eSignature for dealer management systems: Rethinking the status quo
In 2025, digital transformation is no longer a competitive advantage for car dealerships and garages — it’s the baseline. Dealer management systems (DMS) are at the heart of this evolution, helping streamline operations, reduce paperwork, and deliver faster, more seamless customer experiences. But there’s one area where many DMS platforms can still improve: eSignature.
According to IDC, 97% of organizations use two or more eSignature solutions — a clear signal that many are dissatisfied with their current tools or are struggling to meet evolving needs. When we speak with DMS vendors, the most common frustrations include lack of flexibility, complex integration, and limited control over the user experience.
If your platform currently integrates with Docusign, Adobe Sign, or another provider, it’s worth asking: Is your eSignature solution truly built for embedded use cases — or are you compromising on flexibility, branding, and support?
When eSignatures fall short for dealer management system vendors
Many DMS vendors still rely on eSignature tools that weren’t designed for embedded, high-volume use cases. While some are widely adopted, these solutions often introduce friction through inflexible pricing, limited branding control, integration complexity, and lack of quality partner support.
These aren’t just technical annoyances — they’re strategic blockers. They slow down deal cycles, reduce trust, and make it harder to scale. In a market where experience and speed are everything, “good enough” is no longer good enough.
Why DMS vendors are switching eSignature providers
As the dealership software market becomes more saturated, and therefore more competitive, DMS vendors are under pressure to differentiate — not just on features, but on experience, speed, and flexibility. This has led many to rethink their eSignature strategy and move away from eSignature providers that are slowing them down.
Here’s what we found modern DMS vendors are looking for:
- Predictable, partner-friendly pricing: Transparent pricing models that scale with your business — not against it.
- Full branding control: The ability to build trust by keeping your brand front and center.
- Real-person support: Access to solution engineers and product experts — not just videos or a chatbot.
- Embedded-first architecture: A native signing experience.
- Fast time-to-value: Developer-friendly timeframes and easy integrations.
- Scalable APIs and compliance: Support for multi-tenant structures, global regulations, and high-volume use cases.
Switching eSignature providers isn’t just about replacing a tool. It’s about upgrading your platform’s experience, performance, and long-term value.
How eSignature vendors compare
| What you need | What to watch out for | What OneSpan Sign provides |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing that protects your margins | Complex pricing, hidden fees, renewal surprises | Transparent, flexible pricing bands without having to commit to higher volumes and with no surprises at renewal |
| A branded, seamless user experience | Third-party branding that disrupts the customer journey | Full white-labeling that puts your brand front and center |
| Support that understands your use case | Generic helpdesk, slow response times, difficult access to a real person | Real-person support from solution engineers and product experts |
| Built for embedded, high-volume use cases | Designed for standalone workflows | Purpose-built for OEM/ISV platforms with scalable APIs and multi-tenant support |
| Fast time-to-value | Longer ROI times (for example, Docusign averages 15 months, according to G2), limited support, and limited customization for integrations if integrations were created by third parties | Average ROI under 10 months (according to G2), developer-friendly APIs, mobile-first design, and flexible low-code/no-code integration options with most integrations developed and supported by the OneSpan team |
| Compliance and security at scale | Limited security focus, limited audit information embedded directly in the transaction, limited variety of authentication options | Enterprise-grade security by a global security leader, 10+ authentication options, assists with global compliance, and embedded comprehensive audit trails and evidence summary |
See how OneSpan compares to top eSignature vendors
Learn moreOneSpan Sign isn’t just a vendor — we’re a strategic partner with a global footprint, robust APIs, and a culture of collaboration that helps OEMs scale faster and smarter. Learn more about our ISV and OEM program.
Don’t let your eSignature vendor hold you back
In a market where speed, experience, and differentiation are everything, your eSignature solution shouldn’t be a bottleneck — it should be a competitive advantage. Yet too many DMS vendors are working around the limitations of tools that weren’t built for embedded, high-volume use cases.
Whether it’s inflexible pricing, limited branding, or lack of real-person support, limitations in mainstream solutions are becoming harder to ignore. That’s why OEM and ISV platforms consider OneSpan Sign when switching eSignature vendors. We offer a purpose-built, partner-first solution that delivers seamless integration, full white-label control, and the kind of assistance that actually supports your roadmap.
Get in touch about our partner program to get started
If your current eSignature experience feels like a compromise, it probably is. OneSpan Sign can help you modernize your DMS platform and deliver a signing experience your customers will love.
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