Sign an online purchase order in less than 2 minutes
Order form (BDC) issued by a buyer, signed electronically with a qualified time stamp optional. The date of signature certifies the order commitment within the meaning of Article L441-1 of the Commercial Code and triggers the storage obligations for 10 years (Article L123-22).
- Legal framework
- Article L441-1 of the Commercial Code
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal archives
- 10 years included
What's an electronically signed purchase order?
The purchase order (BDC) is the document by which a buyer confirms an order from a supplier : product or service reference, quantities, unit price, delivery and payment conditions. Article L441-1 of the Commercial Code requires the mention of the general conditions of sale and Article L123-22 obliges traders to keep their BDC for 10 years for tax control purposes. The advanced electronic signature (AES) timetables the issuance of the BDC with a level of evidence that can be challenged in the commercial court. Article 1366 of the Civil Code gives the electronic proof the same probative force as the paper one.
Why sign the purchase order electronically?
Qualified time stamping optional
The qualified time stamp certifies the date of issue of the BDC the starting point of delivery and invoicing times (Article L441-9 of the Commercial Code). It blocks any dispute on the date of commitment or on the version ordered. Admissible before the commercial court in case of a supplier dispute.
Multi-signature buyer + validation
For BDCs involving a large amount, add a validator (purchasing department, finance department) as co-signer.Each approval receives its secure link with OTP SMS the audit trail traces the approval chain required by your internal procedure.
Automatic storage for 10 years
Article L123-22 of the Commercial Code requires the storage of BDCs for 10 years.Certyneo automatically archives the signed BDC and its eIDAS audit trail for this entire period, which can be accessed with a click from your dashboard for tax or Urssaf checks.
The eIDAS audit trail is open to objection
Each signed BDC is accompanied by a PDF of proof: identity of the signatory (email + OTP telephone), qualified time stamp, SHA-256 fingerprint, IP and gross geolocation.
Sign a purchase order in 4 steps
From the BDC to the evidence archive in less than five minutes.
1. Increase the BDC
Upload your PDF (BDC Sage, EBP, Cegid, Pennylane, or Certyneo template) or start from a template.
2. Add the signatory and the validators
For BDCs involving a large amount, add a validator (purchasing department, financial department) as co-signer. Each party receives a personalised secure link.
3. Choose the eIDAS level
Advanced signature (AES) recommended for B2B BDCs: identity verification by SMS OTP, unique certificate per signatory, qualified time stamping. Complies with Article 26 of the eIDAS Regulation. Simple signature (SES) is still possible for very small BDCs.
4. Sign and file
The purchaser (and any validators) sign from their phone or computer.The validated BDC + the proof PDF are automatically archived for 10 years, accessible at any time from your dashboard for tax checks or supplier litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does an electronically signed purchase order bind the buyer?
- The Certneo advanced electronic signature formally identifies the signer (double-channel OTP) and guarantees the integrity of the BDC as issued (SHA-256 stamp integrated into the PDF). Admissible to the commercial court in case of a dispute by the supplier.
- What signature level to choose: SES, AES or QES?
- For a B2B BDC with corporate commercial responsibility, the advanced signature (AES) is the professional standard identity verification by SMS OTP, single certificate per signer, qualified time stamping.
- How to manage a multi-validation BDC (purchasing directorate + finance directorate)?
- Certyneo manages sequential or parallel signatures natively.You configure the order (for example: buyer first, then purchasing manager, then finance manager over €50k), each validator receives their link at the right stage, and a single audit trail traces all signatures with their respective time stamps.
- How long does a BDC need to last ?
- Certyneo keeps the signed BDC and its eIDAS audit trail for the entire period, free of charge, with immediate access from your dashboard to respond to a tax audit, an Urssaf audit or a large advertiser audit.
- Does the electronic BDC satisfy the written obligation for invoice L441-1?
- Yes. Article 1366 of the Civil Code gives electronic writing the same evidentiary value as paper writing. The advanced signature (AES) Certyneo fulfils the requirement of identification of the signatory set out in Article 1367.
- Can we tie the BDC to the bill that was issued later?
- Yes the SHA-256 signature of the signed BDC can be referenced in the subsequent invoice (BDC number + date of issue with time stamp).
- Does Certyneo integrate with my ERP or management tool?
- Yes, via the native Zapier, Make and webhooks connectors. You can automatically trigger the creation of a Certyneo envelope upon validation of a BDC in Sage, EBP, Cegid, Pennylane, SAP, or any other ERP. Our REST API is documented at certyneo.com/developers for custom integrations.
- Is the electronically signed BDC enforceable in the commercial court?
- Yes French case law unanimously recognises eIDAS-compliant electronic signature. The presumption of reliability of Article 1367 of the Civil Code makes the advanced signature (AES) optional without further proof, subject to the production of the eIDAS audit trail in court (PDF of proof automatically delivered by Certyneo).
See also
Sign your first online purchase order
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes/month), no credit card, qualified time stamps are optional, audit trail and archiving 10 years included.