How to put digital signature on Google Drive: definitive step by step

Digital Signature in Google Drive It integrates the native electronic signature feature to allow you to open a PDF file or document in Drive.google.com And add signatures with validation and security directly through the appropriate menu.

From the corporate point of view, it is noted that companies, in order to modernize their management processes, are increasingly impelled to follow the constant technological advances that are presented. 

After all, by acquiring tools that improve the execution of their services, the public has a better perception of them, which favors business growth. 

Therefore, several modern solutions have gained space in administrative processes: management software, cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and, as we will discuss in this article, the digital signature of documents and contracts.

However, even though the format is growing in the market, it is still not rare to have doubts about the countless ways to use the tool. One of them involves precisely integrating a digital signature platform with Google Drive.

Despite Google's functionality being present in virtually all offices, thanks to its essential tools for a modernized work, many are unaware of this resource. 

But don't worry: throughout this article we'll detail everything you need to know about how to digitally sign on Google Drive. 

Summary
• What does it mean to accomplish Digital signature in Google Drive in PDF files and documents.
• How to access and activate the electronic signature tool in Drive.google.com and Google Docs.
• Step-by-step flow for opening, inserting fields, and requesting signatures on the document via computer.
• Integration of external digital signature platforms to automate storage and management.
• Benefits include safety, time savings, and elimination of physical processes.

Fquick actions

1. A Law No. 14.063 / 2020 and Provisional Measure No. 2.200-2/2001 guarantee that electronic signatures have legal validity in Brazil.
2. According to NISTDigital signatures use cryptographic mechanisms to verify the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents.
3. O IETF defines digital signatures as cryptographic techniques widely used to authenticate and ensure the integrity of electronic data.

How to use the electronic signature tool in Google Drive

Integrating a digital signature platform with Google Drive is an extremely useful feature for any company, and although it may seem complicated at first glance, it is actually quite simple.

And it will be even simpler after you follow this quick tutorial that we have prepared especially for you, detailing the entire integration procedure. 

To do so, we will use the digital signature solution of ZapSign, which has excellent integration capabilities not only with Google Drive, but with other platforms. Let's go?

1. Step 1: Login

First, to carry out the integration procedure between the platforms, you must connect to your ZapSign account and then click on the “Settings” option, located in the lower corner of your screen.

2. Step 2: Integration

Now that you are already logged into your ZapSign profile, go to the “Integrations” option, and a new tab will open. 

Note that, below, you can see all the applications that can be integrated into the ZapSign platform. This is interesting because, although the focus here is Google Drive, you can do the same procedure with other applications later.

3. application selection

Among the various applications displayed on the screen, go to Google Drive and select it to integrate with ZapSign, clicking on the “Activate” button.

Soon after, you will be redirected to the page of another platform, Integromat. Integromat is a special application capable of integrating ZapSign with more than a thousand different applications. 

Once in Integromat, you must click on the “Create new scenario from template” option, exactly as shown in the print below:

4. Authenticate your Google account

In this step, Integromat will ask you to authenticate your Google account on the platform in order to configure the integration.

Here, some options will be displayed, such as choosing the name and location of the folder in which you want your documents to be created, and others. 

The ZapSign platform itself already leaves these options previously configured for you, but you can also configure them in another way, if you prefer.

5. Connect the ZapSign webhook

Next, you will need to connect the ZapSign webhook. The webhook is a feature that connects ZapSign to Google, causing events (ie signed documents) that occur within the platform to be communicated to Google Drive.

That is, it is the tool that guarantees the integration itself. Click on the “Add” option to add a connection between the ZapSign webhook and your cloud.

6. Enter your API Token

For identification and security purposes, Integromat will ask you to enter your API Token. 

An API Token is a digital security device that allows the user to authenticate with cloud services quickly and extremely securely, bypassing two-step verification and SSO. 

This tool is also capable of retrieving instance data via REST APIs.

To know your API Token, just go back to your ZapSign account to access the “Settings” option again. Then, go once more to the “Integration” tab and this time, select the “Enable API” option, as indicated below.

Your API Token will then be displayed: just copy it, return to Integromat and paste it in the space indicated, then click on the “Save” option.

7. Activating the integration

At this stage, it's finally time to activate the integration you just performed. At the bottom of the Integromat screen, click on the “Run once” option or “Save” (the smaller icon shaped like a floppy disk). 

Then, go to the “Scenarios” tab to view your new integration.

The integration will then be displayed on this screen. Just click on the lightning icon next to it to activate it.

8. Insert a document into the integration

With pretty much everything done, let's now insert a document into the integration and see it working. To perform this action, you must first create a document in .pdf format and sign it through the ZapSign platform.

After creating and digitally signing your document through ZapSign, access your Google Drive account to verify that the same file was saved there. You will see that Integromat will have created a folder on your drive. The file with your signed document will be inside.

Ready! See how easy it is? However, it is important to remember that, for your document to be properly uploaded to Google Drive, it is necessary that all signatories have signed. 

Action in the Drive	Location in the menu	File type	Expected result
Open document	Three-point menu	PDF or Docs	The “Electronic Signature” option appears (Google workspace)
Activate subscription	Tools > Electronic Signature	Google Doc	Signature fields are inserted (Google Help)
Insert fields	Tool sidebar	PDF opened in Docs	Signature fields and added data (Google Help)

This is an intelligent feature that occurs precisely so that you don't have your folder full of similar, but incomplete files – which can end up causing confusion and hindering your work.

The good news is that this integration is free: ZapSign does not charge any extra cost to perform it. Integromat, in turn, is a service with its own cost – however, the free plan already allows up to a thousand documents to be uploaded to the platform. 

Anyway, if you want to subscribe to the service, you can upload up to 10 documents for just US$9,00 per month.

This integration is very useful for you to have another way to access your digitally signed document as a backup, and it can also be used with other cloud storage services such as Dropbox, OneDrive and others.

💡 Tip! Do you need a digital signature solution for your management? Click here and create yours now!

But what is the importance of the digital signature?

The importance of using the electronic signature as a way of signing contracts is in all the dynamization of work processes provided by the virtual environment. By making your signature remotely, you save time lost with unnecessary displacements, notary recognitions and protocols, eliminating bureaucratic processes.

More than saving time, the digital signature represents a significant cost savings, since moving, sending and printing the documents requires costs. financial.

The virtualization of your company's documentation is also beneficial from the point of view of organizing your workflow and deadlines, since the speed with which documents can be accessed becomes considerably greater. Not to mention that, when we talk about electronic documents, the risk of loss and misplacement is minimized.

All these factors generate a significant reduction in bureaucracy in its internal processes, which is reflected in the improvement of relationship between your brand and your customers. 

After all, when all parties involved in a contract are able to operate in a computerized and secure environment, their routines are optimized and deals are closed more quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

What is a digital signature in Google Drive?
Digital signatures in Google Drive are the process of inserting electronic signatures into PDF or Google Docs documents directly on the platform. Drive.google.com, using the electronic signature feature. Google workspace

How do I sign a PDF in Google Drive using my computer?
Visit Drive.google.com On your computer, open the PDF, click the three-dot menu, and select "Electronic Signature" to add fields and collect signatures.

Can I use digital signatures in Google documents?
Yes, with the file open in Google Docs Click on Tools > Electronic Signature and enter fields to collect signatures.

Finally, it is worth noting that, little by little, most companies in the market, large or little, are migrating to this new reality and incorporating digital signature solutions into their document management – so those who do not follow this trend will certainly be left behind.

Therefore, how about starting the digitization of your company now, using a robust solution to carry out your digital signatures? 

ZapSign has a platform totally dedicated to electronic signatures so that you can sign your documents in a few steps from various communication channels, even WhatsApp.

In addition to allowing the inclusion of other information such as telephone number, CPF or Tax ID signatories, it is also possible to integrate it with a multitude of other applications – as you could see when reading this article.

To know our services, just click here!