The pursuit of ISO 19770-1 certification has become a significant milestone for organizations aiming to validate their IT Asset Management (ITAM) processes globally. The ITAM Forum, dedicated to advancing ITAM practices, recently launched its certification scheme, with Softline Group Northern Europe and HDI Group being the first to achieve ISO/IEC 19770-1 certification.
HDI Group, a multi-brand insurance company based in Germany, initiated its certification journey years before the ITAM Forum’s founding. To proactively improve its ITAM practices, HDI engaged the IT consulting firm TIMETOACT GROUP for regular maturity assessments against the ISO 19770-1 standard. By 2022, HDI had established confidence in its processes but lacked a globally recognized certification to validate its maturity. When The ITAM Forum introduced its certification, HDI eagerly embraced the opportunity to undergo rigorous evaluation.
On the other hand, Softline Group Northern Europe, a part of Noventiq, had a strong motivation for ISO 19770-1 certification. The company’s Executive Vice President, Dennis Montanje, played a pivotal role in the ISO ITAM Standards Committee and led the ITAM Forum’s Committee of Experts, which designed the certification scheme. This alignment made pursuing certification a logical step for Softline Group Northern Europe.
The ISO 19770-1 certification process consists of three key stages: preparation, gap analysis, and audit. Brand Compliance, the scheme’s official auditor, conducts a comprehensive evaluation during the preparation stage to identify areas that require improvement. Subsequent stages involve in-depth assessments of documentation and management systems. Typically, organizations can expect the entire certification process to take approximately 12 to 18 months from initial consultation to certification.
Through the experiences of HDI Group and Softline Group Northern Europe, the path to ISO 19770-1 certification offers organizations a valuable opportunity to strengthen their ITAM processes and gain global recognition for their commitment to excellence.
