Multimedia Resources help SMEs benefit from standards.
Press Release Summary:
ISO has launched an array of free online resources designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises benefit from International Standards. Through dedicated SME section of ISO website, a new video, and latest issue of ISO’s monthly magazine focused on the topic, ISO is showing SMEs around the world how to gain the most from standardization. One brochure, 10 Good Things for SMEs, presents testimonials from small-business leaders on how ISO standards have contributed to their success.
Original Press Release:
ISO Offers New Multimedia Resources on Benefits of Standards to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comprise approximately 90% of businesses in most countries, including the United States. In an ongoing effort to meet the needs of that enormous segment of the global economy, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched an array of free online resources designed to help SMEs benefit from International Standards. Through a dedicated SME section of the ISO website, a new video, and the latest issue of ISO’s monthly magazine focused on the topic, ISO is showing SMEs around the world how to gain the most from standardization.
The new section of the website offers easy access to a number of ISO publications aimed at helping SMEs achieve the same benefits as larger competitors by implementing ISO standards for quality management, environmental management, food safety management, and information security management, among other areas. One brochure, 10 Good Things for SMEs, presents testimonials from small-business leaders from around the world on how ISO standards have contributed to their success. The “10 Good Things” the executives shared are as follows:
Standards help you compete on a level playing field with bigger enterprises
Standards open up export markets for your products and services
Standards help you discover best business practices
Standards drive efficiency in your business operations
Standards add credibility and confidence for your customers
Standards open new business opportunities and sales
Standards give you a competitive edge
Standards make your brand name internationally recognized
Standards help your company grow
Standards enable a common “language” to be used across an industry sector
Standards Boost Businesses of All Sizes
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), U.S. member body to ISO, is doing its part to help U.S. businesses understand the power of standardization in driving economic growth and spurring innovation. In partnership with more than 25 leading organizations from across the U.S. standardization community, ANSI coordinates the Standards Boost Business initiative – a free online resource of videos, testimonials, and tools designed to help corporate leaders understand the strategic and economic value of standards to their business and overall U.S. competitiveness.
Learn more at www.standardsboostbusiness.org.
ISO’s new video, ISO and SMEs, presents a quick visual overview of how International Standards can help SMEs increase their competitiveness in the global market. The video points out that when SMEs use ISO standards, their products and services gain credibility and foster confidence.
The February 2013 issue of ISO Focus+ goes more in-depth, with a portfolio of articles detailing how SMEs can work more efficiently, increase productivity, access new markets, and get a competitive edge by applying International Standards. The issue highlights the application of software engineering, environmental management, and integrated management system standards in smaller settings, and the benefits of active participation in standardization for SMEs.
ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele said, "ISO standards offer big benefits for small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them to compete on a level playing field with bigger enterprises, opening up export markets and opportunities to participate in global supply chains, and providing best business practice and state-of-the-art requirements for the products and services they produce. This, in turn, leads to increased credibility for the SME and increased confidence in their product or service from the most important group of people a business has – its customers."
Access the free ISO resources for SMEs:
Website: ISO SMEs
Video: ISO and SMEs
February 2013 issue of ISO Focus+
