Not significant
Keep last year as disclosed; explain the method in the methodology note.
The company sets its own significance threshold.Software · implementation
ESG software implementation: the plan of work from signature to first report
ESG software implementation is the work between signing for a platform and publishing the first report from it: boundary, data owners, prior years, factors, a parallel run and the report itself.
No official timeline or cost exists for it, so this page gives the order of work, the dates to plan back from and the one government cost figure, from DESNZ’s evaluation of SECR.
It ends with 68 platforms in their own words.
The order of work
What are the steps in an ESG software implementation? Six, in this order
An implementation succeeds when the first report from the new tool can be traced and defended, not when the dashboard goes live.
The order beside this starts with the reporting boundary, because every later figure depends on which entities and sites are in.
UK SRS S1 ¶64 requires sustainability disclosures to cover the same period as the financial statements and be published at the same time, under the standard.
That makes the finance team’s close calendar the timetable the implementation has to fit.
Choosing the platform comes first, and is covered on how to choose ESG reporting software.
- 1
Boundary and periods
The entities in the accounts and every period you report: financial year, ESOS reference period, customer years.
- 2
Sources and owners
Each meter, bill, fleet, ledger and supplier, with a named person on your side.
- 3
Prior years
Last year’s figures loaded as disclosed, and kept that way.
- 4
Factors and methods
The DESNZ set per activity year, the Scope 2 method and the ratio denominator, chosen deliberately.
- 5
Parallel run
One period in both the old process and the new tool, with every difference explained.
- 6
First report
The output checked against the regime, then the period locked.
Dates to plan back from
When should implementation start? Work back from the first period you need
The right start date is set by the first reporting period you want the software to have collected from the beginning.
For a listed company in UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 or 22 with a calendar year, that is the period from 1 January 2027, under PS26/19.
A tool set up part-way through a year can still be loaded with earlier months, but the evidence for them has to be gathered after the event.
The full calendar of UK duties is on the UK sustainability regulation timeline.
Dates that set the planExplore
Dates that set the plan
Factor set
Published 11 June 2026 for 2026 activity; the next is expected in June 2027.
Dates that set the plan
ESOS Phase 4
Qualification 31 December 2026; compliance date 5 December 2027.
Dates that set the plan
UK SRS
Periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, comply or explain for listed companies.
Changing tools
What happens to last year’s figures? Keep them as disclosed
A new platform will often calculate last year slightly differently from the old one.
SECR asks for the previous year’s figures, and for an unquoted company ¶20H of Schedule 7 asks for them as disclosed in the previous report.
The GHG Protocol’s 2019 guidance treats a significant change in calculation methodology as a recalculation trigger, and its technical assistance leaves the significance threshold to the company.
So load last year as disclosed, then run it through the new tool, and decide deliberately what any difference means.
The full checklist for a switch is on the Greenly and Normative merger page, written for customers whose platform is changing.
A difference
on migration
on migration
Significant
Recalculate the base year, show the restated figure beside the disclosed one, and say why.
UK SRS S2 asks for changes in measurement approach.Who does the work
Who does the implementation work? Mostly your own team
| Workstream | Your side | Vendor side |
|---|---|---|
| Boundary and periods | Decide them, from the accounts | Configure them |
| Data owners and feeds | Name an owner per source; chase | Build connectors and upload templates |
| Prior-year figures | Supply them as disclosed | Load and lock them |
| Factors and methods | Choose the Scope 2 method and ratio | Load the DESNZ set per activity year |
| Parallel run | Explain every difference | Support the reconciliation |
| Personal data | Agree processor terms | Sign them |
For SECR alone, DESNZ’s evaluation found about 94 hours of internal staff time a year, valued at about £2,500, with 56% of compliers paying for outside help.
Software can reduce the hours in later years; the first year usually adds work, because owners, feeds and prior years are set up once.
Where a consultant fits alongside a platform is on ESG software or a consultant.
Cost
What does ESG software implementation cost? Your quotes, over three years
There is no official figure for implementation cost in the UK, Germany or anywhere else, and most vendors quote on request.
The one government figure is for running SECR, not for software: a mean ongoing cost of £7,100 a year per complier in DESNZ’s evaluation.
The worksheet beside this takes the quotes you hold, including set-up, licences and internal time, and totals them over three years.
It holds no vendor’s price; what vendors publish is on ESG software pricing.
Your three-year cost · your numbers only
Three-year total £0
Licences, three years£0
Implementation and migration£0
Training and support£0
Added entities£0
Exit£0
Arithmetic on the figures you type, from the vendor’s written quote.
Added entities are counted for an average of one and a half years each. This page states no vendor price and estimates none.
Nothing is stored or sent.
Before you sign
Which contract terms protect an implementation? Four to read closely
The terms that matter most are the ones you will need when something changes.
Data export protects the prior years if you move again; processor terms are required by UK GDPR, as the ICO sets out, wherever staff or supplier personal data is held.
Notice of method changes matters because UK SRS S2 asks for changes in measurement approach to be disclosed, under the standard.
The data collection side of set-up has its own guide on ESG data collection software.
Four termsExplore
Four terms
Data export
All raw data, factors and evidence, at any time, in a usable format.
Four terms
Method changes
Notice before the vendor changes a calculation method or factor source.
Four terms
First-cycle support
Who helps when the first report is due.
A first year
What does a first implementation year look like? A calendar-year example
- 01 / Before the period01
Boundary, owners, prior years
Set up before 1 January 2027 so the first UK SRS period is collected from day one. - 02 / Through the year02
- 03 / June03
Load the year’s factor set
DESNZ publishes once a year, for activity mostly within that year. - 04 / Year end04
Parallel close
The old process and the new tool close the same year; differences explained. - 05 / With the accounts05
The steps are an example order, not an official timetable; no UK rule sets one for software.
The platforms
Which platforms will you be implementing? 68 of them, in their own words
Every vendor this site files under ESG reporting or carbon accounting, alphabetically, which ranks nothing, each in its own words and linked to its own site.
The registry covers 73 vendors across all categories, read 11 October 2026 and 30 September–1 October 2026.
68 vendors · esg reporting, carbon accounting
“Altruistiq helps companies with complex value chains go faster and further on sustainability”
“Intelligent AI that measures, reduces, and reports Scope 1–3 and LCA emissions in line with CDP, SBTi, CSRD, and CBAM requirements”
“Benchmark Gensuite is a unified EHS management software platform built on a single architecture—connecting safety, environmental compliance, and operational risk across every site”
“AI workflows that extract answers from your documents with full source references”
“Our software provides companies and financial institutions with precise accounting of the emissions caused by making, shipping and using critical commodities and products around the globe”
“We support financial institutions, companies, governments, and consumers in making the right decisions - efficiently, confidently, and at scale”
“Measure, reduce, and report your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions”
“The professional benchmarking and reporting platform built for sustainability consultants, SMEs, and the platforms that serve them”
“Coolset gives supply chain and ESG teams the structure, automation and guidance to meet complex compliance requirements like EUDR, PPWR and CSRD, and manage Scope 1-3 emissions”
“One AI-enabled EHS software platform to drive performance across employee health, safety, quality, environmental, and sustainability”
“Cozero helps enterprises steer decarbonization with the same rigor as financial performance, from data collection to investment decisions and regulatory disclosure”
“Datamaran’s AI platform empowers business leaders to confidently navigate the complex ESG landscape by transforming vast amounts of information into actionable insights”
“Dcycle is an ESG software platform founded in 2020 that helps companies collect, manage, and govern sustainability and non-financial data”
“Deepki centralizes your sustainability data, strategy and operations in one place so you can act on carbon, climate risk, and finance”
Diginex describes carbon accounting, sustainability reporting, supply chain, human rights monitoring and ESG investor intelligence for asset managers, banks and companies.
Diligent’s carbon accounting page describes a solution that “automatically collates your data and produces up to 80 different pre-configured audit-ready reports”.
Ecologi describes itself as a B Corp-certified climate action platform.
EcoOnline sells software to manage EHS and compliance.
“The Emitwise platform is now part of Green Project, where the team continues to build and deliver end-to-end decarbonization solutions”
“Enablon is Wolters Kluwer’s integrated software platform for environment, health and safety, PSM, and enterprise oversight, with ESG capabilities embedded as part of a broader risk approach”
“Collect, analyze, and report sustainability, financial, and risk KPIs with 10+ software modules – individually or in line with official standards”
“Manage safety, compliance, ESG, sustainability and operational risk from a platform built to keep programs reliable across sites, teams and operational change”
“The climate management platform built on AI, backed by dedicated sustainability experts”
“Measure, report, and reduce your company's emissions on one audit-ready sustainability management platform”
Greenomy offered ESG reporting software for “compliance with key frameworks, including CSRD, EU Taxonomy, and VSME”, in Position Green’s words.
IBM describes Envizi as a “compliance ready solution for ESG data”.
“Ideagen Carbon Accounting is an AI-powered solution designed to address complex multi-region ESG reporting challenges in carbon accounting”
IntegrityNext describes itself as a “supply chain sustainability intelligence & orchestration platform”.
“Bring safety, environment, and quality workflows into one connected platform”
IsoMetrix sells software to “manage their environmental, health, safety, sustainability, and social risks”.
“Makersite’s Product Lifecycle Intelligence software brings together your cost, environment, compliance, and risk data in one place”
“Manglai is a platform to manage all of your environmental impact”
“Measurabl makes subjective sustainability data objective”
Microsoft Sustainability Manager
“Track and reduce your environmental impact using data and AI”
A carbon management platform that, in Novisto’s words, “simplifies the collection, calculation, and reporting of corporate carbon footprints”.
“Net Zero Now exists to provide a simple, credible and affordable route to Net Zero for SMEs and to celebrate and promote those that achieve this vitally important goal”
“Normative is a carbon accounting platform that helps companies calculate, report, and reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions using 349,000 verified emission factors”
“One home for your ESG data, mapped to every framework and rating”
“Novata is a sustainability data management platform built for private market investors, deal teams, banks, and companies that need a scalable way to collect, manage, and act on sustainability data”
“One digital solution for sustainability planning, data management, reporting, analysis and action - built for enterprise”
“Our platform empowers organizations to accurately measure and manage scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions with direct and actionable information”
Oracle Fusion Cloud Sustainability
“Oracle Fusion Cloud Sustainability is a new offering to capture environmental, social, and governance data for any kind of activity that has a sustainability impact”
“osapiens is the AI platform for compliance and supplier intelligence to help companies manage risk and become more resilient”
Persefoni describes software and AI tools to manage an organisation’s “sustainability data, disclosures, and performance”.
“Your certified software for reliable emissions intelligence to measure, report and reduce your carbon footprint”
“We guide businesses in understanding their emissions, empower them to develop carbon reduction plans, and supporting them on their journey to net zero”
Position Green describes “a sustainability reporting and management platform that combines powerful software with expert advisory services”.
“Pulsora is an AI-powered sustainability and carbon management platform that automates data collection, measurement, and reporting workflows for sustainability teams”
“Digitally handle occupational safety, quality, sustainability, and environmental management”
“It leverages the full power of the Salesforce ecosystem by pulling an organization’s sustainability data into one place and creating actionable insights to guide strategic decisions”
“Measure your full carbon footprint, build your net zero strategy and develop in-house expertise with a single partner”
SAP Sustainability Footprint Management
“Decarbonize your value chain and calculate your corporate and product carbon footprint at scale with ERP-centric, AI-enabled carbon management”
“Seedling is an all-in-one carbon accounting and Net Zero planning platform for businesses of up to 2000 FTEs”
ServiceNow Operational Sustainability Management
“ServiceNow Operational Sustainability Management helps organizations manage, visualize, and report on sustainability efforts and risks across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs”
“SimaPro is life cycle assessment software that helps organizations measure, analyze, and reduce environmental impacts using robust datasets, scientific methods, and transparent modeling”
SINAI describes “audit-grade Scope 1–3 accounting, automated compliance reporting, complete supply chain visibility” and decarbonisation planning for global enterprises.
“Small99 Hero creates a pathway to net zero for you based on your industry, outlining how long your Net Zero journey will take and how much it will cost”
“Sphera unifies risk, safety and sustainability into a single enterprise-wide view — connecting intelligence across operations, products and supply chains”
“Sweep's AI turns sustainability data into measurable business performance”
“Manage sustainability metrics intelligently in medium-sized businesses - through automated processes, AI-powered carbon accounting, and audit-proof ESG reports”
“Terrascope is an enterprise carbon management and decarbonisation platform for companies with complex supply chains”
“Trace combines AI-powered software with expert advisory support to help organisations meet their mandatory climate and sustainability reporting obligations, efficiently and with confidence”
“Unravel Carbon is the climate platform helping companies with global supply chains make data-driven decisions”
“Carbon accounting is often the first step companies take toward climate disclosure, compliance, and action—and with Watershed, it’s part of your complete enterprise sustainability platform”
Workday (supplier sustainability)
“Turn sustainable sourcing into a competitive advantage with Workday supplier sustainability solutions”
“Workiva Carbon is an end-to-end carbon accounting software solution that enables organizations to measure, manage, collaborate on, and report emissions data”
“Worldfavor is a supply chain due diligence platform founded in Stockholm in 2016”
“Carbon management software with experts built in, so you can move from measurement to action without spreadsheets or one-off consulting projects”
Alphabetical, which ranks nothing.
Each description is the vendor’s own words from its own site, read 11 October 2026 and 30 September–1 October 2026; prices appear only where the vendor publishes one.
No product here has been tested by this site.
Many of these platforms offer onboarding teams and ready-made templates that take much of the set-up off your hands; ask each to walk through its own implementation plan for your duties.
68 platforms, own wordsExplore
68 platforms, own words
Two categories
ESG reporting and carbon accounting.
68 platforms, own words
Alphabetical
The order ranks nothing.
68 platforms, own words
Their own words
What each vendor says about itself, read 11 October 2026 and 30 September–1 October 2026.
68 platforms, own words
73 in the registry
The full registry, across all categories.
This site has tested no products
Nothing on this page is a rating, ranking or recommendation of any product.
A good implementation keeps last year’s figures as disclosed and gets the first report out of the new system on time.
Frequently asked
ESG software implementation, answered
What does ESG software implementation involve?
Setting the reporting boundary and periods, mapping data sources and owners, loading prior-year figures, configuring factors and methods, running a parallel year against the old process, and producing the first report.
Most of the effort is on the company’s side, not the vendor’s.
How long does ESG reporting software implementation take?
There is no official figure, and it depends on sites, entities, data feeds and duties.
Plan backwards from the first reporting date you need the software for, leaving room for a parallel run.
What is the typical implementation cost of ESG reporting software?
No official figure exists, in the UK, Germany or elsewhere, and most vendors quote on request.
The one government cost figure is for SECR: a mean ongoing cost of £7,100 a year per complier, including about 94 hours of staff time, from DESNZ’s evaluation.
Should we run the old process and the new software side by side?
For at least one period, if you can.
SECR asks for last year’s figures as disclosed beside this year’s, and the GHG Protocol asks for consistency over time, so a parallel run shows how much of any change is the method rather than the company.
What happens to our prior-year figures when we change software?
They should be kept as disclosed.
If the new tool calculates differently, the GHG Protocol treats a significant change in methodology as a reason to recalculate the base year, with the company setting its own significance threshold, and UK SRS S2 asks for changes in measurement approach to be disclosed.
Who should own an ESG software implementation?
One named owner with authority over data from finance, facilities, HR and procurement.
UK SRS S1 ties the disclosures to the same period and publication as the financial statements, which is why finance is often involved from the start.
When should a listed company implement software for UK SRS?
Before its first period that begins on or after 1 January 2027, if it wants data collected through that period.
Under PS26/19, listed companies in UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 and 22 report on a comply-or-explain basis.
Which conversion factors should a new platform be set up with?
The DESNZ set for the activity year.
The 2026 set was published on 11 June 2026 for activity falling entirely or mostly within 2026; a platform should store the set used on each figure.
What contract terms matter for implementation?
Data export at any time in a usable format, the processor terms UK GDPR requires for personal data, who configures factors and methods, and what support covers the first reporting cycle.
Does implementation need to be assured?
No. Assurance is voluntary in the UK today; the FRC issued ISSA (UK) 5000 for voluntary use for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2026.
Keeping evidence from day one makes later assurance easier.
Has this site implemented any ESG software?
No. This page is an order of work built from the reporting rules cited, and the vendor list quotes what each vendor says about itself, alphabetically, ranking nothing.
Sources
Primary sources
Every step on this page traces to the provision listed here.
Vendor descriptions are cited on each vendor’s profile to the vendor’s own page.
Checked against 16 sources fromDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zerolegislation.gov.ukGHG Protocol (WRI, WBCSD)GHG ProtocolDepartment for Business and TradeFinancial Conduct Authority
- Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroStreamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting regulations: evaluation
94 hours of staff time, £2,500, 56% paying for outside help, £7,100 mean ongoing cost.
- Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroSECR evaluation report (PDF)
The full evaluation.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero2026 post-implementation review of the SECR regulations
Retain with amendments; five areas for a planned consultation, none decided.
- legislation.gov.ukSI 2008/410, Schedule 7
SECR outputs, including the prior year as disclosed.
- Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroGovernment conversion factors for company reporting
One factor set a year.
- Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroGreenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2026
Published 11 June 2026.
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero2026 conversion factors methodology paper
Factors are for activity mostly within the year.
- GHG Protocol (WRI, WBCSD)Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard
Consistency over time and the base year.
- GHG ProtocolScope 1 & 2 GHG Inventory Guidance (2019)
Recalculation for changes in methodology.
- GHG ProtocolTechnical assistance: when to recalculate base-year emissions
The company sets its own significance threshold.
- Department for Business and TradeUK SRS S1 General Requirements (PDF), ¶64
Same period as the financial statements, published at the same time.
- Department for Business and TradeUK SRS S2 Climate-related Disclosures (PDF)
Changes in measurement approach to be disclosed.
- Financial Conduct AuthorityPS26/19 — final rules on UK SRS reporting by listed companies
Comply or explain for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027.
- Environment AgencyHow to comply with ESOS phase 4
Qualification 31 December 2026; compliance date 5 December 2027.
- Financial Reporting CouncilISSA (UK) 5000 (PDF)
Issued for voluntary use; periods beginning on or after 15 December 2026.
- Information Commissioner’s OfficeUK GDPR: what needs to be included in a processor contract
The terms that govern a vendor holding personal data.