ISO Certification helps an organization to achieve product & service quality levels of international standards. ISO Certification enables organizations to demonstrate their edge on process improvements and achieving business profitability.
In this time of Pandemic and lockdown, for the businesses to stay afloat and continue their operations effectively, getting an ISO Certification is a must-have.
Depending on the nature of business and scope of business operations, there are various ISO Standards an organization can opt for to achieve their desired results and move closer to reaching the organization’s goals.
ISO Certification in UAE – Providing Assistance for Small Business Amidst the COVID Crisis
Globally, it the small and micro businesses that got the hardest hit by the Pandemic and there is an urging requirement of bringing these ailing businesses back to normal.
In the UAE, the Small and Medium Sector makes up almost 90% of the labor force and is a very important contributor to the economy.
Hence, reviving these sectors with an efficient business continuity plan, sustainability, and pandemic proof is a crucial requirement.
Incorporating a Risk Management Plan with the ISO Certification
Risk management should be an essential component of the Quality Management System of any organization.
Implementing a Quality Management system for small businesses with risk management functionality is a must-have for businesses to sustain the downtime and get back on track effectively.
The ISO Standard Certification is very useful to small businesses to limit the impact of any crisis and be better prepared to counter any downtimes.
ISO Certifications to Achieve Specific Business Goals
To turnaround business growth and achieve better control of business operations, the ISO Certifications can be classified into two categories that are:
1. To achieve business goals such as the following:
- Business Continuity Management
- Energy Management
- Crisis Management
- supply Chain Security Management
Ideal ISO Certification Standards for Small Companies
- ISO 22301:2018 Business Continuity Management System
- ISO 22320:2018 Emergency Management- Guidelines for incident management
- Organizational Resilience- ISO 22316:2017
- ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management
- ISO 56001:2019 Innovation Management System
2. To meet new market requirements and cover the following scope:
- Standards of Quality
- Food Safety
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Social Accountability
Ideal ISO Certifications Small Companies should choose:
- Occupational Health & Safety Standard – ISO 45001:2018
- ISO 22000: 2018 – Food Safety Management Standard
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System Standard
How ISO Certification Process is Adopting the New Normal?
ISO Certification process is well-structured and consists of stages starting from consulting, gap analysis, process improvements, internal audits, final audits, and finally, the issuance of the certification of the Quality Management System is compliant with ISO Standard guidelines.
Every step in the ISO Certification process is essential and vital to the organization’s success in achieving the ISO Certification.
Remote Auditing and ISO Certification
ISO Certification more than a certification standard is a process of continuous improvement and process optimizations to achieve business results.
Now, in the current global scenario, ISO Certification authorities have moved to the remote auditing and issuance of certification to safeguard the community from the pandemic and ensure businesses are not at risk of failing to achieve their goals.
ISO Certification – Road to a Remote Audit and Certification Process
With the advent of Pandemic, ISO Certifications that required on-site visits to inspect the Quality Management Systems are now moved to the virtual meeting space. It is to safeguard the community and ensure the social responsibility of reducing the Pandemic spread.
There is a mandatory requirement of recertification audits within Six Month of issuing the ISO certifications to ensure the systems are in place and are compliant with the ISO guidelines.
Any delay in the auditing process due to Pandemic will have especially the IT Security and Data Protection related ISO Certification at the risk of non-conformity to the ISO Standard guidelines.
Organizations must ensure they have their ISO Certifications renewed to retain the ISO Certification Status and reduce the risk of data protection and maintain the business compliance with the ISO Standard.
Organizations Must Be Technology Ready for Remote ISO Certification
To speed up the recertification process or even new ISO Certification, the organizations must be adapting to digitally first practices.
Companies must eliminate the traditional system of file management in individual spreadsheets or requiring an in-person explanation of ISO Compliance requirements.
Digital Ecosystem Required to Stay Competitive
If companies move to robust remote management platforms or cloud-based solutions with data sharing capabilities, even specific ISO Standard Audits for Cyber Security and IT Security Management Standards, etc., can be done online.
In the current dynamic business environment, it is high time that organizations adopt the latest technology-driven practices to stay relevant and competitive.
ISO Standard Certifications ensure there is a Quality Management System and specific operational compliances in place that will help achieve business goals even amidst a crisis or a downtime.
To know more about the ISO Certification Standard implementation in UAE, talk to our expert ISO Consultants right away!
Contact: Aurion ISO Consultants