Digital Signature Future: From Cards to Remote Signing

Since 2010, actors in the waste management industry have been required to use an electronic signature process. Until now, signature cards and card readers have been used for this purpose. In 2020, Axians eWaste GmbH developed a new method that does not require additional hardware and offers further advantages, as Alexander Marschall, Business Development & Innovation Manager at Axians eWaste GmbH, demonstrates in his expert contribution.

The digital signature has sparked a revolution in document management over the past few decades. It enables the secure and rapid exchange of electronic documents, which is increasingly indispensable in the modern economy. This is particularly relevant in the waste management industry.

The industry was the first to mandate the electronic signature process as part of the electronic waste tracking procedure (eANV) back in 2010. Companies and authorities used qualified electronic signatures created with signature cards and certified card readers. As a pioneer in the digitalization of waste management, Axians eWaste GmbH developed a solution in 2020 in cooperation with partners and based on the eIDAS regulation. This solution allows qualified electronic signatures (QES) to be conveniently and flexibly created using a smartphone.

This development paves the way for the future of remote signatures and offers significant advantages over traditional signature card-based processes.

Challenges of Traditional Signature Cards

The introduction of electronic signatures was a significant step for the waste management industry, enabling the secure digitization of documents such as consignment notes and disposal certificates. The Signature Act outlined the process for creating qualified signatures. Until recently, this required the aforementioned signature cards and special card readers. These requirements presented users with several challenges:

1. The Signature Cards: Setting up and activating signature cards typically involves several administrative steps, including registration and activation by a trusted service provider. From ordering to the identification process (e.g., Post-Ident) to receiving the signature card by mail, it often takes up to four weeks.
2. High Hardware Effort: The setup required not only certified card readers but also special hardware drivers. These drivers are not available for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, particularly those running Android and iOS.
3. Additional Maintenance and Hygiene Requirements: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that handling card readers used by multiple people in succession can be hygienically problematic. This increased the demand for contactless procedures that allow for secure and hygienic use.

The Introduction of Remote Signatures

With the implementation of the European eIDAS regulation (2016), the stage was set for a new, flexible signature method: the remote signature. Axians eWaste was one of the first companies to leverage eIDAS compliance in 2020 for developing a solution for the waste disposal industry that enables signatures without physical signature cards and card readers. The key advantage of the remote signature is that users can now easily create their signatures using a smartphone or tablet. The remote signature is based on the technology of certified trust service providers, which securely store the necessary certificates for signature creation and make them available online when needed.Users can thus create signatures that meet the security level of a qualified electronic signature. This is conveniently done, for example, in the case of the electronic waste tracking procedure via the eANVportal of Axians eWaste, where signatures can now be created independently of the system and without additional card readers.

Benefits of Remote Signatures

The process offers numerous advantages over classic signature card technology:

1. Flexibility and Mobility: Users are no longer tied to specific hardware and can create signatures with standard devices, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or PC. This step significantly simplifies mobile use.
2. System Independence: Since no special hardware drivers are required, signatures can be created on all common operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, etc.).
3. Speed and Efficiency: The signature process has become much faster and more user-friendly. Obtaining a remote signature can be done online in just a few minutes via a video identification process. It is thus immediately ready for use.
4. Multi-Signatures: For the use of multi-signature procedures, the acquisition of an additional, special certificate is not required for remote signatures. While signature cards require a separate and costly card, multi-signatures are standard and integrated without additional costs in remote signatures.
5. Hygienic and Secure: Remote signatures reduce the need for shared devices, thus meeting higher hygiene standards.

In the electronic waste tracking procedure, waste generators, waste transporters, and waste disposers use remote signatures to sign documents such as consignment notes independently of location. This accelerates process handling and increases the acceptance of digital processes among users. Practical feedback shows that the solution is highly appreciated, especially due to its intuitive handling and independence from stationary hardware.

The Future of Digital Signatures

Remote signing is a significant step in the digitalization of waste management. It also has the potential to gain a foothold in other industries with high security requirements. The mobile flexibility and system independence fundamentally change the electronic signature process. In particular, for companies and authorities seeking a seamless, secure, and mobile solution, remote signing offers considerable added value. Find all the information about Axians eWaste’s solution here.

The upcoming eIDAS 2.0 regulation also brings significant innovations for qualified electronic signatures, particularly through the introduction of the EUDI Wallet, which enables secure digital storage of personal credentials.

The goal is for at least 80% of the EU population to use a digital identity by 2030. Additionally, the qualified electronic attestation of attributes (QEAA) will be introduced to store further credentials in the wallet. The regulation promotes cross-border cooperation and recognizes new trust services, enhancing consumer protection. These developments underscore the growing importance of electronic signatures in digital transformation.

Source: Adobe Stock / png-jpeg-vector

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