What’s changing
Earlier this year, we introduced eSignature for Docs and Drive in beta. Today, eSignature for Docs and Drive is rolling out in general availability for all Workspace Individual customers.
Built directly into Google Docs, eSignature makes it easier for solopreneurs and small businesses to request signatures, keep track of and manage contracts like customer agreements, vendor contracts, stakeholder sign-offs and more. eSignature can be used to:
- Request signatures, see the status of pending signatures, and find completed contracts.
- Sign official contracts directly within Google Drive, eliminating the need to switch apps or tabs.
- Create a copy of any given contract so it can be used as a template to initiate multiple eSignatures requests.
Since the last announcement, we’ve expanded functionality to include the following features:
- Audit trail: all completed contracts will automatically contain an audit trail report.
- Multi-signer: the ability to request a signature from more than one user.
- Non-Gmail users: the ability to request an eSignature from non-Gmail users.
- Initiating eSignature on PDF (beta): the ability to initiate an eSignature on PDF files stored in Drive.
We’ll also be introducing more features for eSignature in the next few months, including:
- PDF templates: the ability to easily reuse a PDF file as contract templates.
- Custom text fields: the ability to ask signers to add relevant information (e.g. job titles, email address) to the contract.
Additional details
Select Google Workspace editions (see the “Availability” section below) can apply to beta test eSignature using this form. We will be accepting beta applications until December 18, 2023.
This feature will be available as part of a larger beta, which includes access to new custom email layouts in Gmail. These new email layouts allow users to customize existing templates, reuse a custom layout in multiple email campaigns, or create a brand new layout from scratch. Once you sign up for the beta you will see the eSignature and new Gmail features in the coming weeks.
Getting started
- End users: Workspace Individual subscribers: Visit the Help Center to learn more about sending signature requests & sign documents with eSignature.
Rollout pace
- Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on December 7, 2023
Availability
- Available to Google Workspace Individual Subscribers
- Eligible for beta: Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus and Education Plus