, when the e-signed document is returned, the user has an additional step to attach in EPIC whereas that is automatic with supported integration partners. However, there is an idea in the Product Advisory Community (PAC), with my name on it, to add integration for Indio e-signature. Feel free to give it some attention. It is idea #2352. 

Indio E-Signature Cheat Sheet

I am providing an abbreviated cheat sheet so you can see how easy the e-signature process is in Indio.

• Make sure certain Indio notifications are set to your preference. There are two notifications settings available for e-signature: “e-signature completed” and “e-signature request signed.”
• Create the e-signature request.
  • Select the account and verify the contact email address is correct.
  • Select e-signatures from the navigation menu then click the “+ new” button to create the new request.
  • Select the documents to send by either dragging and dropping or selecting from the browse option.
  • Choose your signers and assign the signing order if needed.
  • Drag, drop and configure the document elements.
    • Checkboxes are for selecting single items. You can set them to be “required.”
    • Radio buttons are for “binary” selections like “yes/no” or “approve/reject.” They are limited to only two options and are always required.
    • For any information to be entered by the user, use a text box. This includes dates, numbers and text. You can set this to be “required.”
    • The date field is only used to record the date of signing on the signed document. The signer never sees the field. It is only visible after signing.
    • If an element can be made required, there will be a “required” checkbox in the configuration block. If there is no “required” checkbox, then that element is always required.
    • An element can be assigned to a particular signer.
  • Set expirations and reminders settings as desired.
  • Type your email message and click send. The signer will receive an email with a link to access.
  • After the document is signed and if notifications were turned on, you will receive the signed documents and signature certificate(s) in email.

Go For It

As you can see from the cheat sheet, the process is quite simple. It is easy to use, easy to train, less expensive and gets the job done. For me, it checks the major boxes.

Make the Most of Indio

As an ACN member, you access all the resources available in the Learning Center, including sessions on Indio. Here’s a sneak peek of sessions you’ll access as a member:

• Streamlining Small Commercial Accounts (new and renewal) using Indio
• Expert Panel: Utilizing Indio
• Indio 101

Gene Paxton began his career in IT as a programmer in the healthcare industry in 1984. From there he gained experience in the oil and gas industry and then as CIO of a startup industrial distribution company. In 2001, he took a position as the technology manager at what is now BancFirst Insurance Services. As he transformed the agency from a paper-based system to paperless, he gained an in-depth understanding of the operations of an agency and as a result became both the operations and technology manager for the agency. Gene began his career in the insurance industry using the Applied TAM system. He led the agency through the transition to EPIC in 2013 and has since assisted several agencies with their own conversions and transitions from TAM to EPIC.