Evaluating tools for CSR reporting and analysis
Our experience tells us it is more efficient and effective to use CSR-System for reporting and analysis in comparison with the more traditional approach of using email in conjunction with Word, Excel and file share. But…
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The question is how do you know when you need what?
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How do you ensure that you’ll harvest the benefits that only dedicated CSR software can provide?
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How do you calculate the true cost of ownership?
Identify user requirements
One of the most important steps you can take before evaluating tools for CSR reporting and analysis, is to gain an understanding of your organisation’s needs and requirements.
There are often many different users involved in CSR reporting, and they have different needs and requirements depending on their responsibility. For example:
CSR capturers |
Need easy and intuitive access allowing them to answer detailed questions. Reporting frequency is often limited to one, twice or four times a year which prescribes user friendliness. Easy access to help is another condition for the quality of reporting. |
Business Unit managers and executives |
Need reports and analyses that focus attention on significant variances or abnormal trends. They also need ad hoc analysis capabilities to investigate causes of exceptions as well as ability to communicate with their part of the organisation. |
CSR controllers / auditors |
Need to know who has and has not entered CSR data. They also need to set up global questionnaires as well as individual questions, save and initiate new passes, and perform consolidations of questionnaires and questions. |
CSR Administrators |
Need simple, intuitive tools to create and maintain CSR models that reflect the organisation’s CSR-strategy. They need powerful storing of text and numbers to control access and actions to specific parts of the information. They also must be able to integrate data with existing internal and external finance reporting. |
