Why ISO certification?
ISO certifications help companies to build trust with customers, partners and stakeholders. Such companies are committed to meeting certain quality standards. There are different types of ISO certifications. Depending on their needs and goals, companies apply for certifications of their management systems.
How do you get ISO certification?
The ISO certification is carried out by an accredited certification company. By sending an audit team, the certification body can check whether the management system complies with the ISO standard. The audit manager provides independent proof of the holistic implementation of all requirements of the standard with his audit report. The initial certification is carried out by the audit, which is divided into stage 1 and stage 2. After the certification process has been successfully completed, the company receives its ISO certificate. This confirms the conformity of the management system.
What are the advantages of ISO certification?
The ISO certification serves as proof of the conformity of the respective management system. Anyone who sees the certificate can assume that a management system complies with the latest ISO standard. The competitiveness of a company is strengthened by the following advantages of ISO certification:
- Legal Compliance
- Implementation of a management system
- Regulated processes, roles and authorities are defined
- The company continuously improves processes
- Process performance is increased in a targeted manner
- Better transparency for the customer
- Audit results support the improvement process
- Better chances when selecting suppliers by major customers
Which ISO certification is best for my company?
Companies select their ISO certification based on the goals and needs of their organization. Consultants with audit experience can significantly reduce the pressure during the certification process, as they can discuss possible deviations with the auditor on an equal footing.
Certifications for companies: what decision-makers need to know
When it comes to procurement marketing, corporations look for new suppliers in a special way. They pay attention to quality, safety and sustainability. By obtaining certification, companies signal solid structures. Buyers must ensure that their products, services and systems have high standards. Suppliers with unreliable characteristics can seriously disrupt tightly scheduled supply chains. Expectations when initiating business have changed: potential customers demand evidence of the quality of products or services. Information security must also be demonstrated through ISO certification. Due to NIS 2.0 and supply chain laws, large companies are careful about the type of suppliers they work with. Large companies require their suppliers to meet the standards specified in their contracts. Government clients have followed this trend: tenders make a certificate (ISO 9001, ISO 27001) a condition for participation.
Certification for law firms?
Tax firms process many of their clients’ transactions. Companies therefore trust a large number of internal business documents that can potentially give a competitor an unfair advantage. Innovative tax firms are therefore going above and beyond to strengthen their tax advice with an ISO certification in accordance with ISO 9001. Tax consultants can no longer rely on keeping their data in the DATEV data center. The requirements of NIS 2 are making more and more medium-sized companies aware that they also have to hold their tax consultants accountable.
This trend is also affecting law firms. Lawyers who join forces to form a joint firm can win lucrative mandates from large companies. However, large customers are aware that they do not only have to ask their normal suppliers to obtain ISO 27001 certification. Therefore, more and more business customers are requiring larger law firms to acquire ISO 27001 certification and to maintain a firm ISMS on a long-term basis.
Frequently asked questions about ISO certifications
The duration varies depending on the company and ISO standard: 6 months to 16 months.
Yes, annual audits are mandatory under ISO standards. This allows you to demonstrate the conformity of your management system and maintain your ISO certifications.
No, ISO certifications are relevant for companies of all sizes and industries. Universities, schools, educational institutions, health insurance companies, municipal power suppliers and other types of organizations can also get certified.
You can search for accredited certification bodies. After you have arranged an audit appointment, the certification body will send an ISO auditor. An ISO auditor cannot carry out a certification without a mandate from a certification body.
