Four things, and all four have to exist
ESG data management is the system that captures your sustainability data continuously, as part of how the business already runs.
Miss one and the system does not hold.
- Metrics defined precisely — what is counted, in what unit, over what period, with what exclusions
- A named owner for each specific task and role
- A collection cadence built into existing routines
- An evidence rule — what document proves each number
What we track
We select the set that matches your actual obligations and your capacity to sustain it, then expand as the system becomes robust.
| Layer | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Environmental | Energy consumption by source and meter, emissions activity data, water withdrawal and discharge, waste by stream and disposal route, circularity and material flows, infrastructure performance. |
| Social | Headcount and workforce composition, safety incidents and near-misses, training hours and coverage, welfare and grievance records, community engagement, product responsibility. |
| Governance | Compliance and permit status, ethics and policy coverage, supplier governance, digital systems and data protection, disclosure completeness. |
| Cadence | What is captured daily, monthly, quarterly and annually — with trigger dates built into existing operational routines rather than added on top. |
| Evidence | What document proves each number, where it is filed and how long it is retained. |
Lenz — ESG tracking, visualisation and reporting
Once data is being captured reliably, it goes into Lenz, our ESG tracking and visualisation dashboard. Leadership sees current performance against targets without asking anyone for a status update. Department heads see what is outstanding on their side.
- Performance against targets across all sub-pillars, updated as data is submitted
- Trend views over time, which is the output most stakeholders actually want
- Outstanding-submission visibility by department and by owner
- Multi-site consolidation with site-by-site comparison
- Evidence attached to figures, so the trail behind any number can be reached from the dashboard
- Export into reporting formats, so the next report starts from live data
How the four platforms connect
You do not have to adopt all of them. Most clients start with one and add the others as the obligation widens — adding our subsequent tools does not mean re-entering anything.
| Platform | What it collects | What it feeds into Lenz |
|---|---|---|
| Lenz | The consolidation layer. Data monitoring and updating happens here. | The single dashboard your leadership actually looks at |
| Pulse | SIM assessment and general ESG data from your own departments | Sub-pillar performance, scores, and the evidence index |
| Karbon | Energy, fuel and activity data for carbon accounting | Emissions by scope, intensity metrics, progress against reduction targets |
| Bridge | ESG data from your suppliers and vendors | Supply chain ratings, risk view, and primary Scope 3 data |
Our approach
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Establish obligations | What you are obligated to report, and what your stakeholders actually ask for. |
| Define the metric set | Precisely: what is counted, in what unit, over what period, with what exclusions. |
| Map each metric to its source | Which meter, which register, which system, which bill. |
| Assign owners | Agree frequency with each owner directly, rather than issuing a policy. |
| Configure the platform | Build the dashboard and set the reminder cadence. |
| Run the first two cycles | Alongside your team, not by handing over instructions. |
| Hand over | With full documentation. |
What you receive
- A documented ESG metric set tailored to your obligations
- A data ownership matrix: every metric, its owner, its frequency
- An annual collection calendar aligned to your existing operational routines
- An evidence and document retention protocol built for assurance
- A configured Lenz dashboard with your KPIs and targets
- Training for the departmental contacts who will feed the system
- A maturity roadmap showing what to add in year two and year three
Case study — Data infrastructure
Footwear manufacturer, Kozhikode
The problem
Their SIM assessment and sustainability report gave them a strong foundation. But the next audit and reporting cycle would otherwise mean starting data collection over from scratch, with no live way to track progress against the roadmap in between.
What we did
Beyond the assessment and report, we set them up on our full platform stack. Pulse and Karbon captured their SIM and carbon data; Lenz turned it into a live, visible dashboard.
What it changed
They now have ESG infrastructure in place. Their performance is visible on an ongoing basis rather than reconstructed annually, their supplier data feeds continuously rather than through a periodic chase, and their next report draws on a live system.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to buy software?
The dashboard is part of the engagement. If you already use another platform, we can design the metric set, ownership and cadence to feed into it instead.
How long does setup take?
Three to four months for design and configuration, then two collection cycles running alongside your team before handover.
Our departments will not do this.
That is the most common reason these systems fail, which is why we agree the cadence with each owner individually, and why we run the first cycles with them rather than just leaving instructions.
Can this work if we have several locations?
Yes. Each site collects locally and the dashboard consolidates. Site-level comparison is usually one of the more useful outputs.
What if our reporting requirements change?
The metric set is designed to be extended.
We have not done an assessment yet. Should we start here?
Usually not. Assessment tells you what is worth tracking. Starting with the system risks building careful measurement of metrics that are not relevant.
Make next year’s report an export, not an investigation.
Tell us what you had to gather last time, and we will show you what capturing it continuously would look like.
Book a discovery call