Google Launches Open Beta for GDocs, GDrive eSignature Feature

Adding eSignatures to documents on Google Workspace apps has now become easy.

Google recently announced it is launching an open beta to its signature feature in two of its Workspace apps, allowing their users to try inserting their eSignatures into the documents saved in them.

Google previously released the feature for alpha testing in June 2022, making the open beta the first time Google is getting feedback from the public.

Digitally Signing Documents By Google

Google announced on its Workspace Updates Blog that starting today, it is opening an open beta for its eSignatures feature in Google Docs and Google Drive.

According to the search giant, it could move on to the feature's next testing phase based on the feedback it received during its June 2022 alpha testing.

Anyone is free to try the new feature out for themselves, though they must remember that the feature is still not fully developed. Regardless, those who need to have documents signed over the Internet will greatly benefit from the open beta.

These people include solopreneurs and people running small businesses; they find keeping track of contracts, customer agreements, and other binding documents challenging.

As its name suggests, Google's eSignatures allows users to attach their digital signatures to official contracts through Google Drive and Google Docs. All without needing to switch tabs.

It also allows users to quickly request signatures from other people, see the status of pending signatures, and find completed (digitally signed) contracts. Last but not least, Google's eSignature lets users create a new copy of the contract for each request, giving them a template to use and initiate multiple eSignature requests.

According to Tech Crunch, which has already tried the feature out, Google's eSignature feature takes the form of an electronic signature field that users can add to the document.

Google Docs and Google Drive users who wish to try the feature out need not sign up for its open beta. Google mentioned that no additional sign-up is required to use the feature. However, the company did say that the feature will be available for select Google Workspace customers.

To be specific, Google's eSignature open beta test is available to Workspace individual subscribers on the following plans:

• Business Standard
• Business Plus Enterprise Starter
• Enterprise Standard
• Enterprise Plus
• Enterprise Essentials
• Enterprise Essentials Plus
• Education Plus
• Nonprofits

Upcoming Google eSignature Abilities

Aside from its open beta for its eSignature feature, Google also revealed it is introducing support for the four new eSignature capabilities later in 2023.

The first of these is called Audit Trail, which gives users an audit trail report for all completed contracts automatically. Next, Multi-signer gives them the ability to request signatures from more than one user.

Google will also add the ability to request an eSignature from non-Gmail users in the future. Lastly, the search giant also plans to add the ability to initiate an esignature on PDF files stored in Google Drive.

It is unknown when Google will release these features in 2023, though it is possible it will happen soon, with 2023 slowly drawing to a close.