Innovation isn't just about purchasing new machinery or technology. A company's ability to grow and improve its productivity increasingly depends on what isn't immediately apparent among its tangible assets: skills, organization, data, software, research and development, brands, procedures, and the ability to effectively manage processes.These are the so-called intangible investments, an increasingly strategic asset for the competitiveness of companies.
A recent study by Accredia highlights the relationship between intangible capital, productivity, and accredited certification , offering a particularly interesting insight for companies.
More intangible investments, greater productivity
The data cited by Accredia show that Italy still has a share of investments in intangible capital lower than the European average.In 2024, intangible investments accounted for 92% of total investments in the United States and 55% in the European Union, while Italy was below the EU average.
The difference isn't just quantitative. Investments in software, data, research, skills, and organization can improve process efficiency, foster innovation, and allow companies to better leverage their technology investments.
The analysis cited by Accredia highlights a positive relationship between growth in intangible capital and productivity: for the 10% of Italian manufacturing companies with the highest investment intensity in intangibles, average annual productivity growth is estimated at around 0.8%, compared to approximately -0.1% for companies with low investment intensity.
Certification as an investment in the organization
It is in this scenario that accredited certification of management systems takes on particular significance.Preparing for certification means taking concrete action on the company's organization: analyzing and reviewing processes, defining responsibilities, formalizing procedures, training people, collecting and using data, managing risks and non-compliance, and introducing structured continuous improvement mechanisms.
The certificate therefore becomes the visible and third-party-verified part of a much broader process of growing the company's organizational capital.
From this perspective, certification can be viewed not simply as a compliance cost, but as the result of an investment that can help the organization become more structured, efficient, and capable of addressing change.
A value inside and outside the company
Certification can generate value on two fronts.Within the organization , it helps to systematize processes, responsibilities, skills, controls and improvement objectives, creating the conditions for greater efficiency.
Towards the market , it allows the company to make recognisable and credible characteristics that customers, partners and stakeholders would have difficulty verifying directly .
Independent verification thus becomes an element of trust, transparency and reliability.
The scale of the phenomenon confirms the importance of certification for the Italian economic system: according to data reported by Accredia, 243,360 sites are certified for accredited management systems, representing 104,027 companies. In 2025, these companies collectively accounted for over 40% of Italian business revenues.
From compliance to competitiveness
The message for companies is therefore clear: becoming certified can mean much more than obtaining a certificate.When integrated into a corporate strategy, certification can support an organization's evolution, helping transform procedures, skills, information, and management systems into a structured and verifiable asset.
An intangible asset that can help improve processes, support innovation, strengthen market confidence, and create the conditions for greater productivity and competitiveness.
This is precisely the perspective proposed by Accredia's analysis: considering accredited certification not only as proof of conformity, but also as a potential indicator of companies' ability to invest in their organization and transform this investment into value.