How ERP Can Help You Reach Your Sustainability Goals

According to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), 61% of corporate leaders believe that sustainability leads to market differentiation and improved financial performance. 

With this increased awareness and concern for sustainability, there is growing recognition of the impact that human activities have on the environment and society, and a growing concern for the long-term sustainability of business practices. This has led to a greater focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues, and an increasing demand for sustainable business practices from consumers and stakeholders.

Why is Sustainability Important

By promoting sustainability, we can minimize our impact on the environment and preserve natural resources for current and future generations. These change includes reducing our carbon footprint, conserving water and energy, protecting biodiversity, and promoting social and economic equity. Sustainability also provides economic benefits, as it encourages the development of new technologies, businesses, and industries that create jobs and drive economic growth.

For these reasons, businesses of all sizes need to think about their ESG practices because they can significantly impact their long-term success and sustainability. Here are a few reasons why:

• Attracting customers: Customers are becoming increasingly conscious about the social and environmental impact of the companies they do business with. By having strong ESG practices, companies can attract customers who share their values and beliefs, and are more likely to become loyal and long-term customers.
• Attracting investors: Investors are also becoming more interested in companies with strong ESG practices. They recognize that these companies are more likely to be sustainable in the long term, and therefore offer a better return on investment. In fact, many investors are now incorporating ESG factors into their investment decisions.
• Mitigating risks: Companies that do not have strong ESG practices are more likely to face reputational and financial risks. For example, if a company is involved in a scandal related to labor practices or environmental damage, it can damage its reputation and lead to loss of customers and investors. By having strong ESG practices, companies can mitigate these risks and protect their long-term viability.
• Compliance: Many countries and regions now have regulations related to ESG practices, and companies that do not comply can face legal and financial penalties.

What Makes ESG So Challenging

While ESG has gained significant attention as a framework for sustainable and responsible business practices, it has challenges. Some of the key challenges associated with ESG are:

• Lack of standardization: There currently needs to be a universal standard for ESG reporting to better drive consistency and comparability in ESG data and metrics. Organizations and stakeholders may use different frameworks, methodologies and metrics for measuring and reporting ESG performance, making it challenging to accurately assess and compare ESG performance across other companies and industries. This lack of standardization can create confusion, inconsistency, and challenges in interpreting and using ESG data for decision-making.
• Data quality and availability: ESG reporting relies heavily on data related to environmental, social, and governance factors. However, the quality, accuracy, and availability of ESG data can vary significantly. Gathering reliable, consistent, and comprehensive data on ESG performance can be challenging, as it may require data collection from multiple sources, verification, and validation. Inconsistent or incomplete data can impact the reliability and credibility of ESG reporting, making it difficult assess and compare ESG performance accurately.
• Scope and materiality: Determining the scope and materiality of ESG factors can be challenging. ESG factors can vary in significance depending on the industry, geography, and company size. Identifying the most relevant ESG factors and setting appropriate performance targets can be subjective and complex. Organizations need to consider various perspectives, stakeholder expectations, and evolving regulatory requirements to determine the materiality of ESG factors and set meaningful targets.
• Integration into decision-making: Incorporating ESG factors into decision-making processes can be challenging. Organizations need to integrate ESG considerations into their strategic planning, risk management, investment decisions, and operational practices. This may require changes in organizational culture, mindset, and governance practices. There may be challenges in aligning ESG goals with broader business objectives and integrating ESG considerations into existing processes and systems, including enterprise resource planning systems (ERP). Ensuring that ESG is not just seen as a standalone reporting exercise but embedded into decision-making practices can be complex.
• Stakeholder expectations and engagement: ESG reporting is driven by the increasing demand for transparency and accountability from various stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, regulators, and communities. Meeting stakeholder expectations and effectively engaging with them on ESG topics can be challenging. Organizations need to proactively communicate their ESG performance, engage in stakeholder dialogues, and manage stakeholder concerns and expectations. Managing stakeholder relationships and addressing their diverse interests and expectations can require significant effort and resources.
• Regulatory landscape: The regulatory landscape around ESG is rapidly evolving, with varying requirements and expectations from different jurisdictions. Organizations may need help navigating the complex and evolving regulatory landscape, understanding the relevant regulations, and complying with reporting requirements. Keeping up with changing regulations, standards, and reporting frameworks can be challenging for organizations, particularly those operating in multiple jurisdictions with different regulatory regimes.

How ERP Systems Can Support ESG

An ERP system plays an important role in helping to support a company's ESG objectives and initiatives. With the comprehensive view of operations that an ERP system provides, companies can gain visibility into metrics that would typically be difficult to track down. In addition, ERP systems can enable the production of reliable ESG reports, double-checking all data sources against one another for accuracy.

Companies can also access external data sources via their ERP systems to gain additional insights into how they match up to competitors regarding ESG initiatives. All of this helps executives make any changes necessary for improved sustainability performance in the future.

Additionally, ERP systems can have a positive impact on businesses practices in several ways:

• Environmental impact: ERP systems can help businesses reduce their environmental impact by providing real-time data on energy consumption, waste generation, and other environmental metrics. This data can be used to identify areas of improvement and optimize processes to reduce environmental impact.
• Social impact: ERP systems can also help businesses improve their social impact by providing data on labor practices, supply chain ethics, and other social metrics. This data can ensure that the business is operating in an ethical and socially responsible manner.
• Governance impact: ERP systems can help businesses improve their governance impact by providing data on regulatory compliance, risk management, and other governance metrics. This data will ensure that businesses are operating ethically and socially responsibly.
• Transparency: ERP systems can improve transparency by providing real-time data on ESG metrics, allowing stakeholders to monitor the business's performance and hold it accountable for its actions.

How Deltek Can Help

At Deltek, we recognize and value sustainability so much that we’ve made it part of our company culture. Every day, our employees participate in environmental best practices to keep their communities green – including helping with waste management, using recyclable products and replenishing the environment.

Through our cloud-based ERP solutions, project-based businesses are positioned for growth and profitability while minimizing their environmental impact and supporting their sustainability goals.

To learn more about how Deltek can help support your project-based business, subscribe to our Inside Deltek Project Nation newsletter and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.