Lexign unveils first comprehensive eSign compliant solution

Lexign, Inc, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation and the leading provider of integrated software solutions for customers that require a trusted environment for e-business, today unveiled the Lexign Suite.

The industry`s first comprehensive, trusted transaction management solution, the Lexign Suite enables organisations to increase efficiency, improve security, and save money by moving traditionally paper-intensive processes to the Web.

The suite is one of the broadest, most powerful platforms on the market for simple, cost-effective, trusted e-business transactions, supporting every part of the transaction lifecycle, including user interface, workflow, digital signature and user/data validation, and document management and storage.

According to an IDC Internet Security Software/Market Focus Analysis, "trust" is emerging as the critical component in e-business transactions. This recent study noted that "the key word in these applications (security) will not be `security` or `protection,` but rather `trust`. Customers will want to trust that their transactions are accurate. Merchants, banks and trading partners will want to trust that the transactions are not fraudulent and will not be repudiated at a later date. All parties concerned will want increasingly greater abilities to transact business as quickly as possible."

"The Lexign Suite was developed to address the industry need for a solution that focuses on trust and reliability through all aspects of an electronic transaction, from inception through signature and archiving," said Don Byrne, Lexign`s CEO and president. "With the Lexign Suite, organisations can control how each transaction is processed while verifying and recording the people who touch it along the way. Enterprises benefit by working more efficiently and saving money, while securely controlling access to electronic information and knowing when information is changed, and by whom."

The Lexign Suite provides a full range of products to support every part of the transaction lifecycle. It provides functionality through integrated product modules and may be implemented in its entirety or in specific modules according to the business need.

• .         Lexign WebForms enables interactive forms to be created and deployed in the Web or wireless environment, extending information within and beyond the enterprise.

• .         Lexign Flow streamlines and automates an organisation`s mission-critical business processes, regardless of complexity. It can be deployed in a single department, across an enterprise, or in business-to-business environments to speed decisions, increase productivity and maximize efficiency without compromising flexibility.

• .         Lexign ProSigner enables the application of electronic signatures and encryption to any document created in a desktop application. The product provides standalone functionality or can be used in conjunction with other modules in the Lexign Suite.

• .         Lexign WebSigner allows Web forms to be digitally signed, enabling online business communications and transactions to be certified and authenticated.

• .         Lexign Store captures transaction content and documents, converting them into data elements that can be accessed throughout an enterprise or globally through the Internet.

The Lexign Suite is helping organisations such as EnterVault to simplify and ease typically paper-intensive processes for its own clients. "Lexign`s software has helped us greatly simplify the setup of online documents," said Jeff Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, EnterVault. "The forms and digital signature modules of the Lexign Suite have helped us easily create PDF files of paper registration documents as well as create the forms to electronically sign those documents, all in less than two hours."

Lexign`s trusted transaction management solutions are especially helpful to industries that process large volumes of paperwork, handle high-value, process-intensive transactions, or must comply with government or industry regulations. These include:

• .         Financial services companies - Mortgage agreements, letters of credit, operational policies and procedures, and loan applications can be processed and signed securely online.

• .         Public sector organisations - Student loan applications, supplier contracts, permit requests, security clearances, and internal processes (such as purchasing and human resources) can be managed efficiently and cost effectively, while facilitating compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA).

• .         Healthcare organisations - Authenticated prescription writing, signed electronic orders, and patient records management can be managed effectively while assisting with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance.

"To date, businesses wishing to utilise electronic business documents and signatures have had to participate with various vendors in a lengthy process to assemble all of the technologies necessary to enable these transactions. This process has been time-consuming, expensive and the results have often been disappointing," said Larry Hawes, Delphi Group. "Lexign has addressed this problem with the introduction of the Lexign Suite 1.0. Any organisation looking to leverage the Web in order to streamline business processes and enable digital transactions should consider the Lexign Suite."

To showcase the functionality of its newly announced technology, Lexign sponsored a partner signing ceremony on 11 December at Fall Internet World, New York. Lexign invited partner participants from six countries (Australia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the UK and the US), representing five vertical markets (manufacturing, federal government, financial services, education/state and local government, insurance) to participate in the electronic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on product distribution by using the Lexign Suite from their individual offices around the globe.

The Lexign partners participating in the event included: American Business Systems, Communications Engineering Company, Datum, Digital Signature Trust, EnterVault, Frontstep, Getronics-CP, Hershey Business Systems, Image Pro, Immediatech, MDY Advanced Technologies, Mission Critical, New Image Technologies, Inc, New Tech Ideas and NST Worldwide Pty Ltd. In addition, the integration of various pieces of new technology from these partners, including time stamping, digital certificates and online storage, was highlighted.

The Lexign Suite is available from January 2002. Product pricing for a typical installation starts at $350 000. To provide customers with expanded options for acquiring the Lexign Suite, Lexign also offers a flexible software rental program that provides a pathway for converting from rental to purchase.