Is it the right time to get ISO certified? As an ISO consultant, we’ve been asked numerous times this question by business owners, CEOs, and CFOs — people who want to find out if they should pursue ISO Certification in Dubai. Well, let's start this discussion by defining what ISO certification is. Essentially, it's a set of rules that allow an organization to ensure they provide high quality products or services while making sure they're meeting the requirements of various laws. But why would you need ISO certification? Isn't compliance enough? This article will help you in understanding whether it is the right time for you to get ISO certified or not.
Your market is shifting
If your customers, or the industries and sectors you serve, are changing the way they do business, you may need to change too. If, for example, your customers have moved away from traditional forms of payment such as cash, cheque or invoice – in favor of an e-commerce platform – you will need to be sure that your business can cope with these changes. If it can’t, this could lead to lost sales. Maintaining a robust quality management system will help you anticipate changes in the market and keep pace with them. An
ISO Certification in Dubai is a great way to convince potential customers that even though you’re smaller, you’re still trustworthy and professional.
Your competitors are certified
In the scenario that your competitors are certified, then there are probably three reasons for this. One, they believe their customers demand it; two, their customers actually do demand it; or three, they want to look better than they really are. Unless you’re quite sure that it’s the latter (and I mean certain because if you make a mistake here, it could be costly), then you should seriously consider getting certified yourself. If you're losing business to other suppliers who have earned their certification, then you might consider getting ISO certified as well.
Your customers are asking for certified items
Your customers are asking for certified items. By the same token, if your customers are certified or require their suppliers to be certified, you should also seriously consider getting certified yourself. Becoming ISO certified will help strengthen your relationships with them and improve the overall quality of your products. If you do not have the certification and you want to do business with these companies, you will need to find a new customer base that does not require such certifications.
The marketplace is over-saturated
You have a great product, but you’re competing with so many other companies that it’s hard to stand out. A certification like ISO 9001, which shows that your company has achieved certain standards of quality, can give you an edge over your competitors. This is because ISO certified companies are more reliable than other organizations and credibility is important when you’re in a competitive market.
You’re looking to take a new direction
Whenever you’re considering taking your business in a new direction, ISO certification must be on your mind. Whether you’re thinking about expanding into new markets across the globe or simply trying to attract a new customer base, ISO Certification in Dubai can help you make the most of your business opportunities.
You’re ready to become an expert in your industry
You’ve been in business for years, you have a successful track record, and you know your stuff. Maybe you even have a few employees who have learned the ropes so well that they could do your job with their eyes closed.
So what’s next? The best businesses are always looking for ways to improve, and ISO certification is one way to take your business to the next level of professionalism.
The company is already compliant
You might say, “I already have all the processes in place and the company and management already complies with the standards, so what’s the point of getting ISO certified?” Truth be told, you may be doing all the right things, but if you don’t acquire a third-party certificate to prove this to your customers, you won’t get any extra points for it. And you might even lose some business because of it.
Having an ISO Certification in Dubai isn’t just a way to show off. It will earn you the trust of your customers, which can lead to more business.
Ready to enter new markets
Some of the most stringent certification requirements come from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO accreditation is a symbol of quality, and it is recognized worldwide. That makes it a natural choice for any company looking to go global with their business.
Changes in your Management
When there is a change of management at the top level, then you may want to think about upgrading your ISO certification. The reason behind this is that new management will want to review the current systems and make changes where they see fit. They may even have their own ideas on how to make things run, including the information security system.
Also, it is important to conduct an internal audit. This gives the new manager a feel for how operations are currently running in different departments. The information gathered through the auditing process can help the new manager put everything in order and make improvements where needed. You might find that you need to reorganize your team, implement new policies and procedures or even replace some employees. This can be challenging as an internal auditor so it is best to call on a third party consultant in ISO certification in Dubai, Quality Middle East, who has no bonds with anyone at your company and can work more objectively.
To ensure that your business operations are in line with international standards
It is often a good idea to get the ISO certification for your business, if you are looking for something that will make sure that your business is following international standards. Not only will this help you to function in an efficient and effective manner, but it will also give your customers peace of mind knowing that your products or services are of the highest quality.
Expanding your line of products or services
When you expand your product line or services, it means that you have a wider range of products and services to offer to the market. It also implies that you are expanding your customer base as well. But this expansion can be risky, especially if you do not have proper plans and strategies in place for the whole thing. If you want to grow and expand your business, then it is important for you to get ISO certified. This will help you keep track of your operations and all the processes that are involved in making your products and delivering them to your customers.
You want to improve your manufacturing process or implement technology-based solutions
Changing processes and implementing new technologies can be challenging. But the right support can help you to meet those challenges head-on.
Whether you're looking to improve your manufacturing process or implement technology-based solutions, a consultancy that specializes in
ISO Certification in Dubai can help you achieve your business objectives. ISO certification ensures that your products, services, and systems are in compliance with international standards.
You also need to understand how ISO standards affect your business and determine if it's the right time for you to get certified by one of these standards. If you don't know whether it is the right time, here are some pointers for you to consider.
When you‘re looking for ISO-specific training and education
For example, if you decide to implement ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management), or
ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety) in your organization, then you will need to find a training provider that can help you achieve certification.
Applying for loans or other sources of financing
Having an ISO certification can increase your credibility and help you get approved for a loan or another form of financing more easily. This can be especially helpful for small businesses that are just starting out and don’t have a lot of capital to work with.
When you want to ensure continuous improvement
ISO standards are dynamic, which means they will continue to change as your business evolves. Because of this, it is important that you commit yourself to continuous improvement and development if you opt for ISO Certification in Dubai. You must also be willing to adopt new technologies and practices that can further help improve your operations.
Equipped with the resources and capacity to get certified
We can't tell you how many times people have asked this question. They want to know if they should wait until they're done expanding their business, or maybe launch a new product, or get on-board with a big client before they start the process of getting ISO certified.
The answer is always: Right now!
Not only will you better serve your customers by implementing a quality management system, but it will also make your business more efficient.
But what about all that paperwork? It's true that an ISO certification does involve documenting your processes and procedures and making sure everything is in line with the international standard. But that's not as daunting as it sounds, especially if you hire a company that is experienced in ISO certification in Dubai, such as
Quality Middle East. The objective of the standard is to help companies improve their operations. That means any steps you take to meet the requirements are steps in the right direction anyway.
To conclude:
A common question we get asked by customers is when is the right time to get their ISO certification? This is understandable because there are a lot of factors that seem to be dependent on many variables. To help an organization decide whether it's time for them to perform an ISO audit, we broke it down into a few simple categories. The next logical question to ask is when will you know if your company should be ISO certified? Hopefully, this blog has given you a bit more information about how to determine when your organization is ready for one.
