Benefits of Standards: Learn how ISO standards help SMEs

 Operating in the 21st century means facing a number of challenges. In recent years, organisations have been forced to find innovative ways to meet business expectations while also managing costs and improving efficiency in order to grow. Thus the need for standards and efficiency has grown as well.

Currently, companies that produce goods or services in high volumes are pressingly striving to achieve quality through management system certification services that meet an international standard. And that's where ISO certification comes in. It enables organisations to maintain a high level of quality that meets national and international standards and regulations. However, it is not necessary to be ISO certified to adhere to industry-specific and national standards.

There are many examples of companies that have benefited from adopting ISO Standards, and plenty of others that still aren't aware of them. Today we'll be tackling the benefits that small to medium sized enterprises reap by adhering to ISO Standards, how it changes the businesses for the better and help them meet some of their goals and objectives.

Build customer confidence in your products as safe and reliable

ISO standards are the most widely used voluntary standards in the world. They are developed by experts from industry, science and consumer groups to make sure that products, processes and services meet performance requirements. That’s why they have become a global benchmark for safety, quality and reliability.

In today’s global economy, ISO standards help businesses of all sizes build customer confidence in their products as safe and reliable. This is because today’s customers want to know that the products they buy meet certain standards of quality. Using an ISO standard for your products gains the trust of buyers in your company and products/services with respect to the product process, employees, distribution channels, payment streams etc.

Meet regulation requirements, at a lower cost

The benefits of standards are not limited to the financial impact. They can also help businesses meet regulatory requirements. ISO standards are used by many government bodies around the world, including the European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This means that your company may be required to use their standards in order to comply with regulations.

However, if you're already using ISO standards, you'll know that they're very comprehensive and detailed. That's why they're so useful — but it also means that they can be expensive and time-consuming to implement.

Focusing on best practices. Make sure that you use the best practices in order to meet regulatory requirements. This will not only help you comply with regulations but also increase productivity and profitability as well! For example, if you are a manufacturer of food, then it is very important that you adhere to specific standards such as those set by HACCP and ISO 22000 certification in Dubai, Abu Dhabi. This is because most countries have laws concerning food quality and safety. If these laws are not met, then your company might have to pay heavy fines or even shut down its operations.

Gain market access across the world

ISO standards are the most widely recognized and used in the world, with around 10 million published standards. The ISO is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that represents the interests of its members through the development and publication of global technical regulations.

The ISO has over 160 member countries and works with international organizations, governments, companies, trade associations and consumer groups to develop globally applicable industrial standards. Its members are able to submit new proposals for standards or amendments to existing ones at any time. Once a proposal is approved by the governing body, it will be published as an ISO standard.

Therefore, ISO Standards are often used by importers and exporters to ensure that they can easily trade with a foreign partner. Suppose you want to export your goods to another country, it’s important that your product complies with the requirements of that country’s standards. This will make it easier for you to gain market access, but it is also good for your customers as it means their products will work well with yours.

Reduce product liability risk

Standards can help reduce the risk of product liability claims. If you produce products according to international standards, then you have a good defence if someone is injured by one of your products or if they claim that it was defective or dangerous. This is particularly true if the injury was caused by a design flaw in the product that could have been avoided by following an accepted standard.

Reduce costs in your business

Standards can help reduce costs for SMEs in a number of ways. When we think about costs, we often think about the financial side of things and the obvious areas where standards can reduce costs, such as production materials and equipment. But there are other areas where standards can help save money:

Capacity building and training opportunities

The ISO Standards are great for training your staff, especially if you have a small team. The standards provide an excellent framework for developing professional skills, allowing you to take advantage of the expertise of other companies and organisations. This can be especially important for smaller businesses with limited resources.

For example, if you want to improve your customer service, but don't have the budget for an external consultant, there are ISO standards that cover this area. You could then use these standards to train your staff in customer service skills and techniques.

Another example is, there are benefits to using standardised processes or procedures, which can be applied across all departments in an organisation, from HR to finance and accounting. This makes it easier for employees to learn new skills as they move between teams or departments, reducing the need for them to go back to training when they start a new job.

Reduce costs by standardising

Standards reduce costs by standardising business processes, which makes them easier to implement, maintain and improve. Achieving compliance with standards such as ISO 9001 reduces costs associated with training, documentation and auditing, while increasing productivity and efficiency through better use of resources.

Standards can make your communications clear and concise

Standards ensure palpable communications between the business and its customers, suppliers and employees. You can be sure that everyone is using the same language when it comes to describing things like products, services or processes. This makes it easier for people to understand what you are offering, what you want from them and how they should behave.

For example ISO 9001 certification in Dubai, Abu Dhabi helps you comply with internal policies and procedures, including those that are necessary for effective risk management, environmental compliance and IT security. By following these procedures consistently across your organisation, you can improve communication between departments and reduce the risk of costly mistakes or violations occurring due to miscommunication or misinterpretation of policy.

Improve customer satisfaction

Customers will be more satisfied if they know that their needs are being met consistently every time they deal with your business. This is one of the benefits of having a clear process for dealing with customers' requests or complaints — it helps ensure that all staff members know what to do when a complaint arises. It also gives customers confidence that their concerns will be addressed quickly and efficiently, which leads to greater loyalty and repeat business.

Why should SMEs get involved in ISO?

In today's competitive market, it is vital that companies stay on top of their game. High-quality products and services are essential to success but they can only be achieved by following a set of standards. These standards are now widely accepted as a way of improving quality, efficiency and competitiveness.

Such as ISO standards, they can reduce costs through standardisation, improve productivity and help organisations to be more responsive to customer needs. Standards can also help an organisation gain a competitive edge in the marketplace because they give customers confidence that products or services purchased from different suppliers will have similar features.

To conclude:

Today’s world economy makes an ISO certification an essential tool to stay abreast of the competition and stand the test of time. Wherever you look, the marketplaces and industries are saturated with players who present themselves as credible, competent and trustworthy and more often than not getting caught in the web of their own words.

You want to be different, offer quality products and deliver exceptional services. Therefore you need to be strictly compliant to ISO standards. Access our Dubai approved certification services let URS Middle East help you become more customer focused, more efficient in delivering services and products. And above all, helps them to stay ahead of the competition.