Embracing the Future: How Savvy Distributors are Digitizing Quality Certification Management

Distribution Strategies Group recently published a three-part series called Embracing the Future: How Savvy Distributors are Digitizing Quality Certification Management for Competitive Advantage, written by SmartCert co-founder, Paul Decker.

Manufacturers in high-stakes industries use quality certifications (certs) to ensure product safety and functionality. Certs are being used more frequently and in new industries to manage risk, improve operating efficiencies and protect brand names.

Traditional cert management processes are manual, leading to inconsistencies, errors, and reliance on human judgment.

Leading companies are enhancing their cert processes to improve customer satisfaction, decrease response time, and improve margins.

The following is a bullet point summary with links to the original articles if you wish to explore in more depth.

Part 1: Exploring Quality Certifications: Understanding Their Importance and Growing Adoption

What are quality certifications, or certs?

• Quality certifications, or certs, are documents that certify that products, processes, or systems meet buyer requirements.
• Types of certs include Certificates of Compliance (CofC), Mill Test Reports (MTR), and Certificates of Analysis (CofA) among others.

Why are Certs important?

• Certs are important because they assure conformance with product standards, preventing life-threatening and financial consequences of non-conforming products.
• Certs are contractual requirements, supporting compliance and risk management.
• Industries like automotive, aerospace, and medical demand certs to manage operating efficiency, safety, and brand reputation.

What industries commonly use certs and what is the trend?

• Certs are used across industries like aerospace, medical, construction, food, automotive, energy, and electronics, among others.
• Increasing demand for certs is resulting from complexities in global trade, sustainability, and increasing regulation.

“We see an increase in both the number of customers requiring
quality certifications and the type of certifications they require.”
Sam Huller, Sr. Director Global Sales, Stanley Engineered Fasteners

Part 2: Quality Certification Management: The Pros and Cons of How Distributors Manage Quality Certifications Today

How do Distributors Manage Certs Today?

• Distributors in cert-intensive industries must collect inbound certs from vendors, organize them internally, and send certs to customers.
• Distributors accomplish this using manual systems, ERP systems, and various digital storage solutions.
• Challenges arise in receiving and sending certs, leading to inefficiencies and delays.

How do companies send and receive Certs?

• Companies use the traditional methods of paper documents, email, and portals.
• Paper certs are prone to loss, damage, and inefficiencies.

“It’s so nice to not have to field emails and phone calls of customers asking
‘Can I get my certs. I’m missing my certs. Can you send them?’
It has taken a lot of the busy work away from our sales team.”
Matthew Boyd, VP Sales, Parker Fasteners

• Email has limitations, including security risks and file size constraints.
• Portals shift burden to customers.

What is Digital Quality Cert Management?

• Digital Quality Cert Management is an emerging family of cloud-based software that enables the electronic exchange and management of quality certs.
• Platforms like SmartCert offer collaboration, customization, and easy sharing of certs.
• Benefits include reduced paperwork, storage requirements, and 24/7 access to certs.

Why are certs an opportunity?

• There is an opportunity for distributors to differentiate themselves by offering cert-required products, adding more value for their customers, while building expertise in the process.

“We have a recognizable brand and outstanding products that the market demands,
but we also know that in order to grow, we need to make it easier for our distributors
to specify and deliver our products, including streamlining our cert process.”
Sam Huller, Sr. Director Global Sales, Stanley Engineered Fastening Systems

• Digital cert management platforms simplify processes, enhance customer convenience, and build competitive advantage.

Part 3: The Future of Quality Certification Management is Digital

Why are Quality Certifications, or Certs, becoming more prevalent?

• Certs are increasingly being used in new industries because they improve operating efficiency, protect brand value, and are more sustainable.
• Emerging regulations like Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act enforce cert management to ensure standards are met.

Digital Transformation of Cert Management

• Digital Quality Cert Management platforms improve efficiency, connectivity, and collaboration.
• Cloud-based collaboration networks like SmartCert facilitate real-time supply chain and quality management.
• Automation, data exchange, and AI enhance cert management processes.

The Future is Structured Data Exchange

• In the future, standard cert templates will enable digital data exchange, which will add even more value.
• Customers will link internal product manufacturing data with vendor supplied digitally authenticated certs and inspection data.
• AI aids quality analysis, freeing quality personnel to improve quality instead of administration.

Conclusion

• The shift to digital cert management is inevitable because it increases efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Cloud-based networks, integrated ERPs, and structured data will define the future of cert management.
• SmartCert leads the digital transformation of cert processes, enabling companies to generate long term strategic advantage.

“I believe SmartCert is one of the most important
things to have happened in the fastener industry
in the last 20 years.”
Leo J. Coar, Editor, Distributor’s Link Magazine

To read the full articles at Distribution Strategies Group, please click on the following links.
Part 1: Exploring Quality Certifications: Understanding Their Importance and Growing Adoption
Part 2: Quality Certification Management: The Pros and Cons of How Distributors Manage Quality Certifications Today
Part 3: The Future of Quality Certification Management is Digital