CloudSign Begins Full-Scale Introduction of Digitized Disposition Notices for Local Governments

Bengo4.com, Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Taichiro Motoe, Representative Director, President and CEO, Lawyer; hereinafter, “the Company”) announces that its contract management platform CloudSign has begun the full-scale introduction of digitized disposition notices for local governments.

Following successful test programs in several local municipalities, we are supporting the full-scale introduction of our Disposition Notice Digitalization Support service for government agencies and local authorities in Kochi Prefecture (Governor: Shoji Hamada) and Takarazuka City, Hyogo (Mayor: Rintaro Mori).

■ Background Behind the Introduction

Since the Digital Agency released the Basic Concept on the Digitization of Disposition Notices in 2022, acknowledging the potential for using cloud-based digital signatures like CloudSign alongside electronic signatures based on GPKI/LGPKI official certificates, local governments have increasingly gained interest in digitizing these notices. 

 Building on Kochi Prefecture’s efforts to promote a digital transformation across the region and Takarazuka’s initiatives to enhance resident services, momentum is growing across Japan toward the digitization of a wide range of administrative documents, including disposition notices. 

■ What Is the Digitalization of Disposition Notices?

This initiative digitizes various notifications on administrative action that were previously created and sent using physical paper as a medium, allowing for the complete digitalization of the process. Specifically, this process safely digitizes construction permits, operating licenses, permits, approvals, and notices on welfare-related decisions produced by local governments for business operators and residences using electronic signature technology for public documents.

By fully digitizing the process using CloudSign electronic signatures rather than conventional paper and stamps, it allows the entire process from creation, sending, and receipt of notifications to be completed online, greatly improving administrative efficiency along with resident services.

■ Comment from Kochi Prefecture

“We introduced the electronic signature service to replace stamps used on notices as part of our efforts to promote administrative digitalization. This allows for the complete digitalization of procedures that previously accepted online applications but issued written notifications on paper, while also helping to reduce the labor and costs associated with sending notices by post. We will continue to promote the digitalization of administrative procedures, aiming to improve resident services and enhance the efficiency of administrative work.”

■ Comment from Takarazuka

“We were able to reduce the time and paper used for notices, as well as postal fees, by digitizing disposition notices. Through this initiative, we are improving the efficiency of administrative work while also enhancing convenience for residents and business operators by promoting administrative procedures that are not dependent on operating hours or location.”

CloudSign promotes an overall digital transformation for administrative documents, combining the digitalization of disposition notices with the digitalization of contracts and meeting minutes.

■ About CloudSign: https://www.cloudsign.jp/

CloudSign is a contract management platform that enables digitization of everything from contract execution to management and AI review. The electronic signatures and timestamps are compliant with the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business, ensuring smooth and secure contract execution. CloudSign also began offering Japan’s first ever My Number Card (individual number card) signature capability as part of its general-purpose contracting service in 2023. The platform also shortens the time required for the entire contracting process through the active adoption of AI technology including an AI contract management capability and an AI-powered contract review service, CloudSign Review. CloudSign has become the No. 1 service in the electronic contract market (*), and is widely adopted by companies and local governments. 

* Market share in “New Markets of Software Business 2024” (2023 result of e-contract tools) by Fuji Chimera Research Institute, Inc.