What is ISO 29110? A Complete Guide for Beginners
If you've ever wondered how small software companies can compete with large corporations in terms of quality and reliability, the answer often lies in ISO 29110. This international standard is specifically designed to help startups, SMEs, and small development teams deliver professional-grade software without drowning in bureaucratic processes.
What is ISO 29110?
ISO/IEC 29110 is an international standard for systems and software engineering, specifically designed for Very Small Entities (VSEs) — organizations with up to 25 people. Unlike heavyweight standards like ISO 9001 or CMMI that were originally designed for large enterprises, ISO 29110 provides a lightweight, practical approach that small teams can actually implement.
The standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), with the latest versions published in 2024-2025 including:
- ISO/IEC 29110-1-1:2024 — Overview
- ISO/IEC 29110-5-1-2:2025 — Basic profile guidelines
- ISO/IEC 29110-5-4:2025 — Agile software development guidelines
At its core, ISO 29110:
- Provides a roadmap for software development improvement
- Defines clear processes for project management and software implementation
- Scales from simple single-person projects to 25-person teams
- Adapts to both traditional and agile development approaches
Simple Analogy
Think of ISO 29110 like a recipe book for software development:
- Traditional approach: You wing it — sometimes the dish turns out great, sometimes it's a disaster
- ISO 29110 approach: You follow tested recipes with clear steps, measurements, and checkpoints — consistently good results
The standard doesn't tell you what software to build — it tells you how to manage the building process professionally.
The Four Profiles of ISO 29110
ISO 29110 uses a progressive profile approach — you start simple and grow as your organization matures. The Generic Profile Group contains four levels:
1. Entry Profile
Target: Startups and very small projects (up to 6 person-months effort)
Characteristics:
- Minimal documentation requirements
- Focus on basic project tracking
- Single developer or tiny team
- Short development cycles
Best for: Solo developers, student projects, proof-of-concepts, internal tools
2. Basic Profile
Target: VSEs developing a single application with a single team
Characteristics:
- Structured project management process
- Defined software implementation process
- Clear work products (documents and deliverables)
- Quality assurance basics
Best for: Small software houses, web agencies, mobile app developers
3. Intermediate Profile
Target: VSEs managing multiple projects with multiple teams
Characteristics:
- Multiple concurrent projects
- Resource sharing across teams
- Reuse of software components
- Performance measurement and tracking
Best for: Growing software companies, IT departments, consulting firms
4. Advanced Profile
Target: VSEs aiming for sustained growth and competitive excellence
Characteristics:
- Continuous process improvement
- Organizational learning
- Risk management at portfolio level
- Innovation management
Best for: Established tech companies, software product companies
Key Terms Explained
Here are the most commonly misunderstood terms in ISO 29110:
1. VSE (Very Small Entity)
A VSE is any enterprise, organization, department, or project with up to 25 people. This includes:
- Startup companies
- Small software houses
- IT departments within larger organizations
- Individual development teams within big companies
Common misconception: "VSE means the whole company must be small." Actually, a large bank's mobile app team of 15 people qualifies as a VSE.
2. Lifecycle Profile
A lifecycle profile is a pre-defined set of processes and practices suited to a specific type of organization or project. Think of it as a "configuration" of the standard.
Analogy: Like choosing a car trim level — Entry, Basic, Intermediate, or Advanced — each comes with different features appropriate for different needs.
3. Work Products
Work products are the tangible outputs of processes — documents, code, test results, meeting minutes, etc. ISO 29110 defines specific work products for each process.
Common work products:
- Project Plan
- Requirements Specification
- Software Design Document
- Test Cases and Test Reports
- User Manual
- Source Code
4. Project Management Process
The Project Management (PM) Process covers how you plan, monitor, and control your software project. It includes:
- Creating the project plan
- Tracking progress
- Managing changes
- Closing the project
5. Software Implementation Process
The Software Implementation (SI) Process covers the actual technical work of building software:
- Analyzing requirements
- Designing the solution
- Coding
- Testing
- Delivering the product
How ISO 29110 Works
The Two Core Processes
ISO 29110 (Basic Profile) defines two interconnected processes:
1. Project Management Process
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Project Planning | Define scope, schedule, resources, risks |
| Project Plan Execution | Execute planned activities |
| Project Assessment & Control | Monitor progress, manage changes |
| Project Closure | Complete and review the project |
2. Software Implementation Process
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Software Initiation | Understand and document requirements |
| Software Analysis | Analyze requirements, create specifications |
| Software Design | Create architecture and detailed design |
| Software Construction | Write and review code |
| Software Integration & Testing | Integrate components, verify quality |
| Product Delivery | Deploy and hand over to customer |
The Implementation Flow
Why ISO 29110 Matters
Problems It Solves
| Problem | How ISO 29110 Helps |
|---|---|
| Chaos in small teams | Provides structure without bureaucracy |
| Inconsistent quality | Defines checkpoints and reviews |
| Projects running over budget | Requires planning and tracking |
| Knowledge loss when people leave | Documents decisions and designs |
| Customer trust issues | International certification builds credibility |
| Difficulty scaling | Progressive profiles guide growth |
Benefits for Different Stakeholders
For Developers:
- Clear understanding of what to deliver
- Reduced rework through better requirements
- Professional practices that transfer to any job
For Managers:
- Visibility into project status
- Early warning of problems
- Data for decision-making
For Customers:
- Confidence in vendor capabilities
- Better communication and documentation
- Reduced project risks
For the Business:
- Competitive advantage in tenders
- Foundation for growth and scaling
- Path to other certifications (ISO 9001, CMMI)
ISO 29110 in Thailand
Growing Adoption
Thailand has seen increasing adoption of ISO 29110, particularly among:
- Software houses serving government contracts
- Fintech startups
- AI and technology companies
- Outsourcing firms serving international clients
The Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) and Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) have promoted ISO 29110 as an appropriate standard for Thai SMEs entering the software industry.
iApp Technology's ISO 29110 Certification
At iApp Technology, we are proud to hold ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2018 certification for our software engineering processes. This certification means:
- Our AI API products (OCR, eKYC, Speech, LLM) are developed following internationally recognized processes
- We have structured project management and software implementation practices
- Our quality is verified by an independent certification body (INTERCERT)
- We continuously improve our development processes
Certification Details:
- Standard: ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2018
- Scope: Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities – Generic Profile Group
- Certificate Number: IC-SE-2503005
- Valid Until: March 2028
How to Get Started with ISO 29110
Step 1: Assess Your Current Situation
- How big is your team?
- What processes do you currently follow?
- What documentation do you maintain?
Step 2: Choose the Right Profile
- Entry: If you're just starting out or have very small projects
- Basic: If you have a stable team and ongoing projects
- Intermediate/Advanced: If you're managing multiple projects
Step 3: Study the Standard
- Read the deployment packages (free guides available online)
- Attend training if available
- Consider hiring a consultant for gap analysis
Step 4: Implement Gradually
- Start with the most impactful processes
- Use templates and checklists
- Train your team
Step 5: Get Certified (Optional)
- Engage an accredited certification body
- Undergo assessment
- Address findings and achieve certification
Try iApp Technology's ISO-Certified Services
As an ISO 29110 certified company, iApp Technology delivers enterprise-grade AI APIs built with internationally recognized software engineering practices:
| Service | Description | Get Started |
|---|---|---|
| Thai ID Card OCR | Extract text from Thai national ID cards with 98%+ accuracy | Try Now → |
| Face Verification | Verify identity by comparing faces with liveness detection | Try Now → |
| Face Liveness Detection | iBeta Level 1 certified anti-spoofing technology | Try Now → |
| Speech-to-Text | Convert Thai speech to text with high accuracy | Try Now → |
| Chinda Thai LLM | Thailand's sovereign large language model | Try Now → |
Why Choose an ISO-Certified Vendor?
- Quality Assurance: Systematic processes ensure consistent quality
- Reliability: Structured development reduces bugs and outages
- Documentation: Clear API documentation and support
- Accountability: Traceable processes and version control
- Continuous Improvement: Regular process reviews and updates
Conclusion
ISO 29110 is the international standard that makes professional software engineering accessible to small teams. Whether you're a startup founder, a small software house owner, or an IT manager in a growing company, ISO 29110 provides a practical roadmap for developing quality software.
The standard's progressive approach — from Entry to Advanced profiles — means you can start small and grow your processes as your organization matures. And with the latest 2024-2025 updates including agile development guidelines, ISO 29110 remains relevant for modern software development practices.
For Thai companies looking to compete in the global market or win government contracts, ISO 29110 certification demonstrates commitment to quality and provides a foundation for future certifications like ISO 9001 or CMMI.
Ready to experience the quality of ISO-certified AI services? Create a free account and start using iApp Technology's APIs today!