Business

Why CEN Standardization is Good for Big Tech and Small Businesses

Published

5 years ago

March 6, 2021

CEN is the European Committee for Standardization and works to create standards for 34 European countries in the European Union and European Economic Area. CEN standards, which you can access on iTeh Standards, are used to establish industry standards and technical documents for a variety of industries including:

Construction
Consumer products
Chemicals
Air and space
Energy and environment
Food for human consumption
Food for animal consumption
Health and safety
Defense and security
Machinery
Pressure equipment
Smart living
Transport and packaging
And more

Why standardization is essential

Standardization in any industry automatically increases important processes’ efficiency and makes it easier and cheaper to do business. Less time is wasted, less materials are wasted, and standards are continually revised to reflect the most efficient processes.

When small businesses and large corporations adopt industry standards, it strengthens the market competition, which supports economic growth. According to CENELEC, an organization that works jointly with CEN, standards “facilitate innovation and promote the adoption of new technologies.”

What’s so special about CEN standardization?

CEN standards are special because they apply to entire industries across the EU.

Any company can create their own standards in business, but they may not have all the information required to know if their standards are actually best for the industry and customers. When businesses in the same industry create their own standards, they’re not operating at their highest potential. They’re also operating in conflict with one another, which can sometimes make it hard to switch manufacturers and suppliers.

Having CEN standards relieves businesses from having to figure out their own standards at a fundamental level. They can still create their own standards for how they wish to do business, but the base level industry standards will be covered.

Having CEN standards also forces manufacturers and suppliers to conform to a set of industry standards, which helps them stay competitive in the market. When manufacturers and suppliers are required to meet the same standards businesses are accountable for, businesses can order raw materials and products from certified sources.

Standardization enhances the customer experience

No matter what gets standardized, it all leads to a better customer experience by creating consistency. In the end, every bump you can smooth out and every wasted second of time you can eliminate leads to a productive work environment. When teams are productive and things are running smoothly from top to bottom, customers are happier.

Likewise, standards also work to maintain safety, which also enhances the customer experience. For example, health departments set standards for handling and storing food to keep it safe, and machine shop workers follow standards for wearing protective gear and clothing to prevent injury.

You can standardize just about anything in a business, including job activities, rules, procedures, technology, services, behaviors, and measurements.

CEN standards are well-tested and documented

The advantage of CEN standards is they’re well-tested and documented. They weren’t just arbitrarily thrown together by collecting theoretical information across industries. CEN standards are created by studying and testing to see what works, what’s most effective, eliminating what doesn’t work, and establishing a set of rules that can be universally applied across the industry.

On the other hand, when organizations come up with de facto standards, they’re often illogical, ineffective, and counterproductive. De facto standards become a big problem when they’ve remained unchallenged for a long period of time. People want to do things the way they’ve always done them, and introducing standards can be off-putting to many.

Many businesses may not even be aware that their standards are actually inefficient methods like workarounds that have simply been in place for a long time.

There’s always room for more standardization

Standardizing industries is a big task – one that is infinite in scope and duration. There will never be an end to standardization. As technology evolves, standards must evolve alongside whatever tech is being brought to the industry.

While the world’s technology evolves, CEN will continue to work hard to create and develop standards for industries. Hopefully, more businesses will embrace these standards and see them as a support system for their business rather than an inconvenient hurdle.

Business

What to Look for in an Enterprise Webcasting Solution

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2025

Matthew Wiles

The modern workplace doesn’t stand still. Teams are global, employees are remote, and companies must communicate faster and at scale. That’s why enterprise webcasting has gone from a niche tool to an essential part of internal communication strategies.

Reliability is the starting point when broadcasting to hundreds or thousands of employees, stakeholders, or partners. The platform you choose needs to deliver more than a stable video feed; it must offer security, accessibility, scalability, and real engagement.

For enterprises navigating this decision, here’s what to consider before committing to a webcasting platform.

Scale and Performance Matter More Than You Think

It’s one thing to host a video call with your immediate team. It’s another to run a high-stakes webcast for your entire global workforce. Enterprise webcasting means reaching large, often geographically dispersed audiences, sometimes tens of thousands of people at once. And when that’s the case, performance isn’t negotiable.

Your platform should offer proven scalability with minimal lag, buffering, or outage risk. Many organizations underestimate the bandwidth and technical infrastructure needed to deliver seamless webcasting at scale. Look for solutions that utilize global content delivery networks (CDNs) and redundant systems to guarantee smooth streaming, regardless of your viewers’ location.

The reality is, your message only lands if the technology holds up under pressure.

Security Isn’t Optional

In a world of growing cyber risks and data privacy concerns, security must be front and center, especially for enterprise webcasts. Not every message is meant for public ears, from internal town halls to sensitive investor briefings.

Leading webcasting platforms provide enterprise-grade security features like encrypted streams, password protection, login authentication, and customizable access controls. Depending on your industry, you may also need to meet specific regulatory requirements for data protection and compliance.

Ultimately, your webcasting solution should provide peace of mind, knowing that confidential information stays where it belongs.

User Experience Makes or Breaks Engagement

Let’s face it: no one wants to wrestle with clunky software minutes before a big company update. The best webcasting platforms make life easy for both presenters and attendees.

Intuitive interfaces and simplified workflows reduce stress and help presenters focus on delivering the message. The process should be frictionless for attendees, with one-click access, mobile compatibility, and no need for complicated installations.

But accessibility isn’t just technical, it’s also about inclusivity. Your platform should offer features like captions, translations, or on-demand playback options to ensure your workforce can engage with the content.

Because if people can’t easily join or follow along, your webcast risks becoming background noise.

Engagement is More Than Just Showing Up

In enterprise settings, communication can’t be one-way. True engagement requires interaction.

Modern webcasting solutions offer features like real-time Q&A, live polls, and chat functions to turn passive viewers into active participants. These elements keep audiences focused and create opportunities for meaningful feedback.

Especially for company-wide meetings or virtual events covering important updates, giving employees a voice makes the experience feel collaborative, not just another broadcast.

Data and Insights Drive Improvement

One of the most overlooked aspects of enterprise webcasting is analytics. But without data, it’s impossible to measure success or spot opportunities for improvement.

Look for platforms that provide detailed reporting, including attendance metrics, engagement rates, audience locations, and performance benchmarks. Over time, these insights help refine your communication strategy, adjusting formats, reworking content, or targeting specific groups with follow-up resources.

The more visibility you have into how people interact with your webcasts, the better equipped you are to make those events impactful.

Flexibility for Different Event Types

Not all webcasts are created equal. Some are formal, high-production events with large audiences. Others are more casual, interactive sessions for smaller groups.

The platform you choose should give you the flexibility to manage both scenarios. Whether you’re hosting a polished executive briefing, a technical product demonstration, or a virtual town hall, the tools should scale to fit your needs, without requiring entirely different systems or workflows.

Many providers also offer managed services for high-profile events, giving you access to technical experts who handle the backend so your team can focus on the message.

Final Thoughts

Webcasting has become a critical tool for modern businesses, but choosing the right platform requires more than just comparing price tags. It’s about finding a solution that delivers reliability, security, engagement, and scalability while making the process simple for both your team and your audience.

With enterprise webcasting, companies can ensure their most important messages are delivered securely and at scale, whether to employees down the hall or stakeholders around the globe.