1. Why electronic signatures are relevant for pension funds
Efficiency in day-to-day business
Whether for new hires and departures, salary reports, or pensioner applications—anywhere where paper is still used today, processes can be completely digitized with electronic signatures. Employers can sign notifications directly in the portal without any media breaks.
For everyone involved, this means less effort and noticeably faster processes.
Legal certainty and compliance
Legal certainty is crucial, especially in a highly regulated industry such as occupational pension provision.
With a qualified electronic signature (QES), documents can be signed with the same legal validity as a handwritten signature. Signature logs also ensure transparency and traceability for auditors and supervisory authorities.
At the same time, flexibility is maintained: depending on the situation, pension funds can also use simple (SES) or advanced electronic signatures (AES) – and thus choose the appropriate security level for each document.
Trust and service quality
For insured persons, contact with their pension fund becomes noticeably easier: processes are digital, transparent, and without long waiting times. Employers, in turn, benefit from a lower administrative burden.
There is also an ecological advantage: when paper consumption and transport routes are eliminated, both costs and environmental impact are reduced.
2. Opportunities for pension fund software manufacturers
The integration of electronic signatures also opens up new perspectives for providers of pension fund software. The market is dominated by a few established players, and every innovation can be decisive here. A seamless signature function is a distinguishing feature in competition and is increasingly expected by pension funds.
In addition, signature services can be used to expand your own value creation. Providers can add modules for digital signatures that are billed on a usage basis as a SaaS solution. This creates new business models and additional sources of revenue.
Last but not least, it's about future-proofing: end-to-end digitization is on the rise, and signing is becoming a must. Standardized REST APIs make it possible to embed signature processes flexibly and scalably into existing systems. Combined with Swiss hosting, providers also meet the industry's high data protection and compliance requirements.
3. Practical application scenarios
Integrated scenarios
The range of possible applications is wide:
- Approvals in the workflow: for example, foundation board decisions or service approvals.
- Employer portals: digital signature of salary reports and changes.
- Document issuance: pension certificates with a legally valid electronic seal – to protect against manipulation and as proof of authenticity.
- Communication with insured persons: legally compliant submission of capital withdrawal requests.
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Standalone scenarios
signeer can also be used without direct integration into existing software:
- Contract conclusions for software providers: License, maintenance, or service agreements can be signed legally and without media discontinuity.
- Foundation board decisions outside the portal: When documents are to be signed independently of the established workflow.
- Project-related agreements: e.g., cooperation or service agreements with external parties that require an FES or QES.
- One-time special cases: such as powers of attorney or legal documents that do not fall within the standard process but still need to be signed digitally in a legally valid manner.
This allows pension funds and their software partners to reap the benefits of electronic signatures even before complex integrations are implemented.
4. Conclusion
The digital transformation of the second pillar inevitably leads to electronic signatures – it is the next logical step in this process. For pension funds, this means greater efficiency, higher legal certainty, and better service quality. For software providers, it opens up new business models and opportunities for differentiation in a competitive market.
Flexibility is particularly valuable: With signeer, signatures can be seamlessly embedded into existing workflows – or used independently if the situation requires it. The platform thus covers all needs, from pension statements with electronic seals to special cases outside the standard process.
Looking ahead: E-ID – With the introduction of the state electronic identity, signing will become even easier and more uniform in the future. signeer already enables automatic identification in the signature workflow and is prepared to seamlessly integrate the E-ID.
Those who opt for a signature solution in occupational pension provision now are laying the foundation for a future-proof, fully digital 2nd pillar.
Next step
signeer is a platform that covers all three signature levels according to ZertES (EES, FES, QES). Thanks to integrated identification, Swiss hosting, and easy connection via REST API, pension funds and software manufacturers can seamlessly digitize their processes – securely, legally compliant, and user-friendly.
Frequently asked questions
The process with signeer is quick and easy in just a few steps:
- Identity verification (online identification): Simple and secure identity verification online via auto-identification.
- Registration with the QTSP: Automatic registration with a Qualified Trust Service Provider, such as Swisscom Trust Services, and signature creation.
- Sign the document digitally and legally: Finally, the legally binding digital signature is created directly in signeer.
With signeer from mesoneer, you can complete this process easily and securely without any media discontinuity.
Yes – with the qualified electronic signature (QES), you are on the safe side! In Switzerland, it is equivalent to a handwritten signature in accordance with the Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES).
Yes, a simple electronic signature is generally legally valid. However, it is not sufficient for all documents. In cases with higher legal requirements, such as official documents or certain contracts, an advanced or qualified electronic signature may be required. Companies should therefore check which type of signature is suitable for their specific application.
Yes, the FES is legally valid and recognized in the EU in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation and in Switzerland in accordance with the ZertES. It offers greater security than a simple electronic signature, but is not sufficient for all documents—a qualified electronic signature (QES) is recommended for particularly sensitive or highly regulated contracts.
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