Tip of the fortnight 4 - Best practices for building your e-signature workflow using forms

Tip of the fortnight 4 - Best practices for building your e-signature workflow using forms

Hello fellow form builders, 

It's another fortnight - ah, time flies, doesn't it! Recently, we rolled out our integration with Zoho Sign (read our announcement post here), and it can be incredibly useful in collecting secure e-signatures from your form respondents.

 
Getting your agreements, contracts, waivers, etc. legally bound through this e-signature workflow is easy, yet every use case needs a distinct workflow setup. That's why today, I want to share a few of the best practices you can follow to get your various deals signed hassle free!



Let's start by discussing the two types of signers your e-signature workflow can involve and the recipient setup that needs to configure for them. Assume a situation where the name and the email of one of the signers are known (say, the Landlord) whereas the other signer is your form respondent (say, the Tenant) whose name and email is not known until the form submission. For this, you need to configure the recipient details in both Zoho Sign and Zoho Forms. I'll break it down for you.
  • In the Zoho Sign template setup, enter the role, action, name and the email address of the Landlord. Add only the role and the action for the form respondent in the same setup when you create the template.


  • In the Zoho Forms integration setup, the landlord's details will be prefilled from the Zoho Sign's setup (Click the Recipient List to view this). Under the Recipient Details, choose the Tenant's Name and Email from the form fields and finish the remaining setup.



Get signatures automatically from verified respondents 

As discussed above, in the e-signature workflow using forms, the signer of the document can be a form respondent, a person of your organization, or even yourself. When you want to instantly send the document, and request a signature when the form submission is made, choose Send the document's link to recipients email inside the integration set up in your form, while also configuring the template and the field mappings. 



Now each recipient has to login into their email to access the link of the signing document before signing it. This way, each signing recipient is verified using their email address to ensure the authenticity of the recipient's signature. A preview of a completed Sales Agreement is shown below where the seller and buyer have signed the document agreeing to the stated norms.



Get signatures from certain form submitters

At times, when you wish to analyze the form submission and request e-signatures only when they meet a set of criteria, you can set up a manual workflow. So now, from the pile of form submissions you receive, you can analyze and manually select the desired entries and trigger the signing document to them. For this, choose None, I will send the document manually while setting up the integration. 

 

Collect signatures in the same device 

From a fitness service waiver to an event participation agreement, it's ideal to get signatures from your clients, employees or customers in-person, right after the form submission. To perform this, add only the role of the signer and mark it as Needs to Sign inside your Zoho Sign template. You don't need to fill out the email address or the name here.



Inside the form integration setup, pick out the email and the name from the form fields and choose Redirect to Zoho Sign document.



In the big picture, when the form is submitted, the document appears on the same device requesting for signature. On signing it, the respondent can click on the "message" icon to send themselves a copy of the signed document. (It is sent to the email address chosen under Recipients Details). Note that the in-person signing is intended for single signing recipient only. To have more than one signers, try adding a host to perform the in-person signing (read more on how to set up this in Zoho Sign template here).  

And, that's a wrap! You can get started with the Zoho Sign template creation here. Once you get the hang of it, read our help document to get started. For further queries, or to share your experience with us, comment below - we'd love to hear from you.  

Until next fortnight,
Prasana









      Zoho Campaigns Resources


        • Desk Community Learning Series


        • Digest


        • Functions


        • Meetups


        • Kbase


        • Resources


        • Glossary


        • Desk Marketplace


        • MVP Corner


        • Word of the Day


        • Ask the Experts


          • Sticky Posts

          • Tip #10: Automatically add tags to Zoho CRM records using form responses

            You may be using tags to filter records, create reports based on specific tags, or let your sales team to know which clients to give priority to. Don't skip tagging for the crm records added via forms. The tags can be set to be automatically captured during the form submission. How it works When you set up a configuration to push form entries into CRM, you can add a tag to them automatically. The tag value can vary based on the respondent's input (captured using form fields), or you can include a
          • Tip #2: Prefill forms automatically with existing Zoho CRM data

            How to automatically prefill a form with existing Zoho CRM data? Prefilled forms can be useful when you want your prospects to view and confirm their data, and in a wide range of other situations. In Zoho Forms, we prefill the fields with the values from Zoho CRM using the Zoho CRM field. What is a Zoho CRM field? A Zoho CRM field acts as a two-way communication channel, by sending data to Zoho CRM from forms and fetching information from CRM into Forms. The field will look up data from your CRM
          • Tip #8: Pass Adwords data (GCLID) and UTM parameters to Zoho CRM using forms

            When you are using forms to capture leads, you may wonder: " How did they find me? Which marketing campaign worked best?"  You can answer this question by capturing the Google Adwords data (GCLID) or the UTM parameter details in your CRM using forms. This can be a great way to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns and identify the most effective ways to capture leads.  Capturing GCLID parameters How it works If a person finds your form by clicking an ad, a GCLID gets created. When they fill out
          • ZUG (Zoho User Group) In-person Meetups - Maximize Data Efficiency with Zoho Forms & Beyond

            Hello Zoho Community, Join us for our upcoming meetups in ANZ, where we'll dive into seamless data handling and maximizing efficiency through Zoho Forms and beyond. Explore the potential of Zoho Forms customization and integration, from mastering the
          • Tip #9: Modify deal properties in Zoho CRM using form responses

            How to modify deal properties of Zoho CRM records using form responses? Deal properties in Zoho CRM records are constantly modified based on the status of the deal. You can automatically modify deal properties (like the deal closing date, or deal name) and even update the deal stage, using form inputs. This can drastically reduce the work your team would otherwise do to search and change individual record details manually. How it works This works by integrating the form with the Deals module of Zoho

          Zoho CRM Plus Resources

            Zoho Books Resources


              Zoho Subscriptions Resources

                Zoho Projects Resources


                  Zoho Sprints Resources


                    Zoho Orchestly Resources


                      Zoho Creator Resources


                        Zoho WorkDrive Resources



                          Zoho CRM Resources

                          • CRM Community Learning Series

                            CRM Community Learning Series


                          • Tips

                            Tips

                          • Functions

                            Functions

                          • Meetups

                            Meetups

                          • Kbase

                            Kbase

                          • Resources

                            Resources

                          • Digest

                            Digest

                          • CRM Marketplace

                            CRM Marketplace

                          • MVP Corner

                            MVP Corner




                            Zoho Writer Writer

                            Get Started. Write Away!

                            Writer is a powerful online word processor, designed for collaborative work.

                              Zoho CRM コンテンツ



                                ご検討中の方

                                  • Recent Topics

                                  • Zoho Form

                                    I have problem with Zoho Form. One of form i don't received the PDF version. Others okay except this one. W904533
                                  • Create & Update Zoho Vault Passwords via Zoho Flow

                                    Hi Zoho Flow / Zoho Vault Team, We’d like to request an enhancement to the Zoho Vault integration in Zoho Flow. Current Limitation: At the moment, Zoho Flow supports only the following selected Zoho Vault actions, such as: Fetch passwords, Share passwords
                                  • Custom Related List Inside Zoho Books

                                    Hello, We can create the Related list inside the zoho books by the deluge code, I am sharing the reference code Please have a look may be it will help you. //..........Get Org Details organizationID = organization.get("organization_id"); Recordid = cm_g_a_data.get("module_record_id");
                                  • Migrate different zoho subscription to zoho one

                                    Dear We have different zoho subscription we need to migrate it to zoho one. Currently we are paying for zoho email, zoho expense, zoho payroll etc under different admin We need to move it too zoho one flexlible plan for all my employees
                                  • Features, Feedback and Votes

                                    We’re launching the Feedback Forum for our customers. This is 'THE' place where you can add everything you’d like to see in Zoho Books. If you don't find the specific feature you need, simply add it so others can also vote for it. While we cannot promise
                                  • Payment system for donations management

                                    I manage an organization where we receive donations from payers. Hence, there is no need to first create invoices and then create payments received against the invoices. What are the recommended best practices to do this in ZohoBooks?
                                  • There Might Be A Glitch in Determining If A String Represents A URL

                                    I suspect there might be a glitch in determining if a string represents a URL or not. For example, I cannot embed the following URL. Perhaps the exclamation mark or parentheses are the culprit? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Grinch_Stole_Chri
                                  • Customer Management: #4 Enhance Customer Journey

                                    When Neha started DefineOps, a growing IT support and consulting firm, most of her work was straightforward. A client would sign up for a free version, decide whether the service works for them, and then either continue or discontinue. Billing was simple,
                                  • Android app sync problem - multiple devices have same problem

                                    Hello, I am having a problem with synchronization in the Android app. When I create a drawing, the data does not sync correctly—only a blank note is created without the drawing. I tested this on multiple devices, including phones and tablets, and the
                                  • Marketing Tip #1: Optimize item titles for SEO

                                    Your item title is the first thing both Google and shoppers notice. Instead of a generic “Leather Bag,” go for something detailed like “Handcrafted Leather Laptop Bag – Durable & Stylish.” This helps your items rank better in search results and instantly
                                  • Territory Assignment Issues (Lead to Account + Contact)

                                    1. Lead → Account & Contact Territory Assignment on Conversion A Lead is automatically assigned one or more territories using a workflow and Lead Assignment Rules. This works as expected, and we are able to assign multiple territories to a Lead automatically.
                                  • Marketer's Space: Proven tips to improve open rates – Part II

                                    Hello Marketers! Welcome back to another post in Marketer's Space! We're continuing from where we left off a fortnight ago. We ended the previous post discussing the subject line, and we'll continue from there. Let's dive right in. Pre-header Pre-header
                                  • SQL Table slowed to a crawl

                                    Hi all - I seem to have noticed an update. Now whenever I am typing in the script field for the SQL tables there is a huge delay and it is all very slow. This has never been the case for me in over 5 years of using Analytics - I really hope it's fixed
                                  • Deluge Events/search API works in user environment but not in sandbox – why?

                                    I am creating an Extension for Zoho CRM using Zoho Sigma Platform I’m using the following Deluge code to search Events in Zoho CRM based on Start_DateTime: criteria = "(Start_DateTime:greater_than:2025-12-20T00:00:00+00:00)"; url = "crm/v8/Events/search?criteria="
                                  • Ensure Consistent Service Delivery with Comprehensive Job Sheets

                                    We are elated to announce that one of the most requested features is now live: Job Sheets. They are customizable, reusable forms that serve as a checklist for the services that technicians need to carry out and as a tool for data collection. While on
                                  • What are Zoho Meeting capabilities included in Zoho Workplace Standard?

                                    I am evaluating using Zoho Meeting for my organization, but it is not clear what Zoho Meeting capabilities are already included in Zoho Workplace Standard. - Are meeting recordings included in Workplace Standard? - Can we invite external meeting participants
                                  • How can I get the participant list of a reoccurring meeting afterwards?

                                    I'm trying to use the Meeting Participant Report from the API docs but when I call it on a reoccurring meeting it returns that there are no participants because it thinks I'm talking about the meeting in the future. Is there a way to use webhooks or some
                                  • Function #50: Send Mass emails to your customers

                                    Hello everyone, and welcome back to our series! We have reached a milestone of 50 Functions, which means that we have automated 50 different tasks in Zoho Books. Every Friday, we have shared a nifty function aimed at either automating a task or streamlining
                                  • Full Hebrew Language Support for Client-Side Zoho Assist Interface

                                    Dear Zoho Assist Team, We would like to request an enhancement to Zoho Assist's client-side interface to support full Hebrew language customization, including all popups, notifications, and session-related messages. Current Limitation The Join page allows
                                  • Add Hebrew & RTL Support to Feedback Widget

                                    Hello Zoho Desk Team, How are you? We are using Zoho Desk and would like to utilize the Feedback Widget. While Zoho Desk itself supports Hebrew and RTL, the Feedback Widget unfortunately does not. We kindly request that Hebrew and full RTL support be
                                  • Merge Tickets Directly from Contact Page in Zoho Desk

                                    Dear Zoho Desk Support Team, We are writing to request a new feature that would allow users to easily merge tickets directly from the contact page in Zoho Desk. Currently, the only option to merge tickets is from the Tickets list view page, which can
                                  • Different languages for users

                                    Hello, Do you plan to enable individual users to select their languages for interface? Currently language can be changed for everyone - it looks like a settings for a whole portal, which is not good when you are working internationally. Best regards,
                                  • Kaizen #222 - Client Script Support for Notes Related List

                                    Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of Kaizen. The final Kaizen post of the year 2025 is here! With the new Client Script support for the Notes Related List, you can validate, enrich, and manage notes across modules. In this post, we’ll explore how
                                  • 2025年 Zoho コミュニティ 活動の振り返り 🎉

                                    ユーザーの皆さん、こんにちは!コミュニティチームの中野です。 2025年も多くの学びと出会いがあったZoho コミュニティ。 本記事では今年の活動を振り返りながら、フォーラムの投稿・参加者の皆さん・イベントのハイライトをご紹介していきます。 目次 フォーラム:注目の投稿 フォーラム:多くの貢献をしてくださった方々 ユーザー交流会振り返り ワークアウト振り返り その他のトピックス 1. フォーラム:注目の投稿 本フォーラムでは様々な議論と知識の共有が行われました。 ユーザーの皆さんが日々の業務で直面する課題を投稿し、経験豊富なユーザーさん達が実践的な解決策を提供してくださいました。
                                  • Customer Management: #3 Giving Customers Control & Privilege

                                    Rio, the founder of RenoTech Solutions, a fast-growing digital service company, found itself juggling a dozen different services for its clients. They handled one-time setup fees, recurring monthly invoices, and custom milestone-based billing for projects.
                                  • Can I use a Standalone CRM Function as the Callback URL For Async Export Data API?

                                    I am creating an export job using this API https://www.zoho.com/analytics/api/v2/bulk-api/export-data-async/create-export/view-id.html There is a "callbackUrl" key in the CONFIG object. I tried copying the URL for a standalone function in CRM which can
                                  • Add RTL (Right-to-Left) Text Direction Support Across All Zoho Learn Editing Interfaces

                                    Hi Zoho Learn Team, Hope you're doing well. We would like to request an important enhancement to Zoho Learn regarding support for right-to-left (RTL) languages such as Hebrew and Arabic. 🔹 Current Issue While the Knowledge Base Article editor provides
                                  • Add Hebrew Support for Meeting Transcripts Provided by ZIA in Zoho Cliq

                                    Hi Zoho Cliq Team, Hope you're doing well. We would like to request the addition of Hebrew language support for the Meeting Transcript and Summary feature in Zoho Cliq. Currently the transcript and summary feature is available for recorded meetings and
                                  • Remote Control Functionality During Screen Sharing in Zoho Cliq

                                    Hello Zoho Cliq Team, We would like to request the addition of remote control functionality during screen sharing sessions in Zoho Cliq. Currently, while screen sharing in Cliq is very useful, it lacks the ability for another participant to take control
                                  • Centralized Organization Information Management in Zoho One

                                    Dear Zoho One Support, I'm writing to propose a feature that would significantly improve the user experience and streamline data management within Zoho One. Current Challenge: Currently, managing organization information across various Zoho One apps requires
                                  • Enhance Zoho One Conditional Assignment to Fully Reassign App Settings When Changing Departments

                                    Hi Zoho Team, We’d like to submit a feature request regarding the current behavior of Zoho One’s conditional assignment logic when moving a user between departments. 🔧 Current Limitation As it stands, Zoho One’s conditional assignment does not remove
                                  • Ability to Filter Alias Mailboxes in Zoho Recruit

                                    Dear Zoho Recruit Team, I hope you are doing well. We would like to request a feature enhancement regarding the handling of alias mailboxes in Zoho Recruit. Currently, when we connect an alias mailbox (e.g., jobs@domain.com) from our Zoho One account
                                  • Automatic Department and Employee Sync Between Zoho One and Zoho People

                                    Dear Zoho Support, I'm writing to propose a valuable feature request that would streamline data management and improve user experience within the Zoho ecosystem: automatic synchronization between departments and employees in Zoho One and Zoho People.
                                  • Prefered Bin Missing in android APP

                                    Andoroid app dosent show preferred bin in the picklist. The workaround support reccomend is to use the computre to create the picklist. it shuld be information to be shown aas basic for the pciker.
                                  • Open Sans Font in Zoho Books is not Open Sans.

                                    Font choice in customising PDF Templates is very limited, we cannot upload custom fonts, and to make things worse, the font names are not accurate. I selected Open Sans, and thought the system was bugging, but no, Open Sans is not Open Sans. The real
                                  • Function #1: Convert an accepted Estimate to Sales Order automatically in Zoho Books

                                    As you’re aware, Zoho Books provides a default option to have the estimates automatically converted to invoices once your customer accepts them. Many of you wanted a similar option for sales orders, so here’s a workflow that converts accepted estimates
                                  • Reusable Jira Connection for Multiple Zoho Projects Imports

                                    Hello Zoho Projects Team, We would like to raise a concern and submit a feature request regarding the Jira → Zoho Projects migration process, specifically around how Jira connections are handled. Current Behavior: When setting up a Jira connection for
                                  • Zoho invoice doesn't support Arabic language

                                    I added a clause in the terms & conditions section in Arabic but it doesn't appear when I sent or print it.
                                  • Recurring Invoice Placeholder Not Updating Billing Period

                                    Hi, I’m using Zoho Invoice Free and want the billing period to update automatically in recurring invoices. In Item Description I tried: Billing Period: %(m-6)% %(y)% to %(m-1)% %(y)% but even if the invoice date is in 2026, it still shows the period based
                                  • Related list Mobile Device

                                    Hello, We use an the Zoho creator application to make reports linked to Accounts. On the computer: it's easy to go the Account and see all the created reports in the related list below On iPad/Phone ZOHO CRM APP: we cannot see the reports on those accounts
                                  • Next Page