Leading accreditation into the digital age

As the UK’s National Accreditation Body, UKAS has always been at the forefront of change. Our purpose has never been static – it has evolved to meet the needs of industry, government and society as they themselves have evolved. Today, that evolution is digital. 

Digitalisation is reshaping how trust, competence and reliability are demonstrated across every sector. For UKAS, this presents both an opportunity and a responsibility: to modernise how we deliver accreditation, to support Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) on their own digital journeys, and to lead the way in embedding digital thinking across the wider quality infrastructure. 

A holistic approach to digitalisation 

UKAS’s digital transformation is not confined to a single project or department – it is a programme of change that touches every part of the organisation. Our work encompasses three key areas: 

• Providing accreditation for digital systems and services, such as our pioneering pilot for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (aligned with ISO/IEC 42001:2023). 

• Supporting CABs as they adapt to the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation, through collaboration with government and industry. 

• Digitalising our own processes, to make accreditation more transparent, efficient and accessible for all. 

This comprehensive approach has ensured that UKAS is ahead of the curve and well-positioned to help our customers reap the benefits of digitalisation. 

Transforming the customer journey 

We have made major strides in embedding digital tools and agile ways of working across UKAS. The Customer and Assessment Portals are now in active use across all sectors, transforming how information is shared and managed throughout the assessment process. These tools allow customers to submit evidence, respond to findings and engage securely with their assessment teams, while UKAS assessors benefit from improved consistency, oversight and turnaround times. 

A key development in our transformation programme is the digitalisation of all UKAS schedules of accreditation – a landmark project that will enhance the value, accessibility and consistency of UKAS accreditation for both customers and the wider market. 

By standardising how accredited scopes are described, digital schedules will be easier to search, interpret and compare. Users will be able to locate and understand accredited services directly on the UKAS website, reinforcing transparency and trust. 

The digital accreditation platform is scheduled to go live in March 2026, following a final testing phase in November 2025 with selected volunteer customers. This extended timeline allows further refinement and ensures a smooth transition for all stakeholders. 

A major milestone has been the creation of standardised accreditation terminology, published on the UKAS website with a supporting glossary mapping new and existing terms. This brings consistency across standards, schemes and directives, helping users to interpret and compare accredited services more effectively. 

Digital schedules and certificates will be consolidated under a single permanent URL, with historic versions available via version-specific links. Customers will also be able to share their accreditation digitally via secure APIs or download a PDF version with an embedded QR code. Ahead of go-live, customers will review their updated schedules in a dedicated test environment during a three-week content freeze in early 2026. 

This initiative represents a major step towards a fully digital accreditation ecosystem – one that enhances visibility, strengthens confidence, and creates new opportunities for accredited organisations to demonstrate their competence and credibility. 

Using AI to strengthen accreditation 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in transforming the way UKAS operates and supports its customers. Across the business, AI tools are being trialled to improve efficiency, insight and service delivery. To ensure this technology is used securely and responsibly, UKAS has introduced a new policy governing the use of AI, setting out clear principles around data governance, privacy, intellectual property and the ethical use of generative tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT. All AI applications must be approved, licensed and recorded on UKAS’s register of approved tools, with employee training forming part of wider rollout plans. 

At the same time, UKAS is providing external guidance for Conformity Assessment Bodies through its Technical Bulletin on the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies in accredited conformity assessment. This ensures that both UKAS and its customers adopt AI in ways that strengthen — rather than compromise — competence, impartiality and trust within the accreditation process. 

Supporting our customers and the wider quality infrastructure 

Our leadership in digitalisation extends beyond UKAS itself. In partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, we have supported CABs in their own digitalisation journeys, identifying opportunities to apply emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI and data analytics within conformity assessment. 

We also continue to share our learning with industry through events and webinars, such as our recent session on digital transformation in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) sector. By bringing together experts from across the assurance community, we are helping to build a shared understanding of how digital tools can strengthen trust, efficiency and data integrity across global supply chains. 

Leading the future of accreditation 

As UKAS celebrates its 30th anniversary, our focus is firmly on the future. Digitalisation is not simply a project or an initiative – it is a long-term transformation that underpins our role as a trusted, agile and forward-looking accreditation body. 

By embracing digital innovation, UKAS is ensuring that accreditation continues to deliver confidence in an increasingly digital world – empowering our customers, strengthening trust in accredited services, and positioning the UK at the forefront of global quality and assurance.