What is a Gap Assessment?

A WWISE Gap Assessment involves our experienced consultants and auditors performing a detailed review of your organisation’s processes to determine their status and level of conformance against the required ISO standards and applicable legal requirements. This assessment provides valuable insight into how closely your business aligns with the chosen standard and identifies areas that require further development to achieve certification. During the assessment, audits are scheduled with process owners to examine inputs such as policies, processes, and procedures, as well as outputs like documented records and evidence of implementation.

Why Does an Organisation Require a Gap Assessment?

Many organisations in the Middle East do conform to international standards in practice, but they often struggle to interpret the specific requirements of the standards and apply them effectively to their business operations. WWISE consultants and auditors assist by interpreting these requirements and aligning them with your organisation’s processes in a way that is practical, efficient, and aligned with local frameworks and regulatory bodies such as ESMA, DAC, MOHRE, Dubai Municipality, SASO, and Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
How Long Does a Gap Assessment Take?

The duration of a Gap Assessment depends largely on the scope of your organisation’s products and services, the number of departments, processes, activities, functions, and sites. For small organisations with fewer employees and limited processes, the assessment may take just one day. Larger organisations with more complex operations may require multiple days to ensure a thorough review. Auditors typically assess up to four processes per day, with each process linked to a specific departmental function.

The Process of a Gap Assessment

The process begins when you contact WWISE via admin@wwise.co.za or through the Contact Us page to request a Gap Assessment tailored to your specific ISO standard requirements. If clarity is required on which ISO standard your organisation needs, one of our consultants will respond within 12 hours to discuss your requirements. We gather key information such as your company profile, organogram, and product and service catalogue to define the scope, boundaries, and processes to be assessed.

Based on this information, WWISE prepares a formal proposal and quotation. Once approved and the initial deposit is received, auditors are booked for the Gap Assessment, which may be conducted physically on-site, virtually, or through a blended approach. An audit plan is created in alignment with your departments and processes, with time allocated depending on the criticality of each process. The assessment begins with an opening meeting involving top management and process owners to outline the methodology, objectives, and expected outcomes.

During the assessment, our auditors use a structured approach, asking questions related to policies, documented procedures, evidence of implementation over the past six to twelve months, risk assessments, objectives, and key performance indicators. Findings of conformance or non-conformance are shared in the closing meeting, and a detailed Gap Assessment Report is compiled. This report provides a clear implementation plan and options for consulting or full implementation—the recommended “WWISE Way”.

Benefits of a Gap Assessment

A Gap Assessment is an investment that helps organisations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and across the Middle East understand where their processes stand against international best practices. It provides assurance of process standardisation, legal compliance, and readiness for ISO certification. This assurance not only supports consistent delivery of products and services but also strengthens client trust and market reputation. The Gap Assessment highlights process deficiencies and provides a practical roadmap for implementation, ensuring alignment with both ISO standards and regional regulatory expectations.

Challenges and How WWISE Overcomes Them

One disadvantage of some Gap Assessments is that auditors and consultants may not fully understand the specific business, products, or services of the organisation, leading to generic findings that add little value. WWISE overcomes this challenge with a team of consultants and auditors who bring proven industry experience, reputable references, and a successful track record across the Middle East. This ensures that every assessment adds real value, is easy to interpret, and provides a solid foundation for achieving certification.

Why Work with a WWISE ISO Consultant in the Middle East

At WWISE, our consultants provide expert guidance to organizations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the wider Middle East on the activities required to achieve ISO certification, the documentation necessary, and the methods to successfully implement an ISO management system. Beyond consultation, our team delivers training and additional reviews to ensure that businesses are fully prepared for certification. Clients benefit from measurable value in implementation and consulting, supported by competitive and transparent pricing aligned with international benchmarks.

The Role of an ISO Consultant

Organizations in the Middle East require consultants because of their proven competency, practical experience, and in-depth knowledge of industries, business functions, and ISO standards. Consultants play a crucial role in aligning the requirements of the standard with a company’s values and objectives, significantly reducing the risk of failing a certification audit. A failed audit can lead to increased costs and reputational damage. In this region, credibility and compliance are further reinforced through alignment with recognized authorities such as the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), Dubai Accreditation Centre (DAC), Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), Dubai Municipality, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), and Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. These bodies validate practical competence and ensure consultants deliver services in line with both regional and international requirements.

Timeline for Implementation

The time required for a consultant to guide an organization depends on the scope of products and services, number of departments, staff complement, processes, activities, functions, locations, and the level of commitment from top management. Implementation can take as little as three months or extend up to three years for larger, more complex organizations.

The Consulting Process

The process of hiring a consultant begins with contacting admin@wwise.co.za r submitting a request via our Contact Us page. A gap assessment is conducted to determine your ISO standard requirements, and if clarity is needed, a consultant will respond within 12 hours to discuss your needs. We review your company profile, product and service catalog, legal register, and organogram to identify the appropriate ISO standard and create a proposal with defined milestones and tasks.

This process includes awareness training for employees and top management, implementation training for ISO champions, provision of ISO management system templates, documentation of risk assessments, guidance on record generation, and policy implementation. Internal audit training, corrective action workshops, and management reviews are conducted to ensure readiness. This leads to Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits with an accredited certification body, preparation of evidence to close non-conformances, and ultimately, the awarding of ISO certification. Certified organizations then benefit from the use of ISO logos for marketing and undergo annual surveillance audits to maintain compliance. Consultant support can also be provided on a retainer or ad hoc basis, depending on organizational needs.

Benefits of Working with a Consultant

The greatest advantage of engaging a consultant is the assurance of building a management system that aligns seamlessly with the culture and operations of the organization. Instead of drastic changes, consultants guide incremental improvements and refinements, ensuring adoption and sustainability. WWISE consultants are experienced in working with both blue- and white-collar employees, communicating effectively across all levels of the business, and translating compliance improvements into practical value for daily operations.

Challenges and WWISE’s Solution

One common challenge with consulting is that organizations and employees often lack the time to document policies, processes, procedures, and forms, which can delay progress. To address this, WWISE recommends a full implementation option, where our team provides both advisory expertise and hands-on support, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring timely certification.

What is the WWISE Way?

The WWISE Way is a hands-on approach that actively involves the organisation, its employees, suppliers, and all relevant stakeholders in the journey toward ISO certification. Unlike traditional consulting methods, our unique approach focuses on assisting businesses with the complete implementation of an effective, bespoke ISO Management System. This includes alleviating the administrative burden by documenting policies, processes, procedures, work instructions, and risk assessments on behalf of the organisation. We also standardise forms and generate records that conform precisely to ISO standard requirements. With more than 790+ successful clients certified across 20 different ISO standards in 16 countries, WWISE proudly holds a 100% certification record.

Why Choose Implementation Through the WWISE Way?

Choosing the implementation route ensures that the management system created is effective, practical, aligned with business objectives, and simple to maintain. WWISE has achieved a 100% success rate with organisations that opt for implementation, as this route delivers a fully functioning system rather than leaving employees to manage administrative burdens. While employees often lack the time to document their processes, they can easily dedicate time to explaining their activities, controls, and requirements. WWISE takes this information, documents it on behalf of the client, and aligns the outputs with statutory, regulatory, contractual, and other applicable requirements. The result is a customised ISO Management System that is both robust and sustainable, tailored to the organisation’s specific needs and industry framework.

Our team of consultants, auditors, and industry professionals provide continuous on-the-job training and mentoring, ensuring that top management takes ownership of the system and is equipped to monitor its performance effectively. This support includes the development of innovative compliance solutions that streamline operations and embed a culture of accountability within the organisation.

How Long Does Implementation Take?

The timeline for implementing an ISO Management System varies depending on the organisation’s size, scope of products and services, departmental structure, staff complement, processes, activities, sites, and the level of commitment from top management. For some businesses, the process may take as little as three months, while larger and more complex organisations may require up to one year to achieve full implementation. Regardless of the timeframe, WWISE ensures that the system is designed to deliver measurable improvements, ongoing compliance, and readiness for certification.

What is the ISO Management System Template Option?

Some organisations choose to purchase the WWISE ISO Management System Templates and follow the provided instructions to implement the system in-house. These templates are designed to guide businesses step by step in creating their own compliant ISO system. To strengthen this approach, we recommend that organisations attend our ISO Lead Implementation course, which offers valuable advice and guidance to ensure the system is implemented effectively and independently.

Advantages of the Template Option

The primary advantage of this method is cost-effectiveness. For organisations looking for a more affordable entry point into ISO compliance, the templates provide a practical starting framework without the immediate need for a full consulting service.

Disadvantages of the Template Option

While documentation of policies, processes, procedures, and forms is a critical component of any ISO management system, WWISE’s years of experience have shown that audit failures often result from ineffective implementation. Embedding the controls of the standard into organisational culture and daily activities requires more than just documentation. Without effective training, guidance, and reinforcement, organisations run the risk of failing audits due to weak system integration.

Outsourcing a Consultant on an Ad Hoc Basis

WWISE understands that some organisations may not require full implementation support but still need professional input. For this reason, we offer a range of flexible packages that allow consultants to be outsourced on an ad hoc basis, depending on specific organisational needs. This provides expert guidance while maintaining cost flexibility.

Certification Costs

It is important to note that WWISE is not a certification body and therefore does not set the costs of certification. Certification is handled by independent third-party certification bodies, and prices vary depending on scope, processes, locations, products and services, and legal requirements. When selecting a certification body, organisations should ensure that it is accredited and recognised by an accreditation authority linked to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). This guarantees that the ISO certificate issued holds international credibility and value.

Certification costs are typically structured over a three-year period and can be estimated after a Gap Assessment is conducted. Alternatively, organisations may approach certification bodies directly to request quotations and application forms for more precise pricing information.