From Obligation to Opportunity: Accelerate Ad-Hoc ESG Reporting with Digital Technology

Organizations are facing an unprecedented surge in data requests from customers, investors, and other stakeholders on a daily basis. This heightened focus on value chain transparency and regulatory requirements has created a significant challenge for companies. Consequently, top Indian organizations are taking serious steps to keep ahead of reporting regulations. 

A study analyzing BRSR reports submitted by listed companies for the year FY23, carried out by CFA Institute, comprised sample data from 300 companies, including the top 200 by market capitalization. The data reveals that nearly 40% of companies (110 out of 300) reported Scope 3 emissions for FY23, representing an increase from the previous year (93 companies). Several other data points show that despite certain challenges, corporate India has made significant strides in ESG reporting. Notably, the number of reported data sets has increased annually, the quality of reporting has improved, and there is enhanced attention to detail.  

However, consistent disclosure inquiries often lead to data request escalations, including from customers, investors, and industry groups. Most organizations depend on disclosure reporting solutions to help organize, track, and report their environmental, social, and governance activities, enabling them to make data-driven decisions that enhance sustainability and compliance, ultimately boosting the company’s reputation and competitive advantage. Even with advanced reporting tools, certain ad hoc reporting requests can significantly hinder productivity if they aren’t managed and prioritized properly. 

 To address this challenge, forward-thinking companies are turning to digital tools like Responsio, a centralized platform designed to streamline the management of ESG, sustainability, and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) data requests.   

Responsio for Ad-Hoc Reporting Requests 

Responsio offers a comprehensive solution to this growing problem. The platform provides a centralized hub for logging, assigning, and collaborating on data requests, while leveraging AI-powered tools to streamline the response process. One of the key benefits of Responsio is its ability to help organizations efficiently manage the growing number of ad hoc reporting requests they receive. By providing a centralized platform to track and respond to these requests, Responsio helps companies save time, ensure data accuracy, and maintain control over sensitive information. 

Efficient Resource Management 

With Responsio, lean teams can easily manage an increasing number of complex ad hoc reporting requests while juggling other key responsibilities. The platform’s intuitive interface and automated workflows allow users to log incoming requests, assign them to the appropriate team members, and collaborate on crafting responses. This streamlined approach helps organizations optimize their resources and focus on delivering high-quality responses. As inaccurate or incomplete information in ESG and sustainability disclosures can pose significant business and reputational risks, Responsio helps mitigate these risks by providing a comprehensive platform for managing the entire lifecycle of data requests. With built-in version control and approval workflows, organizations can ensure that responses are accurate, consistent, and aligned with their sustainability goals. 

Responsio’s comprehensive request tracking and reporting capabilities enable organizations to maintain a centralized library of finalized responses. This facilitates program improvement and knowledge sharing but also enhances transparency, a crucial aspect of ESG reporting and sustainability reporting. 

Some Key Features of Responsio: 

• Request Intake and Assignment Responsio’s intuitive interface allows users to seamlessly log incoming data requests from various stakeholders, such as customers, investors, and regulatory bodies. The platform’s intelligent assignment capabilities ensure that each request is routed to the most suitable team member or cross-functional group, optimizing resource utilization and enabling timely, high-quality responses. 

• Collaborative Response Drafting Responsio’s collaborative features empower teams to work together on crafting comprehensive responses to data requests. The platform’s built-in version control and approval workflows facilitate a streamlined review process, ensuring that all responses are accurate, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s sustainability goals and commitments. 

• AI-powered Response Generation Responsio leverages advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms assists users in generating responses related to their ESG reporting and sustainability reporting needs. The platform can suggest relevant content based on past submissions or even create new, tailored responses by analyzing the request details. This AI-powered functionality accelerates the response process, enhances the quality of disclosures, and promotes efficiency in the organization’s sustainability data management efforts. 

• Response Tracking and Reporting Responsio provides a centralized hub for monitoring the status of all outstanding data requests. Users can easily view historical responses, track response times, and generate detailed reports on data usage and disclosure patterns. This comprehensive tracking and reporting capability enables organizations to maintain transparency, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance their sustainability performance and stakeholder engagement. 

With advanced solutions, companies can streamline their disclosure management processes, improve data accuracy, and enhance overall sustainability performance. As the demand for ESG and sustainability-related information continues to grow, digital tools will play a huge role in helping organizations in ESG data disclosure.  

Interested in learning more about AI and advanced technology that support disclosure reporting? Request a demo to get in touch with our experts!