Ocorian choose DocuSign eSignature to enhance multi-touch signing processes

Ocorian is a global leader in corporate and fiduciary services, fund administration and capital markets. It has 20 offices around the world, delivering tailored financial services to a growing portfolio that includes: global financial institutions, FTSE 350 corporations, private equity firms and venture capitalists, fund and asset managers, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and family offices, and sovereign wealth funds.

The global pandemic accelerated Ocorian’s digital transformation as it needed to move away from paper-based processes and allow staff and clients to continue signing agreements in a safe and secure way, while adhering to Government requirements to work from home.

It used innovative technologies including DocuSign eSignature and DocuSign eWitness to improve speed and quality of client service for its global client base with the added benefit of delivering substantial time savings as well as cost savings for the business.  

Partnering with MBS to help Ocorian transform through digitalisation

MBS acts as a trusted advisor to over 300 organisations in over 40 countries, bringing leading technology such as DocuSign eSignature to clients, helping them to add real value to their business.  MBS and DocuSign assisted Ocorian to roll out eSignatures rapidly and securely across the organisation, helping to turn this major challenge into a key opportunity for improving client service, efficiency and compliance. 

Delivering advanced solutions to remote clients 

Prior to the pandemic Ocorian was already using DocuSign eSignature, but as with many other organisations found that the Covid restrictions and work from home orders accelerated the need for digital transformation.  Ocorian’s usage of DocuSign eSignature grew by 8000%, from fewer than 500 envelopes in 2019 to over 40,000 in 2021. 

The deployment of DocuSign eSignature across the business allows Ocorian to respond to client needs more effectively.  Whether sending single documents or large batches to be signed, the process is faster and more cost-effective than previously.  It also gives the organisation greater visibility and control around each stage of the process, which in turn gives confidence to its clients that Ocorian will deliver on what has been promised.

Stuart Geddes, Ocorian’s IT Director, noted “DocuSign has helped us to secure signatures on important documents far more quickly and with less effort than ever before.  Most documents are now signed the same day and we are seeing 75% of documents signed in less than an hour.  As a result, it has both helped us delight our clients and improve our efficiency.” 

The use of templates also allows for the simultaneous sending of batches of documents to different end users, each with slight variations dependent on jurisdiction due to local requirements. 

“We are really adding value to our clients by taking much of the administrative burden off their shoulders and bulk producing hundreds and sometimes thousands of personalised documents that all sit within the DocuSign environment.  The control and security this offers is reassuring for both us and our clients and makes all our lives easier” said Peter Neuschaffer, Senior Manager, Data Management & IT Solutions, Ocorian.

Elsewhere, template branding helps add differentiation.  Personalising documents to individual client needs is a popular feature for Ocorian clients. 

DocuSign eSignature is used to define the signatory order so that it can be routed correctly, vital when complex signings through different companies’ structures or multiple users are involved in the process.  Furthermore, by copying in relevant witnesses’ full visibility is maintained throughout the process. 

DocuSign eWitness, an advanced solution within DocuSign eSignature, is also being used when documents are needed to be signed as deeds under English law.  Ocorian has found the counter-signatory feature highly appreciated by its clients as eWitness captures key detailed information about signers and witnesses such as IP address and time stamps.

Feedback from Ocorian’s clients has been hugely positive. “They feel confident in it.  It’s a well-known brand that clients recognise, so they are instantly put at ease,” said Peter Neuschaffer.

It has enabled the company to meet the obligations of its clients by accelerating the signing and processing of documents, saving time and money, while in the same instance reducing potential errors by adding greater visibility and procedural oversight.

Peter Neuschaffer added:  “Our clients’ IT security teams know that with DocuSign it is safe to align with their own systems and can be quickly implemented, speeding up the whole process, making things easier for everyone”.

Driving future growth with DocuSign solutions

Ocorian continues to see business benefits around time, money, and sustainability using DocuSign.  In 2021, the company sent 40,000 envelopes for execution using DocuSign eSignature.  The organisation expects to exceed its envelope total going forward, saving additional revenue and resources.

DocuSign eSignature has played a crucial role in helping Ocorian through the pandemic while also delivering sustainable business benefits.  Ocorian is looking to deepen those benefits with further process automation and elimination of paper-based processes. 

For example, future projects will make the most of DocuSign APIs (Application Programming Interfaces which enable rapid integration with other systems) to allow Ocorian processes to collect client information more intuitively, delivering flexibility around form filling, generating a DocuSign envelope immediately for clients.

Supporting a more sustainable agenda

As a global business, Ocorian takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously. The use of DocuSign eSignature has made a valuable contribution to its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals by substantially reducing paper and energy usage by eliminating many paper documents and their transportation and storage.

“DocuSign saves a lot of manpower and saves a lot of paper.” aid Peter Neuschaffer, Senior Manager, Data Management & IT Solutions, Ocorian.