Closing the loop between SharePoint and digital signatures

For many accounting firms, Microsoft SharePoint is the central location for storing and managing client documents. However, sending those files for signature can create a gap in the workflow.

Without a direct connection, staff may need to download documents from SharePoint, upload them for signing, and manually return the completed versions to the correct folders. Each handover adds another task and another opportunity for a file to be missed or saved incorrectly.

Demand for a more connected process was clear from the outset, with 70 accounting firms connecting the FuseSign and Microsoft SharePoint integration within its first 30 days.

Bacchus Advisory and Vulcan Forge are among the firms already seeing the benefits. For Bacchus, the integration has brought greater confidence to the filing process. For Vulcan, it has reduced repetitive handling, particularly when larger groups of signed documents are returned.

Connecting SharePoint and removing manual handover

The FuseSign and SharePoint integration connects the stages between document storage, signing, and filing.

When preparing a FuseSign bundle, firms can select documents stored in SharePoint. Once signing is complete, the files are automatically returned to the same SharePoint folder as the originals.

This removes the need for someone to download each completed file, locate the appropriate folder, and manually save it back into SharePoint. For firms already using SharePoint as the centre of their document management workflow, signing becomes part of that existing process rather than a separate handover.

Greater confidence in the filing process

Bacchus Advisory is a 15-person business services firm based in Pyrmont, New South Wales. SharePoint has been part of its workflow since its 2020 IT migration, with the admin team among its most frequent users.

Before the integration, returning completed documents to SharePoint depended on internal handovers and manual filing.

“Our admin team had been filing all documents manually, which allowed for the possibility of documents not being saved properly. Certain files would either go unsaved or not be in their latest version.”

- Lisa Maletta, Partner, Bacchus Advisory

Connecting SharePoint with FuseSign has reduced the firm’s reliance on that manual process.

For the Bacchus team, the main benefit is greater confidence that completed documents are returning to the correct place.

“The SharePoint integration has been such a great update for our workflow. Not only are we saving time, but there’s a newfound confidence that nothing is getting lost along the way.”

- Lisa Maletta

Less repetitive handling across larger signing groups

Vulcan Forge has used SharePoint as its primary document management and storage system for close to 10 years. Its structured folders provide a central location for client documents, workpapers, trust deeds, and company files.

Before connecting SharePoint with FuseSign, the firm manually dragged and dropped PDF files between the two systems.

“Before the SharePoint integration, we had to rely on manual drag and drop. Having a folder open to either upload or download PDFs wasn’t a huge problem, but it was time-consuming.”

- Ben Duthie, Director, Vulcan Forge

For an individual return, the time saving was relatively small. Ben estimates that automatically filing signed copies saves between one and three minutes for each group of returns. The benefit becomes more noticeable when larger signing groups containing multiple documents are completed together.

“The integration has allowed large family groups to be automatically filed, which is a serious time saver. When you have 20 files come back signed without an issue, it makes the process a lot easier and more efficient.

“The more signed documents you have to keep track of in one bundle, the more time and energy the integration can save you.”

- Ben Duthie

The integration's value for Vulcan is not based on one dramatic instance of time saved. It comes from removing a small, repetitive task that becomes more demanding as the number of completed documents increases.

A more connected SharePoint workflow

For Bacchus Advisory, the integration provides greater confidence that signed documents are saved correctly. For Vulcan Forge, it reduces repetitive filing when larger groups of documents are returned.

Closing the loop between SharePoint and digital signatures

Connecting SharePoint and removing manual handover

Greater confidence in the filing process

Less repetitive handling across larger signing groups

A more connected SharePoint workflow

Connect SharePoint with FuseSign