For business
International Standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity and help companies access new markets.
Benefits include:
- Cost savings – International Standards help optimize operations and therefore improve the bottom line
- Enhanced customer satisfaction – International Standards help improve quality, enhance customer satisfaction and increase sales
- Access to new markets – International Standards help prevent trade barriers and open up global markets
- Increased market share – International Standards help increase productivity and competitive advantage
- Environmental benefits – International Standards help reduce negative impacts on the environment
Businesses also benefit from taking part in the standard development process.
For Society
ISO has over 20 500 standards touching almost all aspects of daily life.
When products and services conform to International Standards consumers can have confidence that they are safe, reliable and of good quality. For example, ISO’s standards on road safety, toy safety and secure medical packaging are just a selection of those that help make the world a safer place.
To make sure that the benefits of ISO International Standards are as broad as possible, ISO supports the involvement of consumers in standard development work with its Committee on consumer policy (COPOLCO).
International Standards on air, water and soil quality, on emissions of gases and radiation and environmental aspects of products contribute to efforts to preserve the environment and the health of citizens.
For government
ISO standards draw on international expertise and experience and are therefore a vital resource for governments when developing public policy.
National governments can use ISO standards to support public policy, for example, by referencing ISO standards in regulations. This has a number of benefits, including:
- Expert opinion – ISO standards are developed by experts. By integrating an ISO standard into national regulation, governments can benefit from the opinion of experts without having to call on their services directly.
- Opening up world trade – ISO standards are international and adopted by many governments. By integrating ISO standards into national regulation, governments help to ensure that requirements for imports and exports are the same the world over, therefore facilitating the movement of goods, services and technologies from country to country.
Reducing technical barriers to trade
The existence of different national or regional standards can create technical barriers to trade and increase the cost of doing business. International Standards provide the technical basis on which political trade agreements can be put into practice, whether they are at the regional or international level.
Information taken from www.ISO.org