Data & Technology

Energy and sustainability software helps customers manage data and meet the latest GRI disclosure guidelines

Schneider Electric today announced that the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has certified the company’s energy and sustainability software platform, Resource Advisor, to meet the data collection and integration requirements of G4, GRI’s latest sustainability reporting guidelines.

GRI provides the world’s most widely used reporting standards. And the certification means that Resource Advisor is formally qualified to help organizations meet GRI G4 guidelines, supporting accurate, effective, and transparent sustainability reports.

“Sustainability reporting is quickly becoming an essential part of doing business, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple,” said Steve Wilhite, Senior Vice President of Energy & Sustainability Services, Schneider Electric. “The variety of metrics, and the process for gathering and disclosing data, can be overwhelming. Resource Advisor is a widely used, proven tool for companies looking to streamline reporting. The certification from GRI further supports its ability to boost efficiency while maintaining data quality and precision.”

Resource Advisor, which supports more than 2,500 firms in 150 countries, allows organizations to track and manage sustainability programs on one centralized platform, increasing the speed and accuracy of data collection and reporting. The software currently analyzes over 400 different data streams across economic, environmental, and social indicators. It is also used to expand companies’ sustainability strategies into the supply chain.

The flexibility to define and manage custom data streams lets organizations address multiple reporting frameworks, including GRI’s G4 standard. Both commercial and industrial firms use Resource Advisor to approach GRI reporting in a more timely and cost-effective way, reducing the need for manual data input, and improving the clarity and integrity of reports.

Sustainability reporting continues to be the main driver for transparency in corporate social responsibility efforts — key for communicating results and benefits to a variety of stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and employees. In a recent survey, KPMG found that more than 90 percent of the world’s largest 250 companies participate in corporate responsibility reporting.

Since 1997, GRI has been recognized as a leading framework for reporting; the number of organizations that use the scheme has increased more than 20 percent each year. However, many companies need assistance in collecting and submitting data to meet the requirements of the G4 Guidelines, especially when managing information across a global footprint.

Schneider Electric helps clients navigate the entire reporting process: determining the right framework to meet their goals, implementing productivity tools such as Resource Advisor, and analyzing and verifying sustainability data. The company’s experts also work across industries and geographies to turn information into actionable improvements to extract additional value, improve transparency in operations and build trust among stakeholders.