--- title: "Qualified electronic signature (QES): what it is | attendo" description: "What a qualified electronic signature (QES) is, the three eIDAS levels, when you need one, an example and the mistake of using one level for everything." url: "https://attendo.me/en/glossary/qualified-electronic-signature" lang: "en" --- # Qualified electronic signature: what it is and when you need one Also known as: QES A qualified electronic signature is the highest level of signature under the EU eIDAS regulation: it is created with a qualified certificate and a secure device, and it is equivalent to a handwritten signature across the European Union. ## The three eIDAS levels - **Simple**: any electronic data linked to a signature, such as ticking a box or signing with a finger on a screen. - **Advanced**: uniquely identifies the signer, is under their control and reveals any later change to the document. - **Qualified**: an advanced signature made with a qualified certificate, issued by a qualified trust service provider, and with a qualified signature creation device. None of them can be rejected as evidence just for being electronic. The qualified one is the only one the regulation directly equates with a handwritten signature. eIDAS applies in the European Union; other countries have their own e-signature rules. ## When you need it When a document needs the strongest presumption of validity, or when a rule or the other party asks for it: certain contracts, filings or documents you expect to be disputed. To accept a quote or sign off a service report, an advanced or simple signature is usually enough. ## An example A company signs a five-year maintenance contract with penalties. Both sides use a qualified signature: if there is ever a dispute, nobody will have to prove who signed. The report for each visit, on the other hand, is signed by the customer on the technician’s screen. ## The usual mistake Using the same level for everything. Requiring a qualified signature on a service report complicates every visit, and closing a major contract with a ticked box leaves the proof up in the air. Choose the level document by document, with your legal advisor. ## In attendo With [attendo eSign](https://attendo.me/en/modules/esign) you send the document for signature from its record, with an advanced or qualified signature and sealing by a qualified provider. The signed document’s fingerprint is stored on a blockchain. - [attendo Compliance](https://attendo.me/en/compliance) ## Where it is used in attendo ### Modules - [attendo eSign](https://attendo.me/en/modules/esign): E-signature for the quote or the contract, right from its record - [Business documents](https://attendo.me/en/modules/business-documents): Quotes, orders and delivery notes in sequence; invoices in your ERP ### Industries that use these modules - [Equipment manufacturers and distributors](https://attendo.me/en/industries/equipment-manufacturers) - [Consulting and professional services](https://attendo.me/en/industries/professional-services) - [Facility maintenance and services](https://attendo.me/en/industries/facility-maintenance) - [HVAC and refrigeration](https://attendo.me/en/industries/hvac) - [And any other business](https://attendo.me/en/industries) ## Related terms Compliance ### Compliance evidence Control evidence · audit evidence Compliance evidence is the record that proves a control or obligation was carried out: what was checked, by whom, when and with what result, along with the documents that back it up. Processes and automation ### Approval workflow Approval process · sign-off workflow An approval workflow is the path a request follows until someone with authority accepts or rejects it: who approves, in what order, within what limits and by when. Field work ### Service report Job sheet · field service report A service report is the document that records what the technician did on a job: tasks, time, materials, notes and evidence. ### On the blog #### Does the customer’s signature on the technician’s phone hold up? It is one of the questions that comes up most when work orders go digital, and one of the worst answered. Some say “of course” without any nuance; others simply do not know. An honest answer has to separate three things. 4 min read [See all 53 glossary terms](https://attendo.me/en/glossary) ## Shall we look at it with your data? We will show you how what you just read works in attendo, with your own assets, tickets and customers. If it is not a fit, we will tell you. - With your operation, not a generic demo - A real person from our team replies - No cold calls afterwards Would you rather talk first? - Phone [+34 910 053 530](tel:+34910053530) - Email [sales@attendo.me](mailto:sales@attendo.me) - Monday to Thursday 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM and Friday 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM (Spain time)