Have you ever wondered if a particular service or product is safe, environmentally friendly or high enough quality enough for you to use? Probably your customers (or targeted customers) are also wondering the same about what you offer them. So how can you prove that they are receiving what they are paying for? Part of the answer could be – with the help of ISO Certification.
Why are standards necessary?
Standards are important not only for businesses and customers but, in the long term, for all of us. Goods and services which meet specified standards:
- Keep us safe from injury
- Guarantee a quality product
- Encourage continual improvement in our industries
- Boosts employment as our businesses and industries grow
- Make Australia internationally competitive
They are helping to create a safer and more productive world.
Benefits of ISO Certification for your Business
Business owners receive a number of benefits from having achieved ISO Certification. One of these is operational improvement, leading to cost efficient production/ service provision. Successful certification requires and helps the businesses to go over their processes again and to optimize every operation and every phase. A business’ systems are streamlined and integrated, which helps minimise waste (time and resources) and stimulates production.
As ISO Standards are recognized worldwide, ISO certified businesses are eligible for more opportunities to expand their areas of activity and have the potential to provide products and services to foreign markets. ISO Certified businesses are highly likely to increase their market share and, as a consequence – their revenue. In fact, studies have shown that ‘the benefits of using standards are valued, in terms of contribution to company gross profit, at between 0.15 % and 5 % of annual sales revenues.’
Many markets now require businesses to be ISO certified, particularly if your customers are from large corporates or you are tendering for public sector contracts. This is becoming a trend as people realise the value of certification.
In fact, it is not unusual for customers to ask whether or not your business has ISO certification, so ISO certification is a marketing asset and should be promoted in all your marketing messages. It proves that your business meets internationally accepted standards, making you an attractive choice in the marketplace.
Some lesser known but worthwhile benefits of ISO certification include improved workplace safety, a more consistent work environment and a boost to employee morale. When your employees feel a sense of security and know exactly what standards are required of them, it’s far easier for them to feel a sense of empowerment and contribution. We all know that happy teams are productive teams, too.
The process of ISO Certification requires business owners to analyse their work processes and make improvements where necessary. It means that your processes, systems, manuals, guidelines and computer systems are all up to date and functional. The certification process is a great opportunity to improve control over all aspects of your business, and with a solid foundation in place, gives business owners a structure for managing continual growth and improvement.
The biggest benefit of ISO Certification is the creation of a significant competitive advantage as the ISO 9001 improves your business over time.
Benefits for the Customer
Of course many of the above benefits to businesses also benefit their customers. Increased efficiency and reliability of product or service quality; a reputation for safety and environmental responsibility; repeatable systems; low employee turnover due to improved clarity and morale all impact positively a business’ reputation with customers.
Compliance to standards can also reassure customers that the products or services they are paying for are high-quality, safe, environmentally friendly or that the business possesses other qualities certified by ISO such as being socially responsible, having a sound business continuity strategy and so on. In other words, ISO certification can show that your products/ services are what you say they are, and your customers have a second opinion for that, not only yours- which carries a lot more weight.
ISO certified businesses set the pace in today’s business world. With a guarantee of quality, ISO Certification boosts your business profitability and secures your longevity in the marketplace.
At Integrated Compliance Solutions, our expert consultants can assist your business in completing an ISO gap analysis, ISO 9001 internal audit, ISO internal audit and ISO audit. For more information, get in touch with us today.