In field service, the client's sign-off is one of the most important steps of the job. It confirms the work was done, protects you against "nobody came" and "that was not done" disputes, and turns a finished job into something you can invoice. Digital signatures make that step faster and harder to lose.
Are Electronic Signatures Legally Valid?
In Singapore, the Electronic Transactions Act recognises electronic signatures for most transactions. The exclusions cover things like wills, powers of attorney and trusts, and the sale or transfer of property; sign-offs on service work are not among them.
Other markets have similar laws, including Malaysia's Electronic Commerce Act 2006, the UK's Electronic Communications Act 2000, Australia's Electronic Transactions Act 1999 and the US ESIGN Act. This is general information, not legal advice. If a particular document matters a great deal, check with a lawyer.
Simple and Advanced Electronic Signatures
Simple Electronic Signatures
The usual choice for field service. The client draws their signature on a phone or tablet screen. On its own the drawing proves little; what gives it weight is the record around it: who signed, when, and exactly what they were approving.
Advanced Electronic Signatures
Used for higher-stakes agreements, with steps that verify the signer's identity, such as a one-time code or an ID check. For a technician standing next to the client at the end of a job, the signer's presence does most of that work, so a simple signature is usually enough.
What to Record With Every Signature
- The signer's printed name. A scribble is not a name.
- Their role, if it matters, for example tenant or facilities manager
- The date and time of the sign-off
- The full job record they are approving: work done, findings and photos
- A copy sent to them straight away
Benefits for Field Teams
- Sign-off happens before the technician leaves, so there is nothing to chase later.
- Fewer disputes, because the client approved the record on the spot.
- Invoices can go out the same day.
- Every signed record is stored and searchable, not in a folder in the van.
- It works on the phones technicians already carry, with no special hardware.
Best Practices for Signature Capture
- Show the client the completed job details before asking for a signature.
- Make sure the signature pad is clean and responsive on the device you use.
- Store each signature with its job record, never as a loose image.
- Send the client a copy of the signed report immediately.
- Ask for a printed name every time.
How FieldSign Handles Signatures
FieldSign's technician app ends every report with a signature step. The client enters their name and signs on the technician's phone. The signature is saved with the job record: the signer's name, the technician, the work done, the photos and the time the report was submitted. The client is then emailed a link to the signed report, which they can save as a PDF.
On the Business plan, delivery orders can also be signed by the receiver on delivery. FieldSign is built for sign-off on site. It does not send documents out for remote signature, so for contracts that several parties must sign remotely, use a dedicated e-signature tool alongside it.