In this article, get an overview of IBM Envizi ESG Suite, focusing on how it aids Sustainability Managers in capturing, consolidating, managing, analyzing, and reporting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data.

Try out IBM Envizi yourself, start your 14-day IBM Envizi ESG Suite trial. You can also request a personalized IBM Envizi demo.

IBM Envizi: Comprehensive ESG suite

The IBM Envizi ESG Suite is a SaaS-based ESG software. IBM Envizi provides comprehensive data and analytics software to collect, manage, and derive insights from environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability data.

IBM Envizi is a modular platform, with a product framework comprising of three solution pillars organized into nine modules, all supported by a robust data management layer. This modular and scalable functionality is designed to address your immediate requirements while offering the flexibility to scale up as needed.

IBM Envizi comprehensive ESG suite

For more information about the IBM Envizi solution pillars and modules, visit the IBM Envizi ESG Suite page and explore the collection of self-serve assets on GitHub repository. If you are an IBM Business Partner, access additional assets at Tech Zone.

Data capture: Various approaches

You can capture data by using the IBM Envizi user interface, universal data collector, or bulk creation and scheduling of data capture Issues. You can also seamlessly integrate this information into a unified system of record.

IBM Envizi user interface: Begin by creating Groups, Locations, Accounts, and Records. Then, choose a Record and click Capture > Data. For more comprehensive instructions, refer to Create Org Hierarchy and load data in Envizi via UI.
Universal data collector: IBM Envizi allows the creation of Groups, Locations, Accounts, and Records through an Excel file upload. For detailed instructions, see Dataflow automation for sending UDC Excel.
Bulk creation and scheduling of data capture issues: IBM Envizi offers data capture issues for manual data capture requests. Users receive email notifications for each activity, containing a View Issue button. Clicking this button opens a browser window with details of the data capture item, allowing users to update it. Additionally, clicking the Capture Data button initiates a survey for users to complete.

Data management: Organizing operations efficiently

The organization's operations are distributed across different locations, regions, business units, departments, manufacturing sites, suppliers, subsidiaries, and more. Organization needs to gather data from all these operations and guarantee the access to these data at any given moment. Lets see how IBM Envizi is organizing the data.

Organization hierarchy includes Location by Region, Classification Groups, and Portfolio Groups.

Organization hierarchy includes Location by Region, Classification Groups, and Portfolio Groups

Groups are a collection of locations used for reporting or data access. There are two types of groups:

Classification Groups: Represents the foundational structure of the organization. Each location must report 100% through the Classification hierarchy to be fully included in Enterprise reporting. If a location is not part of a group, it will be excluded from most dashboards and reports.
Portfolio Groups: Represents secondary reporting structures. A portfolio group may include some or all locations with varying report percentage allocations.

The following example screen shows the Classification Groups and Portfolio Groups.

Example screen shows the Classification Groups and Portfolio Groups

Locations describe buildings, properties, assets, or sites within an organization. Each location can have multiple associated accounts, capturing data from various resources.
Accounts capture, store, and report data from organizational resources, such as electricity, water, and transport. They are configured at a location level and associated with specific data types and account styles.
Records represent actual data from resources, such as electricity consumption for a specific account in a given month.

The Organization hierarchy displays the Groups, Locations, Accounts, and Records for easy reference.

Organization hierarchy displays the Groups, Locations, Accounts, and Records for easy reference

IBM Envizi includes features such as Categories, Data types, and Account styles for grouping data, describing measures or activities, and configuring data schemas.

Categories serves as a grouping of data types. Your organization is pre-configured with a default set of categories designed for tracking and analyzing data at an aggregated level.
Data types represent individual measures or activities. Examples of data types include electricity, diesel, natural gas, refrigerant R12, water, employees, rail shipping, scope 3 emissions, business travel, rental car, and hotel stays.
Account styles refer to the data schema configured on top of a Data Type. These styles are configured per customer, offering flexibility to meet diverse data capture requirements.

Open the organization hierarchy in IBM Envizi and click on an Account link. The following example screen shows the data type as DIESEL TRANSPORT (MILES) and the associated account style as DIESEL TRANSPORT - MILES.

ollowing example screen shows the data type as DIESEL TRANSPORT (MILES) and the associated account style as DIESEL TRANSPORT - MILES

Reports: Comprehensive reporting options

IBM Envizi offers various types of reports: Dashboards, Power Reports, Extract Reports, and Envizi API.

Dashboards are interactive pages that allow reporting and displaying data visually at various levels, from organizational to meter level. Dashboards provide multiple controls for customization.
Power Reports are supercharged by Microsoft PowerBI, offer visual dashboards to support reporting. Standard and configurable reports include sustainability, portfolio performance, and more.
Extract reports allow you to specify selection criteria, view data on screen, download, and send reports via email in various formats (CSV, PDF, XLSX). Scheduled reporting options are also available.
API enables data sharing and retrieval directly through compatible third-party software, promoting efficient reporting and data analytics.

Disclosures: Streamlining ESG reporting

During ESG reporting, IBM Envizi supports Sustainability Managers in efficiently organizing data for ESG disclosures. Pre-configured templates and reports streamline disclosure processes.

Sustainability Reporting Manager (SRM): A tool that pulls together quantitative data, attachments, web links, and response methodologies to manage ESG data and formulate final responses.

The SRM tool covers an extensive array of ESG frameworks, including TCFD, SASB, GRI, SFDR, UN SDGs, INREV, EPRA, SEC Climate Proposal, EU Taxonomy, PRI, and BRSR.
GRESB and CDP: IBM Envizi supports widely used frameworks comprehensively and provides alternative tools for specific frameworks such as GRESB and CDP.

Decarbonization: Tools for sustainable strategies

IBM Envizi offers modules and tools for organizations' decarbonization strategies.

Target Setting and Tracking: Capture and track sustainability performance targets at different levels of the organization with intuitive dashboards and reports.
Building Ratings + Benchmarks: Capture building attributes and utility data, calculate ratings, benchmark and track building performance.
Sustainability Program Tracking: Track progress, verify results, and optimize investment decisions for sustainability programs.
Utility Bill Analytics: Leverage powerful analytics for analyzing and controlling energy costs and consumption.
Interval Meter Analytics: Automate high-resolution meter data capture and use sophisticated analytics for efficiency and decarbonization.

Summary and next steps

In conclusion, IBM Envizi ESG Suite provides a comprehensive solution for organizations aiming to simplify the sustainability journey through effective data management, reporting, and decarbonization strategies.

For more information about IBM Envizi or to try it out yourself, start your 14-day IBM Envizi ESG Suite trial. You can also request a personalized IBM Envizi demo.

A deep dive into ESG data reporting with IBM Envizi

A deep dive into ESG data reporting with IBM Envizi