DNV GL and Deloitte leverage blockchain technology to advance the certification industry

DNV GL has today issued all its 90 000 certificates using blockchain technology as a first in the certification industry. Every certificate is digitally tagged, traceable and stored in a private blockchain. The technology blocks counterfeit certificates, allowing companies to communicate their certification in a transparent and secure way.

“For 150 years, we in DNV GL have been in the business of building trust, but in the age of digital transformation, there is an increased need for transparency in a volatile business environment,” says Luca Crisciotti, CEO in DNV GL – Business Assurance.

In an increased effort to build digital trust, DNV GL in partnership with Deloitte EMEA Blockchain Lab delivered the first live blockchain solution in certification industry.

“This is one of the first blockchain applications created outside the finance industry, and it shows the limitless possibilities this technology provides. Soon there will be concepts, prototypes and investments emerging in every major industry,” says Martin Bryn, Partner at Deloitte.

“Deloitte’s Global blockchain team and EMEA blockchain lab are excited and proud to be part of this ground-breaking project with DNV GL. This is an excellent example of blockchain technology entering the production life-cycle stage of the technology with DNV GL and Deloitte at the forefront of this digital transformation journey”, says Lory Kehoe, EMEA Blockchain Lab Lead at Deloitte.

As a business assurance provider, DNV GL works in a variety of industries to certify companies’ processes, products, facilities and supply chains to national and international standards. When a certificate is issued, the data is digitalized, sent to the blockchain, and a digital identity is assigned to each certificate. All certificates are uniquely tagged, traceable and original is stored in a network of computers instead of a central repository. Combined, this makes it possible to uncover fraud and through a QR code on the certificate, anyone can verify in the blockchain if a company is certified.

“Putting our certificates on the blockchain is the first step in building a new digital assurance concept. Our objective is to use blockchain and other disruptive technologies to provide new services and continuing to create value for our customers,” says Renato Grottola, Global Digital Transformation Director, DNV GL – Business Assurance.