There are no shortcuts to competence

Still, many people try to find shortcuts, whether it's a digital ring binder, a halfway filled system, or an Excel file that is updated every now and then. The truth is, there is no shortcut. Unfortunately, some might think.

Documenting competence is not about collecting competency certificates or certificates, but about building trust, quality and competitiveness. Without up-to-date and systematic documentation, no one knows what competencies the company has. And when the overview is lacking, the consequences become apparent.

Everything from lack of basis for winning new assignments, incomplete offers that lose to more professional competitors and risk of discrepancies in supervision to obstacles to ISO certification or recertification and difficulties in planning training and development.

Competency work that relies on someone internally knowing who can do what rarely works when the business grows, changes or has to document expertise with customers, authorities or audits.

An investment in credibility
‍Systematic documentation of competence is an investment in credibility. When a business can show a real overview of education, certificates, certificates and experience, it is stronger in the competition.

In quotation work, it is important when you can document exactly what qualifications the business has. In inspections and certifications, it provides peace of mind when the documentation is in order. In development, it makes it possible to see where skills gaps exist, and where there is potential for learning and internal mobility.

Documentation is not a burden, nor should it be treated as one. That should be one of the biggest advantages of the business!

Efforts from both the business and the individual
‍But, it requires structure, responsibility and continuity. And that takes time.

The company must have systems and processes that are actually used, and it must be clear who is responsible for follow-up, quality assurance and updating. The individual employee must contribute by keeping their own competence profile up to date and documented. When this interaction works, competence documentation does not become an administrative requirement, but a natural part of the operation and development of the enterprise.

From ring binder to business value
‍A digital ring perm is not enough. Documentation first has value when used in planning, staffing, quotation work, supervision, and strategic development. Those businesses that succeed in this get a completely different position. They can show customers what they can actually deliver. They meet the requirements of authorities and certification bodies without stress and panic. And they actively use competency data to build development runs and recruit purposefully.

Documenting competence is therefore not about the system, but about the willingness to use it, and let it become a natural part of everyday life. There is no shortcut, which is precisely why so few succeed.