The COVID-19 pandemic means not all organisations are back to business as usual, but that makes it the perfect time to think strategically and put measures in place, like ISO management systems, and ensure you’re ready for what comes next.
We have been developing our remote audits for a while now, working closely with UKAS to ensure they’re as effective as can be. Find out more about how our remote audit process works and some of the significant benefits it brings.
Remote Audits for ISO Certification Explained
When you’re seeking ISO certification, certification bodies undertake audits to determine whether your organisation is compliant with the required standards. Before COVID-19 audits would always be carried out via on-site visits, but since the pandemic started the majority of ISO audits in the UK have been carried out remotely – using technology to make it all possible.
What is a remote ‘desktop’ audit?
To assess whether your organisation is compliant with ISO standards, we review evidence of how you deliver your products or services. That evidence includes reviewing documents, systems, processes and behaviours. Traditionally, we would visit your premises and do the assessment on-site, but now there’s another option.
A remote ‘desktop’ audit means both our assessor and your team don’t need to be on-site to complete the audit. The whole process can take place remotely using an online platform, such as Microsoft Teams. Should the audit necessitate an on-site visit, the Audit Plan will confirm site-specific elements which will need to be reviewed by our auditor as a part of this process.
How Do Remote Audits Work?
1. Determining whether a remote audit is suitable
We begin by undertaking a risk assessment to determine whether your organisation is eligible for a remote audit. We might ask you for further information to complete this. If you don’t have the technology in place to support a remote audit, don’t worry, an on-site audit should still be possible. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will need to carry out a second risk assessment to determine if an on-site audit is safe.
2. Meeting your auditor
If a remote audit is possible, we will contact you to arrange a convenient date. Then, a short time before your audit, your auditor will get in touch to introduce themselves and determine which online platform/s you’ll use to complete the audit. You’ll then receive a meeting invite for your remote audit.
You should make sure you have all of the necessary documentation available in advance – the same as you would for an on-site audit – and that all appropriate team members are available to be interviewed on the day.
Your auditor might also ask you to send documentation beforehand, such as internal audits, management reviews, key processes and site plans. This will help make sure the process is efficient and give the auditor more of a chance to focus on the process-based activities related to certification during the audit.
3. Preparing your remote auditing platform
Microsoft Teams is our recommended platform for completing your remote audit. It offers chat, video meetings and file exchange, and it’s free to use. You’ll also need a reliable internet connection – Microsoft recommends at least 2Mbps.
It’s also possible to use video chat services, such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom and Skype, on mobile devices, for interviews and site tours; telephone where video is not an option; text chat to share information; and document sharing tools like OneDrive and Dropbox. If you have an online management system, such as BAB Activ, we can also audit your management system remotely.
We recommend testing your agreed platforms and tools in advance of the audit day, and make sure everyone who needs access has it. While most remote audits go ahead without any technical issues, if there is a problem, such as a poor internet connection, the auditor will do their best to carry on.
4. On the day of your audit
Just like an on-site audit, your remote audit will start and finish at an agreed time. The only difference is the interaction will take place remotely through your preferred platform/s. The auditor won’t be online with you for the full day, and there will be reasonable breaks throughout the day.
You will receive an audit plan in advance, which will act as a schedule for the day, detailing the times at which processes will be reviewed and when your people are needed for interview. If necessary, the plan will also confirm any essential site visits to take place at a later date.
What Are the Benefits of Remote Auditing?
The COVID-19 pandemic means not all organisations are back to business as usual, but that makes it the perfect time to think strategically and put measures in place, like ISO management systems, and ensure you’re ready for what comes next. We have been developing our remote audits for a while now, working closely with UKAS to ensure they’re as effective as can be.
Here are just some of the benefits:
- Remote audits are less of an impact on day-to-day business.
- They are delivered to the same standard as an on-site audit, from wherever your team are currently working.
- Site tours can be carried out remotely using video technology when required.
- No need to worry about putting COVID-19 measures in place for your auditor.
- Keep your standards up to date without compromising your team’s health and safety.
Find Out More
If you think that a remote audit could be the right route to ISO certification for your business, simply click the ‘Get a Quote’ button and complete the quotation form and one of our experts will get in touch.
