Recently I was asked by a local real estate agent to help her set up her new iPad 2. We loaded on all of the usual apps that most agents would want like a calculator, Pages, Walk Score, Where, AroundMe, Dragon Dictation, Google Search, Bing, Penultimate, GoodReader, Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow.
Then we created icons on her “desktop” for the MLS, Facebook, LinkedIn and a few others.
Finally, she asked me how she could create contracts on her iPad and get the contracts into Docusign so that while she was traveling she could handle any transactional events that might arise.
Easy enough I thought. We’ll just go to zipformonline.com and login with her zipForm account information. Not so fast! CAR and zipLogix feel that it is necessary to charge an additional $9.95 a year for the privilege of accessing this member benefit on a mobile device!
OK, so maybe they want to recover their development costs of porting the program over to a mobile device, and if you buy this right now it’s prorated down to $4.12. But, really???
Once the payment was made we were able to log in to zipformonline.com and create documents from the C.A.R. forms library. It works a bit differently than the the desktop version, but ultimately you can create forms on your iPad or iPhone.
Then we went to the app store and downloaded the FREE Docusign app for the iPhone and iPad (Did you notice the FREE price tag C.A.R.?)
Then the fun began. There is no way to get the document from zipForm to Docusign on the iPad! (without relying on a desktop computer). There is no eSign button in the zipForm mobile version! In what universe would you create a mobile version without a way to get the document to an online signing program such as Docusign?
On the Docusign side of the street, they have several ways that things could be brought in including Google Docs, Box.net (But not DropBox!), Templates and Drafts. After much time was wasted, I stumbled upon a solution that I will give to you. While on your iPad, create a document in zipForm. Get all the forms together that you need for the transaction and then email it to the address that you use to access Docusign (This is critically important). Then once you have done that, open up the email that you received from zipForm and FORWARD it to drafts@docusign.net (Also critically important!).
Once you have done that open up the Docusign app on your iPad and Start a new envelope. When you are asked where to get the documents for the Envelope, select Drafts. Voila! If you carefully followed these instructions, the documents that need signatures will be available. just select the file and proceed with completing the signing envelope. And the entire process can be completed on the iPad!
Thanks zipLogix and Docusign for turning what should have been a seamless process (Like the desktop versions) into an arcane trip down the rabbit hole. I expected more from two industry leaders such as yourselves.
Very poor program!! I don’t think there is tech support. I have now been on hold for 45 minutes and no one answers the phone. When you send a question through email they don’t correct the problem. Now they have my money and I don’t have a working program and no support. Bad company!!
I feel your pain! I’d keep sending emails if I were you. Sooner or later someone should notice!
Thx for posting this solution but geez its not elegant. I find myself just hauling my butt to office to do it instead of doing thru docusign on ipad. 🙁
That was exactly my reason for writing this post! It’s almost as if they set out to make it difficult.
Jerry,
I’m excited to tell you that zipLogix has been working on new signing solutions for the zipForm Mobile Web Edition that will be released very shortly. It will make mobile signing a cinch! However, you’re right, development costs are associated with new features, support, marketing and so forth. And let’s not forget that zipLogix is a for-profit business and run as such. The advantage to purchasing and utilizing zipLogix tools is that all profits go back to REALTOR® Associations (CAR and NAR) to offset membership dues. Ultimately the money is coming back to REALTORS®’ pockets. The same cannot be said with other technology and electronic signature providers. As an aside, four local Associations are providing zipForm Mobile Web Edition for free: Beverly Hills Greater LA, Chico, Downey and Victor Valley Association of REALTORS®.
Jenny, thank you for your reply. I do understand about dev costs. But, your desk top versions include the ability to interoperate with signing solutions such as Docusign. I would hope that the mobile versions would soon be able to do so as well. The average REALTOR® is marginally concerned that the state and national associations work to keep dues as low as possible. But they are much more concerned in being able to deliver a high level of service to their clients. One of the ways that we can do this is to offer our services any time, anywhere through the use of mobile technology. zipLogix signing tools, while good to be sure, do not have the name recognition of Docusign. In something as sensitive as online signatures, being able to offer a known and trusted service such as Docusign is very important. I would hope that zipLogix (and Docusign…Docusign are YOU listening?) will find a way to work together to facilitate the needs of your mutual customers that want to use both platforms together both on the desktop and on the mobile platform.