E-Signature Approvals
In today's fast-paced digital environment, the E-Signature Approvals feature stands out as a revolutionary tool within our platform, designed to expedite the approval process significantly. Developed over a meticulously planned six-week cycle, this MVP initially focused on the core functionality—enabling users to quickly and securely sign documents online.
Results
65% adoption rate within the first month
My Role
Shaping,
User Research,
Product Design 
Team
Product Manager,
Tech Lead,
1 Developer
Timeline
6 Weeks
Sept 2023
Final Web Flow
Client facing modal
What problem are we solving for?
Prior to the introduction of E-Signature Approvals, users often faced lengthy delays in document approval processes due to reliance on traditional paper-based methods. These delays were compounded by the security risks associated with handling sensitive documents manually, leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.
Research
A comprehensive analysis was set into motion to identify the best approach

Competitor Analysis: Investigation of existing e-signature solutions to understand industry standards and identify areas for improvement.

User Surveys and Feedback: Collection of extensive feedback from potential users to understand their needs and expectations from an e-signature solution.

Security Requirements: Detailed assessment of the security measures necessary to ensure that the e-signature process met legal standards and user trust.
My Methodology
Solution Overview
Design: The design focused on simplicity and ease of use, ensuring that even users unfamiliar with digital tools could navigate the e-signature process effortlessly.

Prototype: Prototypes were developed to test the user interface and workflow, ensuring a seamless signing experience.

Validate: The prototypes underwent rigorous testing phases with users to refine functionality and address any usability issues.
Design
Universal Design Considerations The design of the E-Signature Approvals feature was approached with a broad vision, ensuring it would seamlessly integrate across various modules of our platform, including Opportunities, Selections, and Change Orders.

Understanding that this feature would be a core function used in diverse contexts, the design team prioritized flexibility and adaptability from the outset. Additionally, the feature was conceptualized to support dual functionalities: enabling service professionals to sign documents and then send these documents to clients for their signatures, facilitating a complete and seamless transaction cycle.

Integration Focus Key to the design was ensuring that the e-signature component could be embedded without disrupting the existing user interfaces and workflows. This required:

Modular Design: The e-signature tool was developed as a modular component that could be easily inserted into different parts of the platform. This modularity ensured that it could be adapted to the specific needs of each module, whether it was appending a signature to a change order or finalizing a selection.

Consistent User Experience: Despite its use across various modules, it was imperative that the e-signature maintain a consistent look and feel. This consistency helps in reducing the learning curve and enhancing user acceptance, as users encounter the same signing experience in different parts of the application.

Technical Compatibility: The team conducted a thorough review of the existing system architectures to ensure that the new e-signature component would not only fit without technical conflicts but also enhance the existing functionalities. This involved detailed backend architecture planning to handle the data securely and efficiently.
Web: Client view with a service pro signature already added.
Web: Client view with a service pro signature already added.
Learnings
Key learnings from the rollout included

User Education is Key: Continuous user education was crucial for overcoming initial resistance to adopting new technology.

Flexibility in Design: The importance of a flexible and universal design as this feature was utilized in various areas of the app.

Importance of Mobile Optimization: Highlighted the need for flawless mobile functionality given the high usage rates on mobile devices.nside of a div block.
Results
The introduction of the E-Signature Approvals feature led to significant improvements.

Decrease in Approval Time: The average document approval time was reduced by over 50%, dramatically speeding up business processes.

Increase in User Adoption: 65% of users started using the e-signature feature within the first month of launch, indicating high acceptance.

Enhanced Security Compliance: Compliance with international security standards increased, enhancing user trust and reducing risk.
Don’t just take my word...
Michael is a great product designer to work with. He is very humble – but don't let that fool you! He does great work, and works hard at improving and building his skill set and craft. Michael was responsible for designing and helping ship many new features across the BuildBook platform. His passion for design and commitment to creating a great experience for customers was contagious, and he's a great guy to work with.
Kris Niles
Principal Designer at Readwise – previously at InVision, Basecamp, BuildBook, and Citrix
I had the pleasure of working closely with Michael, an incredible product designer who always nailed understanding the technical side of our products. He worked seamlessly with developers and product managers, making sure our designs hit the mark for our users. Michael’s thoroughness and eye for detail really set him apart. He consistently offered invaluable feedback, tactfully suggested necessary tweaks, and explained the reasoning behind them. His insights and dedication played a huge part in the success of our projects at BuildBook.
Jayson Lewis
Software Engineer II at Housecall Pro
Michael is an incredible product designer and teammate. As a Product team lead at BuildBook, I got to see just how his talents and dedication positively impacted growth and engagement. 

Michael has a real knack for turning complex ideas into beautiful, user-friendly designs. Through numerous feature overhauls and additions, he made my job easy by coming up with design solutions to increase engagement and make customers happier. His attention to detail and understanding of user experience really shined through. What really sets Michael apart is how well he works with everyone. He always made sure to get feedback from product managers, engineers, and marketing folks, relentlessly iterating on designs that met both user needs and business goals. Plus, he explains his design choices clearly, making it easy for everyone to get on board.

I have no doubt that Michael will be a fantastic addition to any team. I highly recommend him and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next.
John Shum
Senior Product Manager II at BuildBook
Let’s work together
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