Digital Twin: Securely combine digital and handwritten signatures

The Digital Twin links your document to its digitally signed original, keeping its electronic certificates verifiable even after printing.

Electronic certificates remain accessible and verifiable at any time for potential court cases
Combine digital and handwritten signatures in one document
Simply scan the QR code on the printed document to verify the electronic certificate

Digital Twin

What is a Digital Twin?

Certifaction’s Digital Twin links a document to its digitally signed original and the associated electronic signature certificate.

When an electronically signed document is printed, the digital signature certificates can no longer be verified from the printed document alone. As a result, it is no longer possible to prove in court that this exact document was signed. What many people do not know is that in court, it is the electronic certificate, rather than the visual signature, that serves as evidence.

The Digital Twin solves this problem: a QR code on the document creates a connection to the digitally signed original and its electronic certificate.

By scanning the QR code, users can access and verify the digitally signed original and the associated information using a smartphone and a standard browser, without any additional app.

In short: The Digital Twin ensures that the electronic proof of a digitally signed document remains accessible and verifiable, even after the document is printed.

Evidence on paper

The electronic proof stays connected to the document

Electronic signatures contain information that allows the signature and the integrity of the digital document to be verified. With a standard printout, however, this digital information is no longer accessible from the paper itself.

The Digital Twin creates a connection between the printed document and the digital original. Via the QR code, the digitally signed original can be accessed at any time and the associated signature certificates can be validated.

The benefits

Electronic signature certificates remain accessible even after printing
Digitally signed original accessible at any time
Verification via smartphone and standard browser
No additional app required
Digital copy available on demand

In 5 steps

How the Digital Twin works

1. Sign the document electronically

The document is signed electronically with Certifaction.

2. Create the Digital Twin

The Digital Twin is linked to the document. A QR code creates the connection to the digitally signed original.

3. Use the document digitally or print it

The document can be sent digitally or, when needed, printed and incorporated into a paper-based process.

4. Scan the QR code

Using a smartphone camera, the QR code can be opened directly in a standard browser without any additional app.

5. Verify the digital original

The digitally signed original and the associated signature information can be accessed and validated.

Electronic proof remains verifiable, even after printing

For important contracts and documents, it may be necessary to verify at a later stage which digital original was signed and whether it remains unchanged.

Even if a document is subsequently printed or physically passed on, the Digital Twin maintains the connection to the digitally signed original. Relevant information about the electronic signature and the integrity of the digital original can therefore still be accessed and verified.

Signature levels

SES, AES or QES: the right electronic signature (ZertES & eIDAS)

Certifaction supports different signature levels for different requirements:

Simple Electronic Signature (SES)

For processes with lower requirements for identifying the signer.

Advanced Electronic Signature (AES)

For use cases with higher requirements for identity and verifiability.

Qualified Electronic Signature (QES)

For processes with particularly high legal requirements. The QES meets the written form requirement and is, as a rule, legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

It is important to distinguish between the two: The Digital Twin does not replace the electronic signature and does not determine its signature level. Its purpose is to keep the connection to the digitally signed original and the associated electronic proof accessible, even when transitioning between digital and paper.

Digital and paper

One document. Two worlds.

Grafische Darstellung eines Dokuments und eines Smartphones, das das Dokument mit einem QR-Code scannt und die Option zeigt, das Originaldokument herunterzuladen, mit einem grünen Häkchen zur Bestätigung.

Combine digital and handwritten signatures

In practice, signing processes are not always fully digital. A document can, for example, first be signed electronically, then printed and subsequently signed by hand by another person.

The Digital Twin supports exactly these hybrid processes. The QR code on the document maintains the connection to the digitally signed original and its electronic certificates. This allows digital and paper-based steps to be combined within the same document process.

Sign the document electronically
Automatically connect the Digital Twin to the document
Print the document when needed
Add further handwritten signatures
Access and verify the digitally signed original via the QR code

This means you do not have to choose between a fully digital and a fully paper-based process.

Grafik eines Laptops und eines Druckers, jeweils mit einem Dokument und einem grünen Häkchen als Symbol für erfolgreichen Abschluss oder Bestätigung

Digital and paper, without loss of information

Even in digitalized organizations, paper remains part of many workflows. The Digital Twin makes it possible to use electronic signatures without having to eliminate every paper-based process.

Sign documents electronically and then print them
Combine electronic and handwritten signatures
Connect the printout to the digitally signed original
Access the digital original at any time via the QR code
Keep electronic signature certificates verifiable

This makes the Digital Twin particularly suitable for processes where digital and paper-based steps exist side by side.

Grafik eines Dokuments mit einem blauen Schild rechts, das ein weißes Schloss-Symbol zeigt, als Hinweis auf Datenschutz oder Sicherheit

Privacy First, also for the Digital Twin

Confidential documents should remain confidential throughout the electronic signing process.

That is why Certifaction follows a Privacy First approach with Zero Document Knowledge and End-to-End Encryption. Document contents are processed locally and encrypted before they reach Certifaction’s systems. As a result, Certifaction cannot access the confidential contents of your documents.

Privacy by Design

End-to-End Encryption
Zero Document Knowledge
Confidential document contents remain unreadable for Certifaction
Hosting on ISO 27001-certified servers in Switzerland
Digital Twins can also be stored on your own servers

Immediately available via Web App

Try Certifaction for free

See how electronic signatures and the Digital Twin connect digital and paper-based document processes.

FAQs

FAQ about the Digital Twin

What is a Digital Twin for electronic signatures?

Certifaction’s Digital Twin links a document via a QR code to its digitally signed original and the associated electronic signature certificates. This keeps the electronic proof accessible and verifiable even when the document is printed.

What happens to an electronic signature when the document is printed?

With a standard printout, the digital signature certificates can no longer be verified from the printed document alone, which means the digital signature can no longer be proven in court. The Digital Twin connects the printout via a QR code to the digitally signed original, allowing the electronic signature certificates to remain accessible and verifiable.

Can I combine electronic and handwritten signatures?

Yes. A document can, for example, first be signed electronically, then printed and subsequently signed by hand by another person. The Digital Twin maintains the connection to the digitally signed original via the QR code.

Is the Digital Twin the same as an electronic signature?

No. The electronic signature and the Digital Twin serve different purposes. The electronic signature is used to sign a document electronically. The Digital Twin complements this process by keeping the connection to the digitally signed original and its electronic signature certificates accessible, even after transitioning between digital and paper.

Is an electronic signature as legally valid as a handwritten signature?

That depends on the signature level and the applicable legal requirements. Certifaction supports SES, AES and QES. The Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) meets the written form requirement and is, as a rule, legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

How can a printed document be verified?

The QR code on the document can be scanned with a smartphone camera. A standard browser then provides access to the digitally signed original and the associated signature certificates for verification. No additional app is required.

Do I need special software for verification?

No. A smartphone with a camera and a standard browser are sufficient. No additional app is required.

How does Certifaction protect confidential documents?

Certifaction follows the Zero Document Knowledge principle. Documents are processed locally and encrypted end-to-end, which means Certifaction cannot access the confidential contents of your documents.

Haben Sie weitere Fragen?

Your path to the future

Electronic signatures for digital and paper-based processes

With Certifaction, you combine electronic signatures, data protection and the verifiability of digitally signed documents, even when transitioning between digital and paper.