Sillanis Technology has announced two new authentication features for its e-signature process management solution. The features will remove a hurdle for deploying and adopting e-signatures in the insurance agent channel and eliminate the need to purchase costly hardware devices. Silanis' ApproveIt Web Server provides SMS text and voice authentication to offer an extra layer of security for capturing intent in 'click-to-sign' processes.
"Proving a customer has electronically signed a document actually can be more challenging in a point-of-sale environment than it is over the Web," says Tommy Petrogiannis, CEO and co-founder of Silanis.
In a self-serve, Web-based transaction, customers log into the application using their personal credentials and are in sole control of when and what documents they sign, explains Petrogiannis. This is not the case when processes take place in-person because agents must share their laptop or desktop computer with customers, raising the question of who actually e-signed–the customer or the agent.
"In our experience, insurance carriers and agents are reluctant to assume the cost of buying, deploying, and managing signature capture pads," says Petrogiannis. "Silanis' new SMS text and voice authentication features solve the problem by providing additional, software-based methods for identifying users in electronic transactions."
With SMS text authentication, agents simply enter the customer's mobile number prior to e-signing. A unique PIN is generated by the application and sent to the customer's cell phone as a text message. Agents hand over their computer to the customer, who then must enter the unique one-time password in order to continue the e-signing process. The authentication process is captured as part of the electronic evidence and is stored with the e-signed documents and audit trail.
"Getting agents to move to straight-through processing has been a challenge for carriers because if the e-application and e-signing process isn't easier than the traditional pen and paper method, or if it requires agents to incur extra costs, they simply won't make the switch," says Petrogiannis. "By eliminating the need for costly signature capture pads and making it extremely easy to authenticate customers as part of the Web application process, ApproveIt Web Server removes the final hurdle for adopting e-signatures in the agent channel and making straight-through processing a reality."
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