Digitally Enhanced Standards: Inside the IEC/ISO SMART Initiative with Francis Pernel Director of ISO IEC SDU

In this episode of Voice of Standard Users, we sit down with Francis Pernel, Director of the IEC/ ISO Single Delivery Unit (SDU). Together, we explore the SMART program - a landmark joint initiative designed to deliver international standards in digitally enhanced, highly accessible formats without sacrificing their authoritative consensus.

Francis breaks down why SMART goes beyond traditional PDF and XML files, how the SDU establishes a unified foundation for both ISO and IEC, and how digital-first authoring aims to streamline workflows for technical committees. Whether you represent a multinational enterprise integrating standards into automated compliance systems or an SME seeking easy navigation, this conversation highlights how global standards are adapting to today's digital landscape.

Key Topics Covered

• Defining SMART: How machine-readable standards add interactivity and connectivity beyond static PDF or XML files.
• The Historic Joint Operational Structure: Why ISO and IEC created the SDU to build common platforms, prevent duplication, and maximize scalability.
• Inclusion Across User Tiering: Balancing high-level system integrations for major corporations with simple, accessible tools for SMEs.
• Smart Authoring ("Smart from the Start"): Embedding content rules during drafting to improve quality earlier and reduce post-publication validation.
• Preserving Trust and Authority: Ensuring all digital implementations strictly anchor back to original, approved consensus content.
• The 3–5 Year Success Vision: Looking ahead to a future where SMART seamlessly blends into everyday standard development.