ISO certification can take a lot of effort, it’s about structure, strategic planning, and thorough documentation. For years, compliance toolkits like the ones we expertly develop at CertiKit HQ have helped companies around the world navigate the maze of ISO standards, with great success.
But in 2025, there’s a new contender in the compliance game: Artificial Intelligence. Now, AI tools are promising to do the same, but faster, cheaper, and smarter.
But which one really gets results?
What are we comparing?
CertiKit Toolkits:
Pre-written documentation aligned with ISO standards (e.g. ISO 27001, ISO 9001, ISO 22301).
Step-by-step guides, template policies, procedures and checklists.
Developed by compliance experts.
Ideal for teams with limited internal knowledge.
Easily implemented into your current environment, such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
AI Tools (like ChatGPT, CoPilot, etc.):
On-demand generation of policies, procedures, checklists.
Flexible, customisable, conversational.
Rapid drafting but requires expertise for review and validation.
Generate ideas with just a few clicks.
Let’s Compare
1. Accuracy & Reliability
Toolkits: Developed by subject matter experts; up to date with standard changes.
AI: Can misinterpret requirements; relies on prompt accuracy.
Verdict: Toolkits win here – Created by industry professionals, they offer dependable, structured guidance that AI can’t yet match.
2. Speed & Flexibility
Toolkits: Faster than writing from scratch, and with confirmed expertise. Documents are easily customised.
AI: Instant answers and easy editing, but accuracy isn’t guaranteed, and you could end up spending more time double checking and searching for the right answers.
Verdict: Better together – Use AI to speed up customising the content in the toolkit.
3. Ease of Use
Toolkits: Word and Excel documents organised into sub-folders according to the standard’s requirements.
AI: User-friendly, if you know what you need to include. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on your own expertise to ensure you have everything in place.
Verdict: Toolkits win – The documents are organised into sub-folders in line with the clauses and sub-clauses, and the implementation resources included provide a step-by-step plan to get certification ready. It’s even easy for ISO novices to follow.
4. Adaptability to Your Organisation
Toolkits: Include clearly highlighted sections for customisation, with example content provided.
AI: Can generate organisation-specific policies - if given enough input.
Verdict: Better together – Use the toolkit content as your base, then generate ideas and speed up adaptation using AI.
5. Audit Readiness
Toolkits: Designed to meet auditor expectations, written by the auditors themselves.
AI: Needs careful review to ensure compliance language is accurate and requirements are met.
Verdict: Toolkits win - No AI misinformation to worry about.
6. What about support?
Toolkits: CertiKit’s toolkits come with unlimited email support with industry experts.
AI: Can answer your questions quickly, but you may need to vet the answers.
Verdict: Toolkits win - Guaranteed support from industry experts is a valuable feature.
Which Should You Choose?
Well, it all depends on:
Your budget - AI is cheaper (though you may invest in the premium version which can incur a monthly cost).
Your timeline - For guaranteed compliance to meet your deadlines, you’d be better investing in a toolkit.
Your compliance knowledge - Toolkits offer reliable expertise, making them a safer choice if you don't have an in-house expert.
Your audit risk appetite - Toolkits are safer here too. Preparing for a certification audit (especially with a technical standard such as ISO27001) using only AI could be a risk that doesn’t pay off.
Toolkit and AI: Are they a winning combination?
Try combining a toolkit with AI and see if you can really speed up the process.
Use a CertiKit Toolkit for guidance, structure, complete documentation and guaranteed accuracy.
Use AI to personalise and accelerate customisation, and for internal communications.
CertiKit’s toolkits are fully customisable and using the information provided in the toolkit with an AI tool might be your shortcut to ISO success.
