Optimizing EHS/ESG Information Management and Reporting Systems by Leveraging Innovative Digital Technology Solutions

valuate existing processes and procedures regarding data capture, data visualization and data reporting to document the current “As-Is” data management workflow process. Use this exercise to identify any manual processes that can be optimized through system automation. Improve your EHS/ESG data management workflow processes to meet your organization’s goals and requirements for supporting the EHS/ESG IMS. When developing your preferred optimal EHS/ESG data management workflow process, consider areas where this workflow is not compliant with your organization’s EHS/ESG IMS. Consider data governance plans and documentation that can provide an EHS/ESG IMS that better aligns with and supports your organization’s EHS/ESG Management System (e.g., ISO14001 and/or ISO45001) using the ISO Plan, Do, Check and Act (PDCA) approach.

Corporate Environmental Managers, Health & Safety Directors and Corporate ESG & Sustainability Directors need quick, easy to interpret, data visualizations on dashboards to highlight trends and the current status of regulatory compliance at their operating facilities. This ongoing monitoring and alerts of non-compliance situations allows for more responsive corrective actions and improvements to eliminate recurrence. Many EHS/ESG IMS come with configurable dashboards such as Microsoft® Power BI, Tableau®, etc. and offer a robust environment for displaying information and data to better manage EHS/ESG standards and requirements.

Confirming Corporate Leadership supports the EHS/ESG IMS improvement project and dedicates the appropriate resources is critical to a successful implementation. It is recommended to implement a pilot program for how the system will be implemented across a sample of your organization’s facilities in order to incorporate feedback from system users for all aspects of design functionality, documentation and training content.

Develop a strategy for how your organization adopts new EHS/ESG innovative technologies. Determine if your organization has resources to be early adopters of new technology that includes a process for piloting each technology and determining its applicability and benefits to an organization’s data management workflow process. Knowing your organization’s approach and strategy to new technology adoption can save time in evaluating each technology.

Consider any issues you have with your current EHS/ESG IMS and the associated work processes. Also, consider the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system and how the existing system could be improved or replaced. If replacing the system, consider risks with the options of building the system in house, using and maintaining custom source code and having the hardware and network infrastructure to host the system. Determine the true cost of system design, development and ongoing maintenance, and then decide if that is feasible for the organization as compared to working with existing COTS systems, their subscription or licensing costs and ability to expand the system’s use with additional EHS/ESG software modules and interfaces. Develop a scorecard of the features and functionality of the existing EHS/ESG software system you have implemented, and those you would like in your new system. This approach allows you to evaluate each system independently, as well as through a blended approach.