In my previous blog post "Digital Security on Appraisals - Fighting Fraud" I looked at two different appraisal security solutions. Appraisal Matrix, LLC sells a digital barcode software package that is able to barcode / encrypt individual appraisals. a la mode, inc's answer to document security (currently available for mortgage professionals) is SureDocs. Click here to see how it works.
Both of those options seem rather involved to me? I thought there might be something else available that would fill the bill for appraisers. What I found was ApproveIt® Desktop, Silanis’ electronic signature software developed for commonly used desktop document formats.
ApproveIt Desktop is designed for offline signing processes and internal, ad-hoc operational applications. Supported applications include Microsoft Word®, Excel®, Adobe PDF™, Adobe eForms and IBM Workplace Forms™.
I downloaded their full working copy demonstration software to give it a spin. Read on . . .
Key Features of ApproveIt Desktop:
Security : Once a document or form is signed electronically using ApproveIt Desktop, the integrity of the data is secured and an audit trail is permanently embedded within the document. The resulting electronic signature is visibly invalidated if any unauthorized changes are made. The solution can also be combined with a variety of user authentication solutions, including PKI and smart cards.
Enforceability/Compliance: ApproveIt Desktop meets all legal requirements for signing. The solution captures a person's intent to sign a document and permanently binds the consent, in the form of an electronic signature, into the document. This information, which is permanently bound to the final document, creates an auditable approval process. Users can then save an electronic copy, or print out a hard copy for their records.
Usability: As a plug-in to applications users are already familiar with, ApproveIt Desktop requires a minimal learning curve. Signing icons appear within the application toolbar enabling users to intuitively 'click' to add their electronic signature. An image of each person's handwritten signature is also secured within the document. This replicates the appearance of hand-signed documents, both on-screen and when printed. Advanced automation features also enable complex, signing processes involving multiple users to be supported in an electronic application.
Downloading The Demonstration:
From the Silanis web site I clicked on "Download A Demo". The demo included two sample signatures, a Quick-Start Tutorial and a sample form to test a variety of e-signing features in both MS Word and Adobe Acrobat.
The software installed easily and put "plug-ins" directly into my Word and Acrobat toolbars. The tutorials are in pdf format and were simple to follow and allowed me to evaluate "first-hand" ApproveIt Desktop’s capabilities.
The demo provided me with a sample tutorial form and sample electronic signature (ePersona) files, but the full version of ApproveIt Desktop will allow the user to create their own unique ePersona files.
During my evaluation, they recommend that I visit their Electronic Signature Resource Center where I found comprehensive information about the issues, considerations, and requirements surrounding electronic signatures.
A whitepaper that compliments the demo download of ApproveIt® Desktop software is "Electronic Signature Features". The article describes the features that must be supported by an electronic signature solution in order to ensure security, compliance and legal enforceability, business process integration, and high user adoption. The article can be found here.
CONCLUSIONS: The Word version seems very workable for appraisers dealing with narrative style appraisal reports in MS word. The problem for residential appraisers, will be implementing this within their "Forms Software". I've dropped a note to their contact person with a few questions regarding issues with writing PDFs with Acrobat Security turned on.
Also, I could not find any place on their web site where I could confirm the cost of the application!? I could find some resellers on the Internet but they didn't have the most recent version.
When they get back with me, I'll pass on my findings!
For additional information: Visit the Silanis Technology web site or contact: Edward Viau: Client Development, edward_viau@silanis.com - 888-745-2647 X 1190
Author: Brian J. Davis, RAA - Brian Davis & Associates - Brian has over 22 years of appraisal experience in Central, IL and hosts the Appraisal Scoop blog and the WinTOTAL Users Group an email forum for appraisers.
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