Signing methods

Addo is always at the forefront of digital signing solutions and requirements in the EU, including signing solutions such as Danish NemID private and NemID employee, Norwegian BankID and Swedish BankID and SITHS.

These solutions meet all the requirements for AES (Advanced Electronic Signatures) and QES (Qualified Electronic Signatures) and provide a unique certificate to be used, for example, for signatures.

Depending on what you need signed and who is signing, you can choose between different signing methods, each of which has a unique stamp on your signed document.

What is a digital signature? 
Change signing method in templates
Change signing method before sending
Signing method overview

What is a digital signature? 

Digital signatures cover a range of different signing methods. Signing digitally is like physically signing with ink and pen. A digital signature is legally binding and, depending on the type, contains different information about the signer.

 

Depending on what you need signed, where the signer is from and how easy it needs to be, you can choose from several different signing methods.

At the bottom of this article you will find an overview of all signing methods in Addo.

 

Change signing method in Templates 

Templates let you create similar transactions quickly, without having to manually set everything up with each new signature. In your template, you can also link a special signing method so that all signers automatically sign this way.

However, when using that template, you can still manually choose that specific signers sign with a different method.

  1. Click on the Cogwheel in the top right corner 
  2. Click on Templates on the left 
  3. Click the Template you wish to change (To make a brand new template, use this guide)

You will now be led to a new window:

  1. Click on the Drop Down menu below Signing Method, and choose whatever signing method you want for this template. 
  2. Remember to click Save

Congratulations! You have now changed the signing method of this template. 

 

Change signing method before sending

Regardless of how your template is set up, you can change which signing method is used before the document is sent for signature.

Note - Some signing methods also require specific identification methods. If you change the signing method, you will also observe that the choice of identification method will be locked.


  1. Click Send
  2. Click Add signer 
  3. Click on the Drop Down Menu below Signing Method and choose whatever signing method you need 
  4. Click Add 

You have now changed the signingmethod for the recipient. 

 

Signing method overview

To read more about the different levels of digital signatures (SES, AES and QES), please read this article
You can read more in-depth information about the specific signature types here 


Here is an overview of the different signing methods: 

 

SES - Simple/Standard Electronic Signature: (Non-country specific) 

  • Ok button

A recipient may approve a document with a simple "OK". This can be used in cases where it is not necessary that the recipient signs the document, but the sender must have documentation that the recipient has seen the document - as a minimum.

 

  • Touchscreen

With touchscreen signature, the recipients sign documents with their fingers on a touch screen. This method is best on a smartphone or tablet, but can also be used with the mouse on a desktop computer.

 

  • Approve

"Approve" is the only signature method that does not appear on the final documents. This is used in the event that there is, for example, a buyer, a seller and an intermediary in the flow. This could be in the case of a real estate transaction where the intermediary does not have to sign but simply approves and passes on a purchase offer

 

AES - Advanced Electronic Signature: (Country specific)

  • Danish MitID/NemID 

Danish NemID Private is protected by a social security number (SSN). NemID Private is used when a person should legitimize their identity or sign on their own behalf. You need to know the recipient's social security number to use this signing option.

Danish NemID Private (no SSN)
NemID Private without social security number can be used in the event that you as the sender, does not know the recipient's social security number. The document can be sent for signature without entering a social security number. The recipient still signs the document with their Danish NemID Private as usual.

 

  • Danish NemID employee

NemID employees can be used when an employee must legitimize and sign documents on behalf of a company. A NemID employee signature allows employees to identify themselves on their company's behalf. It contains the employee's name, company name, and the CVR number of the company. NemID employee signature is protected by a personal code.

 

  • Norwegian BankID

Norwegian BankID is used when a person should legitimize their identity and sign on their own behalf. You need to know the recipient's birth number to use this signing option.

 

  • Swedish BankID

Swedish BankID is used when a person should legitimize their identity and sign on their own behalf.

 

  • Swedish Freja

Swedish Freja is Sweden's only eID approved with the Swedish eID quality mark, issued by the Swedish government. Freja is primarily used as an electronic ID in Sweden, where you can, among other things, show and share your identity with a QR code. In addition to being an "electronic Swedish health insurance card" it can also be used for login , access to banking and insurance, online payment and checking who you give your personal data to. Freja ID also provides a usage history, so users can see what their ID has been used for, what personal data they have registered and the possibility to opt in and out of what their personal ID is used for. Although the service is approved with the Swedish e-legimation quality mark, it is not on the list of Europe's Trusted Service Providers.

 

  • SITHS/EFOS

"SITHS" is a Swedish smartcard-based eID solution for professional use. It is used by healthcare professionals and other employees in the Swedish healthcare sector, as well as other employees in the Swedish public sector.
SITHS is approved as a Swedish eID (svensk e-legitimation) by the Swedish authority DIGG for assurance level substantial (Swedish level 3). 

The primary use of SITHS is authentication and signing in local systems in the user’s organization, e.g. in an electronic patient journal system.

Addo supports online authentication and signing with SITHS.

SITHS will change to EFOS

 

  • Finnish Trust Network 

Finnish Tupas, which have previously been used as a unique identifier and as a trusted identifier in Finland, have now been declared obsolete due to the EU eIDAS regulation, therefore a transition to FTN(Finnish Trust Network) has been initiated as part of making Finnish signatures and identification more reliable and able to meet European standard eIDAS.
The Finnish government has established FTN which allows for greater identification security and thus becomes the only standardised solution in Finland.

Finnish FTN will be used for login in banks and insurance companies, online payment, and support of digital signatures, in addition to being certified to the highest EU standard. 

 

  • eHerkenning

eHerkenning is a standardised login system that enables organisations to make their services available online and securely to businesses, officials and consumers. Users log in to a web service using their eHerkenning token, which allows them to manage their affairs online.

eHerkenning verifies that the person using a service is who he or she claims to be, but also that this person is authorised to act. This means that organisations always know who they are dealing with and whether that person is authorised to act.

 

  • iDIN

iDIN is a Dutch eID, created by the Dutch Payment Association (BVN, Betaalvereniging). It was developed by a collaboration of all major Dutch banks so that ordinary people can use the familiar authentication process of their online bank. The authentication process is helping to open up the use of eID to large parts of the Dutch market.

 

  • eIDAS

eIDAS is a common European identification method that allows consumers to use their own secure and reliable login method. By choosing eIDAS as your identification method, you allow the signatory to identify themselves with an approved digital ID in the country concerned. The recipient chooses from the list of countries and is then presented with a new window for the identification itself.