DocuSign : send document to two signers , complete whenever one of them signs

Question

using the DocuSign API is it possible to build a workflow where we send one document to two (or more) signers in such a way that the document envelope gets marked as "complete" as soon as one of the signers signs...e.g., we send a document to persons A and B, as soon as person A signs then DocuSign marks the envelope as complete and B no longer has to sign. Cheers !

Answer 1

DocuSign behavior is such that each and every existing "signer" for an Envelope must access the Envelope and "confirm signing" before the Envelope can move to a status of "Completed". However, it IS possible to implement the workflow you describe -- with some coding on your part.

For this example, let's assume you create an Envelope with 3 recipients, each of type signer. As soon as any one of the 3 recipients completes/submits the Envelope, you want the Envelope to be considered Complete. You could achieve this by doing the following:

• Implement DocuSign Connect either at the account level OR at the Envelope level (by setting eventNotification properties in the API request that creates/sends the Envelope) -- such that DocuSign Connect will send the "listener" endpoint you specify an HTTP POST message (in XML format) whenever a "Recipient Signed/Completed" event occurs for an Envelope.

• Build/code your "listener" application to parse the XML messages it receives from DocuSign Connect, and if/when a message indicates that a recipient signed an Envelope, code your "listener" application such that it makes an API call to DocuSign to Delete each remaining signer recipient for the specified Envelope. In the example of an Envelope that contains 3 signers -- signer A, B, and C -- this would mean deleting signers A and C if the Envelope's been signed by signer B.

As soon as an Envelope no longer contains any recipients that must receive/acknowledge/complete the Envelope, the Envelope's status will automatically advance to "Completed". By implementing the procedure I've outlined above, you're essentially forcing an Envelope to complete by removing/deleting all incomplete recipients by using the API, as soon as DocuSign Connect notifies you that a recipient has signed. [Do note, however, that when you remove/delete a recipient from an Envelope, that recipient loses the ability to access the Envelope from that point forward.]