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The added value of quality labels on electrical appliances

Feb 13, 2025Digital & Product Solutions / Testing and certification of products

Reduce risks and boost consumer confidence

These days, quality labels on electrical appliances are essential for building trust between producers, consumers and other stakeholders. But what other added value does a quality label on your product provide? What makes a quality label a USP for your product? In this blog, we will be looking at the benefits of quality labels on products.

Quality labels in brief

First, we will briefly address the meaning of quality labels. Products are subject to all kinds of safety standards. Some of these standards are required by law because they are set by law. A good quality label sets safety requirements that are stricter than the legal minimum. When a product has a quality label, it shows that the product has been thoroughly tested and meets and exceeds the required safety standards.
Electrical appliances without a quality label are not necessarily less safe. These products also have to comply with statutory regulations. A quality label just gives more assurance of safety, as additional requirements are sometimes needed to ensure the safety of a product. Quality labels are often not mandatory, but may be required by the customer. For example, in tenders.
Anyone can issue product certificates and quality labels, but you often see that the main quality labels for electrical appliances are developed by certification bodies, such as DEKRA. A well-known quality label we issue is the DEKRA Mark. An organisation issuing a quality label must meet at least the following requirements:
  • The certification body must be independent of the party that produces and/or sells the products.
  • The certification body must be accredited by a recognised accreditation organisation, such as the Council for Accreditation (RvA) in the Netherlands.
  • The certification body must comply with all relevant national and international laws and regulations, as well as standards specific to the field in which they operate.
  • The certification body must have sufficient knowledge and experience of the relevant products, standards and regulations.

Added value of quality labels on electrical appliances

Quality labels on electrical appliances offer a great deal of added value. Quality labels offer many advantages for manufacturers, companies and customers alike. The added value of quality labels at a glance:
You demonstrate that quality or safety is important within your organisation. This gives customers and partners confidence that they are doing business with a reliable and professional party. Moreover, a quality label distinguishes your organisation from competitors by providing external and independent evidence of your commitment to high standards. It not only strengthens your brand, but can also help attract new customers specifically looking for products or services with recognised certification.
You show that you are transparent and open to external scrutiny. This underlines your commitment to honesty and integrity in your business operations. By meeting the requirements of an independent quality label, you give customers and stakeholders insight into your processes and quality systems. This can lead to a stronger bond of trust with your customers, as they know that your organisation meets objective standards.
To maintain a quality label on your product, regular production audits (often once or twice a year) must take place. This avoids situations in which the 'golden sample' is approved, after which the production process is completely changed, with all the consequences that entails. Such production audits allow you as a manufacturer to know that your production process is stable and meets the high standards set. This is confirmation that you are doing a good job.
An (annual) production audit not only offers added value for production companies. It also gives consumers a sense of confidence. The chances of buying an unsafe product are many times lower if the production process is regularly audited.
A quality label may be placed visibly on the product. In addition, producers and companies may use the quality label in their marketing communications. By doing so, a company shows that it considers safety very important, and this can then be an important USP. This provides a commercial advantage over competitors who do not hold the quality label.
Finally, a quality label ensures that you are not at risk when there are inspections by government agencies. Government agencies carry out random checks on manufacturers and producers for compliance with legal regulations. Because you get (annual) production audits when you hold a quality label, you can be sure that you are in compliance with all legal requirements. So you do not run any risk if there are (unexpected) inspections.
The added value of quality labels on products is greater for some sectors than for others. A party such as DEKRA can advise you regarding adding a quality label to your product.

Quality labels in response to consumer expectations

At a time when consumers are becoming increasingly discerning, quality labels play a key role in building trust. Customers are not only looking for safe and high-quality products, but also want to know that production processes are fair and sustainable. A quality label acts as reliable proof that your organisation pays attention to these expectations. This not only makes it easier to attract consumers, but also helps build long-term customer relationships.

The economic benefits of quality labels

Besides trust and transparency, quality labels also offer financial benefits. They increase the value of your product by showing that you go beyond the minimum statutory requirements. This can help justify a higher price and strengthen your position in the market. Moreover, quality labels can lower the barrier to entry to international markets, as many countries and regions specifically require products to be certified by recognised bodies.

A quality label for your product?

The added value of quality labels on products is greater for some sectors than for others. A party such as DEKRA can advise you regarding adding a quality label to your product. Do you still have questions about having your products tested? Or are you interested to find out about the possibilities DEKRA can offer you? Feel free to contact one of our experts. We will be happy to support you throughout the process.
Do you have a question? Get in touch with one of our experts
Tim van den Berg