Significant parts of Signate are Windows applications, such as scanning, high-speed capture and the workflow design and monitoring tools. Windows applications have some significant advantages over Web applications:
- Can take full advantage of the computers processing power
- Can access hardware such as scanners
- Can easily perform multiple tasks at once
- Can easily work on multiple tasks at once
However they come with two big disadvantages:
- They require installation
- They require configuration
For Signate we have done our best to address these disadvantages. For starters, the installation process for the Signate client is simple and quick (see the video). Since it is so simple, it is also easy to deploy automatically.
Secondly, we make use of Zero-Configuration. This means that the Signate client will automatically find the Signate server machine and set up communication with it, without your IT staff having to be involved. All policy is controlled by the Signate server, so you don't need to roll out changes to each client PC when the policy is modified.
If you change the location of the server, all the client PC's will automatically pick up the new location. Additionally, if you run with multiple Signate servers, if the nearest one should be unavailable, the client PC's will switch to the further one for the interim.
All this ensures that a Signate client installation gives you the advantages of a Windows application with the ease of administration of a Web application.