Initiate signature

Microsoft supports two electronic signature options for partners and customers: DocuSign and Adobe Acrobat Sign. This document describes the supported signature types for each option.

DocuSign e-sign option Scope:

• DocuSign Simple Electronic and Digital Qualified Signature are applicable throughout the world.

• Docusign Written Signature is applicable only for the China Geo, owing to internal Microsoft Compliance.

• Package Type Applicable: New, Renewal, Update Statement, Shortform Renewals

Scenario 1: Partner wants to initiate CPS Signature (Only applicable for Indirect Deals)

1.      Once all the mandatory information is filled in the package and For indirect packages there will be an option of initiating CPS signature. Clicking on Initiate CPS Signature will start partner signature workflow.

2.      There will be an option of choosing DocuSign vs Adobe. Choose whichever signing option is applicable for you, the below steps covers DocuSign workflow.

3.      Package has been sent for CPS signature

4.      Email notification is sent to partner with signature link.

5.      Upon clicking Review and sign CPS link partner can click on Sign button or Start button.

6.      Partner needs to type their name and initials and click on Adapt and Sign.

7.      Partner can also utilize the draw option for signing. Click on draw. Enter the full name and initials. Start drawing your signature and once satisfied click on adapt and sign.

       

8.      Partner can utilize the upload option by clicking on upload button. Partner needs to click on upload your signature button.

 

Find the signature stored on your local machine and click on open.

Click on Adapt and Sign if signature is uploaded.

9.      Partner needs to enter First name, last name, and title. PO number and PO order date (PO date format E.g. January 01, 2026) are optional fields depending on requirement of individual organizations.

10. Once everything is finalized click on Finish to sign the doc.

11.Partner will be redirected to DocuSign page. There is no explicit confirmation that document has been signed.

Scenario 2: Partner wants to send the contract via DocuSign Simple Electronic or Digital Qualified Signature

1.      For direct packages or the next step for indirect packages is to Initiate signature. Partner needs to click on initiate signature

2. Upon clicking on Initiate signature, the partner will get an option to choose between Adobe and DocuSign. DocuSign will have Simple Electronic Signature and Qualified Signature as two options for all geos. For China geo, DocuSign Written Signature will also be available as an additional option.

3. Click on the Submit button and send the package for DocuSign simple electronic signature. 

   The package will move to Pending customer electronic signature.

Signing Experience for Customers

You can provide the following instructions to the customer if they face any challenges while e‑signing the contract via DocuSign.

4. An email will be sent to the customer with the package details.

5. The customer needs to click on the Review and sign option, which will redirect them to the program signature form. 

   The customer needs to click on Start or Sign to continue.

6. Enter the full name and initials, then click Adopt and Sign.

7. After finalizing the details, click Finish to sign the document.

8. Once the signing is completed, the customer will be redirected to the DocuSign home page.

1. The package will move to Pending Microsoft review.

Scenario 3: Partner wants to send the contract via DocuSign Written Signature (Applicable only for China)

1. Once the package is in Draft status, the partner needs to assign the Contract Submitter role in the Contacts workspace to enable Written Signature. 

   Click Add contact beside the reseller CPS signer to add the role.

2. Choose the contact you want to add as the Contract Submitter. 

   This role will receive all documents via email.

3. Click Contract submitter and save.

4. Click Initiate CPS signature once the package has been finalized.

5. Click Initiate CPS Signature, then select Submit on the panel.

6. The partner will receive an email to Review and sign CPS on the CPS signer contact.

7. Sign the CPS by clicking the Start button.

1. Enter First name, Last name, and Title. 

   PO number and PO order date (example format: January 01, 2026) are optional and depend on organizational requirements. 

   Once finalized, click Finish to sign the document.

9. The partner will be redirected to the DocuSign page. 

    There is no explicit confirmation message indicating that the document has been signed.

10. For direct packages, or as the next step for indirect packages, click Initiate signature.

11. Choose DocuSign Simple Written Signature.

You can provide the following instructions to customers if they face challenges while signing the contract via DocuSign Written Signature.

12. An email will be sent to the customer with package details. 

    Clicking View and download redirects the customer to the DocuSign portal.

13. In the DocuSign portal, select the Finish dropdown and choose Print & Sign.

14. The customer chooses how to return the signed documents. 

    If Upload is selected, choose Upload and Continue.

15. Select Download to proceed.

16. Locate the document in the Downloads folder, open it, print, sign, and scan it back to the computer.

17. Locate and select the scanned agreement, then double‑click to upload.

18. Upload the signed document by selecting Upload a file.

19. Click Finish to complete the upload. 

    The customer will be redirected to the DocuSign home page.

Important

After the Customer Signature, a case needs to be created in the VL Case Management Tool and assigned to OSC to make sure that the package gets processed.

Known issues with DocuSign Written Signature

1. Package documents may be duplicated and attached at the end. 

   This does not impact document legibility or signatures.

2. Workaround: 

   Download the package’s physical envelope from the e‑agreement web portal and extract the required pages for processing.

Adobe e-sign option:

Scenario 1: Partner wants to initiate CPS signature

 

1. Select Initiate CPS Signature.

 

 

2. Once the partner initiates the CPS signature, the following screen will appear to indicate who the CPS signer is. It also indicates that this user will receive a notification to perform the CPS signature activities.

 

 

Scenario 2: Partner wants to initiate CPS signature via Adobe

 

1. When Sign CPS is selected, a new screen will appear in a new tab featuring the Adobe terms and conditions for signature.

 

 

2. Once the terms and conditions are agreed upon, the CPS in PDF format will appear with appropriate placeholders for the signature.

 

 

3. Once the signature is completed, the confirmation window will appear to signal that the CPS has been successfully signed.

4. After the CPS is signed, the next key document to be signed is the agreement package.

 

Scenario 3: Partner wants to send the contract via simple electronic signature

 

1. Partners type in the details and send it to the customer for signature.

 

 

2. This is the first option for the agreement package signature.

 

3. Once this option is selected and submitted, the signature workflow will begin.

 

 

4. Once the agreement package document is created, the confirmation will be shown, and the document will be sent for customer signature.

 

 

5. The notification that the customer receives will look as such and will have a link to Adobe portal for signature.

 

 

6. Once the Review and sign link is selected, the signature page will appear with the terms and conditions.

 

 

7. Once the terms and conditions are fulfilled, the actual document will appear with placeholders for electronic signatures.

 

 

8. When the document is signed and submitted, the screen will confirm the customer’s signature and will indicate the next steps from the Microsoft side.

 

Scenario 4: Partner wants to send the contract via Adobe physical (wet) signature

 

1. This is a simpler process of agreement package signature primarily supporting physical signature needs.

2. Once this option is selected (along with optional email recipient information) and submitted, the signature workflow will begin.

 

 

3. On the Adobe portal, the customer selects the Options dropdown menu and selects Print, sign, and upload.

 

 

4. The customer selects Continue to proceed with the physical download process.

 

 

5. The customer reads the consumer disclosure and selects Next to proceed.

 

 

6. The customer selects Download to proceed.

 

 

7. The customer locates the document in the Downloads folder, opens the file, prints, signs, and scans it into computer.

 

 

8. The customer locates and highlights the scanned agreement and double-clicks to upload.

 

 

 

9. The customer uploads the signed document into the Adobe Sign portal by selecting Upload to submit.

 

 

10. The document package downloaded from the Adobe Sign portal must match the one that has been uploaded to it. If there’s a discrepancy, the Adobe Sign portal will display an error.

 

 

11.        The contract package will automatically be submitted to the Operations Service Center (OSC) for processing and countersignature.

12.        The default countersignature type will be via Adobe Sign.

13.        The customer can access the uploaded document from the Adobe Sign portal.

 

 

Scenario 5: Partner wants to send the contract via digital/qualified signature

 

 

 

1. The customer receives a notification to sign the package electronically.

 

 

2. The customer goes to Adobe portal and signs on the signature placeholders.

3. The customer can digitally sign the contract by selecting the digital signature block.

 

 

4. The customer selects Cloud Signature and then selects Next.

 

 

5. The customer selects the appropriate digital ID provider based on company requirements.

6. The customer can provide the certificate by signing into the digital ID provider’s site and completing the signature.

 

 

Scenario 6: Partner wants to send a reminder to the customer to sign

 

 

Scenario 7: Partner wants to share a draft copy with the customer

 

 

Scenario 8: Customer rejects package and declines to sign

 

1. On Adobe portal, a customer can select the Options dropdown menu and select the Decline to sign option to reject the package.

 

 

2. The customer will be prompted to add the reason (mandatory) and decline the package.

 

 

Scenario 9: Customer rejects the contract and partner needs to withdraw

 

1. Partner can see the rejected reason on VL Central.

 

 

2. The partner should select Withdraw to withdraw the package and make the applicable changes.