eBrigade Electronic signature module
Built-in electronic signature, on every document that needs one
Record attendance with a fingertip on a tablet, get timesheets, absences and expense reports signed, and send a contract for remote signature with a simple link — no third-party software, and no account for the recipient to create. Every signature is time-stamped, can be confirmed with an SMS code sent to the signer’s phone, and the external contract keeps proof with the date, time and IP address.
These buttons are about the full eBrigade subscription: this module is included at no extra cost in every plan.
Electronic signature built into eBrigade: touch-screen attendance sign-off, signed approval of timesheets, absences and expense reports, and contracts signed remotely through a public link with no account to create. SMS code verification and time-stamped proof.
What is the eBrigade Electronic signature module?
Electronic signature built into eBrigade: touchscreen attendance sign-in, signed approval of timesheets, absences and expense reports, and contracts signed remotely via a public link with no account needed. Backed by SMS code verification and time-stamped proof. It is included at no extra cost in every eBrigade plan.
Why a built-in electronic signature?
Getting a document signed still too often means printing an attendance sheet, passing it round, scanning the signatures, then filing the paper and hoping to find it again. For a contract or an agreement, out comes an external signature tool, a second subscription to juggle, and a recipient asked to create an account. The result: missing signatures, no solid proof of who signed what and when, and timesheets or expense reports approved without any formal record of the member’s agreement.
What electronic signature changes in eBrigade
Signature becomes a cross-cutting building block, available wherever it is useful, without switching tools. In the field, participants in an activity sign in with a fingertip on a tablet, time slot by time slot, and the signed status is shown in real time. In records, members apply the signature saved on their profile — or upload a new one — to their timesheet, absence or expense report, with every signature time-stamped and attributed to its author. Remotely, you send a contract by email: the recipient opens it via a secure link, reads it, ticks to agree and signs without an account, and eBrigade records dated proof with their IP address. When you require it, an SMS code sent to the signer’s registered phone confirms their identity before signing.
What you can do with Electronic signature
On an activity’s sign-in page, each participant signs with a fingertip, part by part (down to the event’s individual time slots). The signature is saved as a time-stamped image (SIGNED_AT) and the signed / unsigned status is shown in real time for each participant and each time slot.
Every member has a signature saved on their profile. On a timesheet, an absence or an expense report, they apply it in one click with the “link” action — no need to redraw it — or upload a new image file with the “upload” action. Each signature applied is dated and attributed to its author (HV_SIGNED_BY, I_SIGNED_BY, NF_SIGNED_BY).
When the configuration requires it, signing is preceded by a six-digit code sent by SMS to the signer’s registered number, valid for ten minutes. Previous codes are invalidated each time a new one is sent, resending is subject to a waiting period, and the phone number is masked on screen.
A contract or agreement is sent by email via a unique tokenised link (a random 64-character token). The recipient signs it without creating an eBrigade account: they read the document, accept the terms and sign. An optional expiry date closes the link automatically when it falls due.
When an external contract is signed, eBrigade records the exact date and time, the signer’s IP address (detection compatible with proxies and Cloudflare) and their browser, then displays proof showing the document’s subject, the timestamp, the IP and a reference. A document that is already signed or has expired cannot be signed again.
An admin dashboard lists the documents sent with their status — pending, signed or expired — their recipient and their expiry date. You can resend a reminder email in one click to a recipient who has not yet signed, and retrieve the signing link at any time.
Step by step
How a signature is applied depends on the document: participants sign in with a fingertip on the touchscreen from the activity’s sign-in page; for a timesheet, an absence or an expense report, the member reuses the signature saved on their profile in one click or uploads a new one (PNG, JPG or GIF).
If SMS verification is enabled in the configuration, eBrigade sends a six-digit code to the signer’s registered number, valid for ten minutes. The member enters it before signing; resending the code is time-limited to prevent abuse, and the number is masked on screen.
From the signature admin area, you enter the recipient, the subject, the document content and an optional expiry date. eBrigade generates a unique link and sends it by email; a button lets you send a reminder to a recipient who has not yet signed.
The signer opens the link, reads the document, ticks the acceptance box acknowledging the validity of the electronic signature, enters their name if needed and signs. eBrigade immediately displays proof of signature — subject, date and time, IP address and document reference.
Signed attendance is shown in real time on the sign-in page, and every timesheet, absence or expense report keeps its signature date and the person who applied it. For contracts, the dashboard lists documents with their status — pending, signed or expired — and their expiry date.
Where this module really pays off
Fire and rescue services (SDIS) & firefighters: touchscreen attendance sign-in, time slot by time slot, on the crew leader’s tablet, with a real-time view of who has already signed for their shift.
Employer associations & mixed organisations: weekly or monthly timesheets signed by the member — profile signature reused in one click or a new signature uploaded — before they go to payroll.
HR departments: absences and sick leave approved with the requester’s time-stamped signature, recording their agreement without a parallel paper trail.
Treasurers & accountants: expense reports signed by the member before reimbursement, with the signature added to the receipt and the existing approval workflow.
Training centres & service providers: agreements, internal rules or contracts sent for remote signature via an email link, without the signer having to create an eBrigade account.
Organisations that care about proof: signature confirmed by an SMS code on the signer’s phone, and external contracts keeping the date, time and IP address of signature.
Frequently asked questions
Is electronic signature an optional module billed separately?
No. Signature is a cross-cutting capability built into eBrigade: it applies directly to attendance, timesheets, absences, expense reports and contracts, with no subscription to an external signature service. So there is no second tool or extra licence to manage.
Does a contract’s recipient need to create an eBrigade account to sign?
No. The contract opens via a secure public link sent by email: the recipient reads the document, accepts the terms and signs directly in their browser, with no account at all. The link is unique and can be given an expiry date after which it can no longer be used.
What proof is kept that a signature actually took place?
For a contract signed remotely, eBrigade records the date and time of signature, the signer’s IP address and their browser, and displays proof showing the document’s subject, the timestamp, the IP and a reference. For attendance, timesheets, absences and expense reports, the signature is time-stamped and linked to the person who applied it. A signed or expired document cannot be signed a second time.
Can identity verification be required before signing?
Yes. When SMS verification is enabled in the configuration, the signer receives a six-digit code on the phone number registered on their profile, valid for ten minutes, which they must enter before signing. Resending the code is time-limited to prevent abusive sending.
How can a member sign without redrawing their signature every time?
Each member saves a signature on their profile. On a timesheet, an absence or an expense report, the “link” action reuses that signature in one click. If they prefer, they can upload a new signature image (PNG, JPG or GIF) for that specific document.
Does attendance sign-in work on a tablet out in the field?
Yes. The sign-in page is designed for a touchscreen: each participant signs with a fingertip, time slot by time slot, and the screen shows in real time who has already signed. It is the typical way to have people sign in for a shift or an event cover from a tablet left at reception or at the command post.