Digital signature - Banks and the financial sector - sproof

What does hobex stand for as a company?

hobex is a leading payment service provider in the DACH region with an additional presence in Slovenia and Italy. Our core business is to support companies from various sectors - especially retail, hospitality and tourism - in processing cashless payments securely and efficiently.

We facilitate card payments both at the point of sale and in e-commerce and support around 44,000 customers. We attach great importance to excellent customer service, high flexibility and individual support. To meet these requirements, modern, powerful tools such as sproof sign for digital signatures are a central component of our digital infrastructure.

What role do data protection, compliance and regulation play in your daily business and in the digital signature process?

As a payment service provider, hobex is subject to supervision by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA). This means that we are subject to similar regulatory requirements as traditional banks - this applies in particular to compliance with data protection regulations, IT security and comprehensive compliance processes.

We must be able to prove at all times that our processes are legally compliant and meet the current requirements. Digital, traceable and auditable processes are therefore essential, especially in contract management. A solution like sproof sign helps us to meet these high standards.

In which specific use cases do you currently use the digital signature?

We have fully integrated sproof sign into our digital contract management system. As soon as a contract has been finalized, the person responsible for the contract can start the signature process directly. The parties involved are automatically invited, the current status is visible at all times - and once the document has been signed, it automatically flows back into the system. This all works via an API interface that has been seamlessly embedded into our existing IT landscape. This makes the process consistent, efficient and transparent.

How did the introduction of sproof sign into your existing IT system landscape go?

The technical integration was smooth and implemented within a short space of time. I would particularly like to emphasize the noticeable added value: the signature process has become much simpler, faster and more secure thanks to sproof sign. It was crucial for us not to think about digitization in isolation, but to integrate it into existing workflows - and that's exactly what sproof makes possible with its API-based solution.

How was the electronic signature introduced and accepted internally in the company? Were there any training measures?

sproof sign was rolled out directly as part of the introduction of our new contract management system. As a result, it was part of a larger change process in which targeted training sessions were held. Acceptance was high right from the start, especially among colleagues who regularly work with contracts. They appreciate the ease of use, the transparency of the process and the noticeable time savings. The digital signature solution is actively used and is rated very positively.

Why did you deliberately choose a European provider of software for electronic signatures?

Most of our customers and partner companies are located in Europe - with a focus on Austria, Germany and Italy. Accordingly, we also attach great importance to relying on European providers when it comes to data protection and IT infrastructure.

We prefer cloud solutions with hosting in the EU and clear GDPR compliance. sproof meets these requirements 100%, and the company itself is based in Austria - this fits perfectly with our own self-image as a regionally anchored but internationally active company.

If there is a European solution that is technically convincing and at the same time shares our values in terms of data protection, it is our first choice.

Why do you use the advanced electronic signature at hobex?

For us, the advanced electronic signature offers the ideal mix of security, user-friendliness and legal effectiveness. It is easy to set up, uncomplicated to use and is also very well received by external partners.

For contracts in the B2B environment, it meets all requirements - both in terms of legal validity and compliance. This is a decisive factor, especially for a regulated payment service provider like us.

Why did you opt for an API integration of the electronic signature from sproof sign?

For us, the end-to-end digitalization of our business processes is paramount. This means: no media disruptions, no system changes, no manual copying of documents back and forth.

Thanks to the API integration, the entire signature process works directly within our contract management. I start the signature, the sproof window opens, I sign - and as soon as the process is complete, the document is automatically returned. This is how we ensure that our processes are not only digital, but also efficient and user-friendly.

How did the collaboration on the technical integration of the signature software work?

The implementation was carried out in close coordination between our contract management provider and the sproof team. The cooperation was consistently professional and solution-oriented. Even with individual requirements or support requests, sproof was always quickly available and very helpful.

From our point of view, it was an all-round successful project - both technically and organizationally.