Press Release: 21 September 2011

Signed and sealed – Electronically: Digital Signature Solution from Pitney Bowes ensures document authenticity, security and compliance

Hot on the heels of Pitney Bowes SA’s innovative e-Messaging solution, comes a further enhancement to personalised electronic customer communications – an uncompromised secured digital signature solution.

As more business transactions are being conducted electronically, digital signatures are becoming an increasingly important and sought-after imperative.

The transition from paper documents with hand-written signatures, to electronic files with digital signatures is moving at a rapid pace. Digital signature software provides new levels of consistency and security in e-communications as well as reducing physical storage and the loss of documents.

According to Pitney Bowes’ Software Manager Jaap Nieboer: “Digital signature technology has been used in business for some time in Europe and the USA. We are excited to be able to introduce our customers to this digital technology. It also gives our e-Messaging customers an added benefit whereby if they use the digital signatures their email communication with their clients will not be blocked or seen as spam! ”

Pitney Bowes’ e-Messaging solution was launched in South Africa in 2009, enabling companies to effectively manage and automate two-way email and SMS communications.

“The e-Messaging solution can deliver personalised customer communications in a variety of formats, including e-mail and SMS messaging. This can generate cost savings and improve customer relations,” says Nieboer, explaining that the e-Messaging solution generates personalised emails and SMS messages in batch or in real-time, while at the same time sending automated, relevant responses to specific customer queries.

As a value-added capability, the Digital Signature solution now ensures trust in email communications between companies and their customers.

“A digital signature verifies the identity of the person who signed the document, and confirms that the content was not modified after the digital signature was applied to the document,” says Nieboer. He explains that the digital signatures are based on encryption technology which helps to mitigate risk associated with electronic business transactions.

“Basically it means that the digital signature is always completely secure and cannot be copied fraudulently. Once the email is sent it will also be archived and the signed document can be used as evidence that it has not been tampered with.”

Nieboer also draws attention to the added benefit of legal compliance: “The Consumer Protection Act and other legislation is driving the need for digital signatures,” he asserts. “The authenticity of a digital signature also means peace of mind for companies who are concerned with verification of identity in order to avoid identity and financial fraud taking place.”

He refers to a digital signature as a ‘digital passport’, ensuring secure and verified identification before financial transactions can take place between companies.

“Digital signature technology is just another way that Pitney Bowes SA is helping to enhance our customers’ electronic communications needs with their own customers. The technology means our customers can replace slow and expensive paper-based approval processes with fast, low-cost and fully digital ones – without compromising on security,” Nieboer concludes.

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes is a $5.6 billion global technology leader whose products, services and solutions deliver value within the mailstream and beyond. Founded in 1920, the company’s 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. For more information about Ptiney Bowes, its products, services and solutions, visit www.pb.com.

Editorial Contacts

Kendal Hunt PR Consultant & Writer Kendal Hunt Communications 011 – 7045649 or Kendal@kendalhunt.co.za