Running your own business is tough, especially when you are a small to medium fish in a very large corporate pond.
With the arrival of all things online, it comes as no surprise to see huge growth in the digital marketing space. The business landscape is currently dotted with a wealth of digital marketing agencies, created and managed by people who are experts in their field. Alas, they are not experts in ISO and understanding which standards might best help their businesses both reputationally and commercially.
This article is aimed at helping SMEs understand what they need and why!
ISO isn’t rocket science but neither is it simple mathematics, so let’s take it from the top.
THE ISO TOP THREE
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) develops International Standards and Management Systems to assist with effective and efficient business management. There’s a myriad of ISO aides but the top three are:
- 9001 – Quality Management
- 14001 – Environmental Management
- 27001 – Information Security Management
Note* While Health & Safety Management falls under the OHSAS 18001 blanket it is not as yet an ISO. It will however soon join its counterparts in the shape of ISO 45001.
FEE FI FO FUM, I DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE I WANT!
When considering going down the ISO route, the first thing a business needs to decide is expectant functionality and ROI.
What do you want ISO to do for your business?
The line of business your company is in will strongly influence which ISO will best suit your requirements.
- Plant Manufacturing – OHSAS 18001 H&S is a given.
- Catering – ISO 22000 Food Safety Management will be a top priority.
- Accountancy – ISO 9001 and 27001 Quality & IS Management are musts.
In all honesty, the big draw here is going to be ISO 9001 – the world’s leading Quality Management System – understandable enough given its cross-industry suitability, adaptability and scalability. Of particular to interest to say our Digital Marketer might be 9001’s emphasis on client communication and performance evaluation, given the internet’s unequalled clout as a communications tool. Social media, the bugbear of so many, is something which many business swerve due to its global reach and unequivocal transparency.
“Any negative tweets will leave our reputation in tatters!”
Wrong! For every hypothetical negative tweet there will be several more positive. Plus there is the potential to turn a negative into a positive by using any adverse commentary or complaints as the basis for successful public win-backs or situation turnarounds. A well-handled response has the power to convert a risky situation into an opportunity via well choreographed digital PDAs – ie, show them you care!
Furthermore, socials, particularly Twitter (Analytics), afford businesses the unique opportunity to collate performance data via their KPIs: response times, number of engagements, impressions (views), trending tags etc etc.
SO YOU’VE MADE YOUR CHOICE, WHAT NEXT?
Once you’ve fixed on your preferred entry point into the world of ISO, (we’d like to think you’ll explore the entire landscape as opposed to settling on just one particular space), you will then need to decide on the parameters within which you wish the management system to operate.
How many locations are you? Do you wish to apply the MS to the entire organisation or just to a select few core processes, product lines, departments? What will be the objectives? Do you wish to get ISO certified and if so, within what timeframe?
Here is some relevant information you might find helpful in making your decisions:-
- You will need a copy of the standard for sure – it would probably also be handy to have a professional consultant ‘translate’ it – CG Business Consulting offer a free ISO consultation as well as a complimentary 9001:2015 transition guide – details here.
- We would advise you to allow for a period of transition/completion including implementation, adoption and certification.
SIZE DOESN’T MATTER
If you are a small or medium enterprise, ISO adoption and certification will seem like climbing Everest. CG Business Consulting offers competitive, affordable rates, operates to dedicated timelines and works with our clients to provide the type of consultancy that best suit their needs, implementing the management system that will work best for their organisation. Call us now on 01 – 620 4121 for an informal but informative chat!
