DocuSign Salesforce Integration: Steps, Benefits and Limitations

Salesforce is a robust and leading CRM tool. However, a lack of e-sign capabilities requires integration with third-party applications. Relying on traditional methods to print, sign, and upload, slows down the sales cycle and limits your business growth.   

To streamline the process, DocuSign Salesforce integration is essential. According to a DocuSign case study “Deal close time was cut down from 2 days to less than 1 day in 90% of cases by integrating it with salesforce”. Also, this integration enables an efficient way to handle document e-sign and contract management processes. 

This blog will delve into the DocuSign and Salesforce integration process, emphasize integration benefits, and address potential limitations. So, let’s explore how integration can revolutionize the document sign and management process and drive your business forward.

Overview of DocuSign

DocuSign is a leading cloud-based e-signature tool, allowing create, sign, send, and manage documents digitally in one place. It is a unified platform that is suitable for all agreements. DocuSign is trusted among global users as it follows the most rigorous global security and compliance standards. 

DocuSign is an easy-to-use tool that users can access with any device and an active internet connection. It eliminates the need for manual efforts in scanning, printing, signing, and managing documents.

Key Features of DocuSign

DocuSign offers a wide range of features to manage things from sending, signing, and managing along with preparing documents. 

1. Branding 

DocuSign allows businesses to reflect the brand name on their emails and web pages. This enables recipients to see the branding while completing or signing documents. It even allows adding a logo, customizing email, and changing colors. 

2. Templates

DocuSign also offers reusable templates allowing businesses to prepare documents for sending quickly. The templates include already saved fields, tag placements, and other settings. It allows businesses to reuse templates leading to minimizing preparation duration.

3. Availability 

DocuSign offers services that are always available. It is committed to providing businesses with transparent services with almost 100% uptime. Along with this, it offers e-sign with no maintenance downtime so companies do not have to be stuck between contract processes. 

4. Security 

DocuSign is highly dedicated to the security of the documents. Businesses can protect their client’s confidential documents by encrypting and making them tamper evident. Also, it provides authentication options so the company can assure the signers.

5. International Usage

DocuSign is recognized and used around the world including more than 180 countries. So, it can be valuable for businesses to utilize DocuSign e-sign capabilities globally to complete digital transactions. It enables clients to sign the documents in their native languages and supports 44 signing languages. In addition, it allows businesses to request signatures in 14 languages.

DocuSign services are available in different time zones. It allows businesses to offer any transaction including signing stamped with a universal time code synchronized with the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), eventually converting into a local time zone. 

6. Open APIs and Integrations

DocuSign is designed to be transparent, open, and seamless integration. It offers companies with powerful API integration options.

It is easily accessible for developers looking to integrate with REST and SOAP APIs. In addition, DocuSign enforces secure access through SSO (Single Sign-On) and OAuth2 support for API authorization. 

Additionally, businesses can streamline their daily operation by leveraging eSignature capabilities directly in tools they already use like Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google. This indicates that you can sign contracts or documents within these apps.

7. Embedded Signing

DocuSign e-sign enables embedded signing to provide a seamless experience to users. It leads businesses to directly e-sign documents within third-party applications in Salesforce. Also, it allows you to customize document UI to get the best look for the application or website.

8. Administration and Access Control

DocuSign comes with robust administration capabilities, helping employees comply with the business policies and manage how the signers sign and adopt them. 

It provides trusted administration for business analysts and others to assist specific functionality while maintaining utmost control.

These are the key features of the DocuSign platform. However, knowing the DocuSign Salesforce integration steps enables you to harness the capabilities of both tools.

Steps of DocuSign Salesforce Integration

DocuSign Agreement Cloud makes it possible to integrate eSignature easily with Salesforce workflows. Here are the crucial steps of DocuSign Salesforce integration that you can follow to get a seamless experience. 

Step 1: Firstly, you have to log in to your Salesforce account.

Step 2: Now, go to the Setup and search for “AppExchange Marketplace” in the quick find box.

Step 3: Click on “AppExchange Marketplace,” then a pop-up will occur. Now, you have to click on “Go to AppExchange.”

Step 4: When you are redirected to the Salesforce AppExchange home page, search for “DocuSign eSignature for Salesforce.”

Step 5: Now, you have to click on the first app “DocuSign eSignature for Salesforce”.

Step 6 (6.1): After redirection, you have to click on “Get It Now.” After this, the package will start installing (it will take some time). Once the package is installed, you will receive an email.

6.2: While the package is installing, you need to add the mentioned trusted URLs in the respective Salesforce org.

• https://*.clm.docusign.mil
• https://*.clmfed.docusign.com
• https://*.docusign.net
• https://*.springcm.com
• https://api.mixpanel.com

Step 7 (7.1): To verify if the package is installed, you have to go to the respective Salesforce org, search for “Installed Packages” in Setup, and click on it. Check if the “DocuSign Apps Launcher” package is present.

7.2: If Package is present, then you can click on the app launcher on the Salesforce home page, search “DocuSign App Launcher” and click on it.

Step 8: Now, if you already have a DocuSign account, you can “Log in to DocuSign.” Or you can Sign up for free. This will integrate DocuSign with Salesforce successfully.

Following the step-by-step DocuSign Salesforce integration guide will help you ease the implementation process.

Benefits of DocuSign Salesforce Integration

Many companies rely on Salesforce for CRM capabilities to manage and improve their customer experience. Integrating Salesforce with DocuSign eventually minimizes human errors, reduces costs, and increases efficiency. Discover how the DocuSign Salesforce integration benefits you. 

1. Minimizes Process Time

DocuSign allows Salesforce users to generate documents directly from Salesforce records. Eventually, businesses can minimize the processing time to complete a task by pre-populating the data based on different criteria. It reduces the significant time caused by manual efforts in such tasks, increasing overall efficiency.  

2. Use Flexibility 

DocuSign allows businesses to sign and track Salesforce agreements and projects from any device, anywhere. Also, they can store all the documents on the platform digitally, enabling them to prepare documents and sign without leaving the application.

3. Reduce Agreement Turnaround Time

DocuSign and Salesforce integration reduce the agreement or document turnaround time from day to hours or minutes. Integration automates workflows of manual processes of managing contracts from NDAs to quotes, invoices, etc. With the DocuSign Salesforce integration, Salesforce closes 71% of deals in only one hour. Also, the time spent by Account executives is reduced by 10 minutes per quote, ultimately saving up to 322 work days per year. 

4. Minimize Risk

DocuSign and Salesforce integration enables businesses to minimize the risk aligned with manual tasks as this can result in errors and increased risk. However, the integration automates tedious tasks allowing businesses to capture information and re-check documents if some information is wrong or not filled. 

5. Accelerate Time to Close 

Providing the best sales experience is something that highlights the services of the company. So, you must take a hands-on signature when your proposal is in the client’s hand. 

The integration allows businesses to get the signature on the same platform and as soon as possible to trigger delivery. Also, this enables Salesforce customers to sign contracts from anywhere, anytime, even by using any device including smartphones.

Limitations of DocuSign and Salesforce Integration

Although there are various benefits of DocuSign and Salesforce integration, it comes with some limitations. However, knowing about them keeps you aware of where the integration is lacking. 

1. File Size Restriction

Salesforce has limits on envelope or document generation, can generate PDF only up to 2 MB, and gives 1000 requests per Org. Whereas the integration allows Salesforce users with the limit of 25 MB per upload while using UI and 32 MB while using API. However, businesses can not send larger documents or PDFs than this limit. 

2. Not Covers Pre-Signature Stages 

DocuSign integration specializes in e-sign workflows; it does not cover the pre-signature stages such as the drafting process of the contract, reviewing the contract for cross-checking, approval, etc.  

3. Integration Can be Complicated

DocuSign Salesforce integration is a great move but it is not easier without the proper knowledge. Businesses working in the Salesforce environment can find this task intricating. However, some of you may need to hire DocuSign Salesforce integration consultants if you do not have proper technical knowledge.

4. Higher Costs 

DocuSign is not a free tool, it requires businesses to invest. Also, DocuSign Salesforce integration cost starts from $30 per user monthly. Other than that, businesses should consider the additional charges such as license fees and customized development costs.

Use Cases of DocuSign and Salesforce Integration

There are various use cases of DocuSign and Salesforce integration. Businesses can consider and maximize the implementation capabilities for the mentioned industries.

1. Sales 

DocuSign Salesforce integration streamlines the entire process of sales contracts by using Sales and Revenue Cloud. It involves managing documents like MSAs (Master Service Agreements), SOW (Statement of Work), NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements), quotes, and invoices. 

2. Financial Services 

Integration enables businesses to manage contracts, documents, and agreements for new account openings and more. It is possible as an implementation to connect Financial Service Cloud and Experience Cloud. 

3. Healthcare

DocuSign and Salesforce integration enhance patient trust and satisfaction by offering easy sign and send documents. In addition, it allows healthcare businesses to manage contracts for copy assistance and patient consent. 

4. Public Sector

The integration support in the public sector for case management, public record requests, licensing, permitting, etc. 

5. Human Resources

Using the integration allows Human Resource personnel to handle contracts and documents for compensation plans, offer letters, tax forms, etc. The implementation eases the process from document preparation to e-signing and handling documents.

These are the key use cases of DocuSign and Salesforce integration.

Final Take

Integrating DocuSign and Salesforce brings both tool’s capabilities into a single platform. It offers various benefits including cutting down the time needed to finalize business processes and contracts. In addition, it involves enhancing the user experience by enabling them to send, sign, and manage documents or contracts, all in one place. 

If you are unsure about handling DocuSign Salesforce integration on your own, Cyntexa is here with its remarkable Salesforce integration services to support you throughout the process. We will guide you through every step of the integration, and ensure a seamless integration experience to help you achieve the best results. We are here to assist you with technical details and focus on what is most important for your business.