As mentioned in the Product Roundup, the recent updates to our Docusign Integration mean that after creating your template in Docusign, you can trigger signature requests and follow the full lifecycle of your agreements in Submittable—including status tracking and access to the executed documents. Huzzah!
If you’ve never explored this integration, or opted out in the past because it didn’t do all the things, it’s a perfect time to revisit it. So today I bring you: a primer on Submittable’s Docusign Integration.
Note: The Docusign Integration is available at no cost to Submittable customers on our current Professional package, or you can add it on to the Starter package for a fee. Note, you do need your own Business Pro Docusign account.
Why use Submittable’s Docusign Integration?
The whole point of integrations is to save you time by unifying your tech stack. With the latest updates to Submittable’s Docusign Integration, after creating your template in Docusign, you can set it and forget it, handling the rest of the process in Submittable. Here’s what you can do:
Bring virtually any variable into your agreement. If you ask a question on a Submittable form, you can include that data in your contract.
Configure signers to be Submittable users or collect signer information via forms. Agreement recipients can be submitters, team members, or a third party designated on an Initial or Internal Form—in whichever order you choose.
Follow contract execution progress in Submittable. Monitor the status of signatories within the submission detail page.
Refer to final documents in Submittable. No need to toggle to Docusign to access your executed contracts.
How to Get Started with the Docusign Integration
Here’s an accelerated summary of the steps you’ll take, in order, to get your integration ready to use.
Steps to take in Submittable
Authenticate your Docusign account and Enable Tracking.
Go to More > Integrations > eSign; click Authenticate, enter your Docusign credentials, then click Enable Tracking. More here.
Set up any Custom Placeholder Tags you wish to bring into your templates.
Go to More > Configurations > Custom Tags, create and map your Custom Tags, then select “Start sync”. More here.
Add an E-Signature form field to any Initial or Internal Forms (if that is how you’d like to collect recipient information).
From within an Initial or Internal Form build, add the E-Signature Form Field and name the field with the signer’s role (e.g., “Executive Director”). More here.
Steps to take in Docusign
Build your template, including using Docusign’s Custom Fields to bring in dynamic content collected in Submittable.
Custom Placeholder Tags will be there automatically following your sync. To bring in default Submittable Placeholder tags (full list here), you’ll need to add them as Custom Fields. Here’s how.
Set up the Recipient (signer) roles, and optionally, the order in which recipients should sign (you’ll configure name and email in Submittable).
Add the content for the message (email subject and body) Docusign will send recipients, and adjust default reminder schedules if desired.
Steps to take in Submittable
Configure the recipients of the agreements.
Go to More > Integrations > eSign, select the Docusign template, then click Configure Recipients. Choose either the submitter, a team member, or an E-Signature Form Field for each recipient. More here.
Send Docusign agreements.
Send a Docusign agreement from within the submission detail view either when changing the status of a submission or sending an Additional Form. In the modal, select the Docusign Template, then change the status or send the Form. More here.
Track signing progress.
Within submission details, a new section will appear titled “External Documents”. This is where you can track signing progress for all recipients under Document Recipient Details. More here.
Access executed documents.
To access executed documents, click the Download icon where it says Executed Document (also in the new External Documents section). More here.
FAQs
How do I know if I already have access to Docusign?
Go to More > Integrations > eSign. If you are invited to “Authenticate my Docusign account”, you are good to go. If you see a message to contact account management, you will need to upgrade.
When and where can I send a Docusign agreement?
You must send a Docusign agreement from within the submission detail view (this means one at a time—you cannot send Docusign agreements in bulk). Once there, either change the submission status, or send an Additional Form.
Can I avoid emailing the submitter from both Docusign and Submittable?
Yes! When changing the submission status, under Email Template, select “[Status] Without Emailing Submitter”. The submitter will only receive one email from Docusign. Note, you cannot turn off the email sent from Docusign.
Why can’t I see my Custom Placeholder Tags in Docusign?
You must sync your data. Under More > Configurations > Custom Tags, click “Start Sync”. You’ll see a green confirmation message when the data has synced to Docusign. If you are actively using Docusign, refresh your page.
Why can’t I see the document or Signer History in Submittable?
You must Enable Tracking in order to bring Docusign data into Submittable. Go to More > Integrations > eSign, and click Enable Tracking.
A well-oiled integration is worth its wait in gold for teams with limited resources and lots to do. I hope this inspires you to give the Docusign integration a try, or explore adding it to your account. See you next month!