Information Campaign and Webinars on eIDAS Tool Kit Developed to Foster Speedy Adoption by SMEs

For all businesses, and for SMEs especially, fast, efficient and administratively not burdensome business transactions are a dream to strive for. A dream that thanks to the European Union’s eIDAS Regulation[1]  is now becoming a reality for European SMEs.

The eIDAS Regulation takes full effect in its entirety in September 2018.[2] The Regulation covers multiple types of electronic solutions at the European level: electronic identification (eID) and Trust Services, such as electronic signature (eSignature), electronic timestamp (eTimestamp), electronic seal (eSeal), web authentication certificates (WAC) and electronic registered delivery service (eDelivery). What the eIDAS Regulation brings is mutual recognition of electronic solutions among EU countries, resulting in easier, faster and more secure cross-border transactions. It establishes a legal framework for all EU countries creating secure and transparent conditions needed not only for an online ecommerce, but also for all other types of electronic transactions between companies, citizens and public authorities.

Why it is important for SMEs? Because the most simple and common business procedures can be significantly streamlined thanks to eIDAS. This can result in increased business efficiency for SMEs. For example, signing documents electronically across borders using eSignature and sending them via eDelivery rather than post reduces time of business operations, lowers administrative burden related with paper documents and in-person procedures, and as a result reduces costs for SMEs, as well as increases efficiency and profitability of business operations.  But, how to pick up the right trust service and the appropriate assurance level (simple or qualified) to relay upon for their digital processed transactions? The choice is to be based on risk management considerations with regard business, legal and operational risks. Risk management is at the heart of eIDAS.

And as more and more businesses shift to online transactions, the safety of operations and consumer trust online becomes of outmost importance. Hence, the EU maintains a list of qualified trusted service providers that meet the high standards of the eIDAS regulation.

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To increase the awareness of SMEs of the potential and benefits of eIDAS for their businesses the European Commission has commissioned the eIDAS for SMEs pilot, a cutting-edge campaign focusing on the benefit and potential of eIDAS, particularly for cross-border trade and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Through videos, infographics, sector-specific use cases, an interactive training toolbox and a series of cutting-edge, exploratory webinars, SME leaders, business organisations and service providers are invited to test, learn and discuss about the latest developments and emerging opportunities of electronic identity (eID) and trust services.

The first eIDAS for SMEs webinar will convene online on 06 September 2018 at 13h00 CEST (Brussels time) under the theme Using eIDAS for Business and is dedicated specifically to business organisations and service providers. It will focus on the launch of the eIDAS Tool, an interactive platform created for SMEs with the aim to help them understand and implement eIDAS solutions into their daily operations. Moreover, business organisations and service providers will have the opportunity to get themselves familiar with the information materials and communication tools available to them for their local eIDAS communication campaign.

Participants can register for the 06 September 2018 webinar here.

Visit the eIDAS for SMEs webpages.

[1] Regulation 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market