Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for iSO consultants.
A checklist built from how iSO consultants work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Client and site register
- Proposals and engagement terms
- Gap assessment checklist
- Document control pack
- Internal audit and corrective actions
- Certification calendar
- Consulting time and fees
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For the principal consultant
- For consultants and lead auditors
- For client quality managers
- For the office and accounts
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Engagements by standard, stage and consultant
- Gap assessment results by clause across clients
- Nonconformities open, overdue and closed by client and clause
- Certificates by expiry date, with surveillance visits due
- Days sold, days used and days remaining by engagement
- Training sessions delivered and attendees by client
- Milestone invoices raised and amounts received
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- Calendar
- Accounting export
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Which standards can it hold?
- Does it replace the certification body’s records?
- How are controlled documents handled?
- Can a client see only its own engagement?
- Can consultants log findings on site?
- Can we run internal auditor training here?
- Does it track consultant utilisation?
- Can existing certificate dates be loaded?
- What does the system cost?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Clause checklists live in spreadsheets
- Controlled documents drift out of date
- Nonconformities are not followed to closure
- Certification and surveillance dates are missed
- Fees do not match the effort spent
Prefer to talk it through? See the iSO consultants page.