ESG reporting and data driven sustainability: SAP data power for your sustainability reporting

Despite regulatory uncertainties surrounding the interpretation and implementation of the CSRD, the pressure on companies to provide reliable ESG indicators via ESG reporting remains high. Banks, customers and business partners expect transparent, auditable data. However, many companies struggle with manual processes, fragmented data sources and a lack of transparency. Yet much of the required ESG information has long been available in the SAP system.

The challenge for efficient ESG reporting is not a lack of data, but systematically identifying this data, linking it correctly and evaluating it in accordance with regulations.

Why ESG reporting remains so complex

Companies face considerable challenges when they have to report in accordance with ESRS reporting requirements. There are many reasons for this:

• Scattered data sources: Information is located in different systems – often not even at subsidiary level.
• Lack of transparency: It is often unclear where the relevant raw data can be found in the SAP system.
• Missing interfaces: ESG reporting tools do not know the necessary connections to the ERP landscape without specific mapping.
• Complex KPIs: Many ESRS data points are composited, need to be consolidated, converted or enriched with external data.

This leads to high manual effort, rising costs and uncertainties in data quality.

An example from practice: Material use and sustainable procurement (ESRS E5)

ESRS E5 (“Resource use and circular economy”) requires companies to be transparent about which materials they use, how sustainably they are procured and what proportion is recyclable or organic. It is therefore about material composition, procurement channels and recyclability.

Why is ESRS-E5 data difficult to collect?

Because the necessary information is distributed across many SAP modules in the company (material master, transaction data, purchasing, suppliers, certifications…) and SAP does not automatically combine this information into ESRS-compliant KPIs.

Without a central dashboard, companies have to search for, link and calculate this data manually, which is time-consuming, error-prone and often intransparent.

The data volumes for material master and transaction data are also often very large, meaning that they cannot simply be extracted using standard tools.

The solution: ESG KPI dashboard with ESRS to SAP mapping

In order to provide our customers with a comprehensive solution that covers everything from the raw data to the calculated KPIs, we have combined our technical SAP expertise with Rödl’s ESG expertise.

While we, as data specialists, know where relevant ESG information is located in the SAP system, how it is automatically extracted and calculated in accordance with ESRS, Rödl provides the necessary specialist knowledge of the regulatory requirements: Design of the ESRS, definition of KPIs and audit-proof documentation.

The result is a comprehensive end-to-end offer from a single source – starting with the technical interpretation of the ESRS and the precise ESRS-to-SAP mapping to the automated calculation and presentation of the KPIs in the ESG Performance Dashboard.

1. ESRS‑to‑SAP Mapping

We identify which SAP data objects can be assigned to which ESRS data points – standardized, test-proof and precisely tailored to your system landscape.

Customizing that deviates from the standard can also be considered in this step.

2. Automated data extraction

The relevant information is:

• read out directly from the SAP system
• enriched with additional data
• bundled centrally

3. Standardization & calculation

To generate reliable KPIs, the data is:

• transferred into standardized structures and units
• consolidated
• calculated according to ESRS specifications

4. Dashboard for ESG reporting & ESG performance management

The generated KPIs are visualized in an intuitive dashboard that is suitable for a wide variety of use cases:

• The creation of a CSRD-compliant sustainability report
• Evaluations during the year
• Operational and strategic ESG management

This transforms ESG data from a mere reporting requirement into an active management tool.

Your advantages at a glance

• Less manual effort, higher data quality
• Auditable traceability of all calculation logic
• Strategic added value through the use of over 200 ESG KPIs
• A consistent KPI set for reporting and management

Why is the ESG Performance Management Dashboard relevant for your company?

The ESG Performance Management Dashboard automates your ESG data collection and ensures a consistent, audit-proof database. This significantly reduces manual effort and relieves the burden on specialist departments, allowing them to concentrate on strategic tasks. The central presentation of all ESG KPIs in ESG reporting enables a transparent overview of costs and early identification of cost drivers.

The added value of the dashboard goes beyond pure ESG reporting: the high data quality and clarity create a solid basis for well-founded decisions and the further development of sustainable strategies within the company. ESG data becomes an active management tool that makes the profitability of sustainable measures transparent and provides long-term support for operational and strategic corporate management.

Interested in a pilot project?

We cordially invite you to take the next step with us. In a pilot project, we will show you in a practical way how your ESG data processing can be efficiently automated and raised to a new level of performance. Together, we will develop a solution that not only fulfills reporting obligations, but also creates real added value for management, sustainability, transparency and strategic decisions.