Automate ESG Data & CSRD Reporting

What is ESG Reporting and Why Does It Matter?

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting is increasingly vital for organizations of all sizes. Regulatory bodies like the European Union have introduced directives such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards), making it necessary for businesses to transparently disclose their sustainability metrics and non-financial data. Fulfilling these requirements is complex, time-consuming, and often involves significant manual labor.

Many companies struggle with:

• Collecting ESG data from disparate sources (HR, ERP, suppliers, invoices, etc.)
• Ensuring compliance with evolving standards like CSRD, ESRS, and Taxonomy Regulation
• Maintaining data quality, auditability, and transparency
• Managing manual data entry and fragmented spreadsheets

Automating these tasks not only reduces operational burden but unlocks valuable insights, empowers better decision-making, and enables compliance with less risk and effort.

Keboola: Automating Boring Data Tasks Since 2008

Keboola was founded in 2008 in Central Europe with a mission to automate tedious infrastructure and data tasks. Over the years, we have helped organizations worldwide eliminate manual data work, saving the equivalent of 180 years of repetitive labor just last year. Our platform acts like an operating system for your data, taking care of all the layers needed for analytics and reporting.

Whether you’re a small company or a global enterprise, Keboola empowers teams to do more with less—enabling one person to accomplish what would otherwise require a large team. Our customers use Keboola to democratize data access, automate ingestion, cleaning, and preparation, and answer critical business questions across all departments.

The EU ESG Regulatory Landscape: CSRD, ESRS, Taxonomy, and CBAM

The European Union has established a robust framework for ESG reporting:

• CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive): Mandates regular, consistent, and comparable sustainability reports, integrating ESG data into annual reporting cycles.
• ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards): Detailed standards (~300+ pages) covering environmental, social, and governance topics, including climate change, carbon footprint, pollution, and more.
• Taxonomy Regulation: Classifies sustainable economic activities and sets thresholds for reporting, focusing on large entities (over 1,000 employees and high turnover).
• CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism): Imposes reporting requirements for carbon emissions related to imports, with recent simplifications for smaller importers.

These regulations are evolving. For example, the EU Omnibus proposal introduces simplifications and postponements, especially for mid-sized companies (250–999 employees), who may now use voluntary standards instead of mandatory ESRS reporting—although business partners and financial institutions may still require ESG data for due diligence and financing.

Challenges in ESG Implementation: Data Sources, Complexity, and Manual Effort

• High Data Complexity: ESG data is scattered across multiple systems (HR, ERP, supply chain), often unstructured and manually collected.
• Manual Inputs: Relying on spreadsheets and manual uploads leads to errors, inconsistencies, and wasted resources.
• Fragmented Systems: Lack of integration slows down reporting, increases risk, and reduces data quality.
• Changing Regulations: Frequent updates require agility and expert support to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Low Data Quality: Manual collection increases the risk of inaccurate or incomplete reporting, undermining trust and auditability.

Organizations need an automated, integrated, and scalable solution that ensures transparency, auditability, and actionable ESG data.

The Keboola ESG Solution: Designed for Automation, Transparency, and Compliance

Keboola’s ESG solution, developed in partnership with PwC, is a comprehensive platform for automating ESG data collection, processing, and reporting. Key features include:

• Predefined Templates: Ready-made templates for all major ESG topics (environmental, social, governance) aligned with ESRS, voluntary standards, and double materiality assessment.
• Automated Data Ingestion: Connectors for internal systems (HR, ERP, financial) and external databases (e.g., emission factors from DEFRA, Ecoinvent), minimizing manual entry.
• Data Processing & Calculation: Automated calculations according to current legislation, making reports accurate and auditable.
• Customizable Reporting: User-defined reports with flexible grouping, dashboards, and exports for internal use or regulatory submission.
• Access Control & Security: Granular user management, supporting both cloud and single-tenant (on-premise) deployments for regulated industries.
• Document Library: Central repository for supporting documents, certifications, manuals, and qualitative indicators.
• Collaborative Workflow: Role-based task assignments, deadline management, and automated notifications for contributors and approvers.
• Support & Scalability: Onboarding assistance, technical support, and seamless scaling as your ESG needs grow.

How the Reporting Process Works with Keboola

1. Initial Assessment: Identify material ESG topics via double materiality assessment and select relevant templates.
2. Data Collection: Upload raw data manually or automate ingestion from integrated systems and suppliers.
3. Automated Processing: Keboola processes data, performs calculations, and validates compliance with ESRS and other standards.
4. Reporting & Export: Generate reports, dashboards, and exports in required formats for regulators, partners, or internal use.
5. Audit & Collaboration: Track changes, manage approvals, and ensure transparency in every step.

Example: ESG Manager’s Workflow in Keboola

1. Login and select reporting period and entity (single or group).
2. View dashboard for task progress and material topics.
3. Assign data upload and confirmation tasks to relevant team members.
4. Upload or automate data entry for specific indicators (e.g., business travel emissions).
5. Review calculations and export final report for annual submission.

This streamlined workflow replaces cumbersome spreadsheets, reduces errors, and ensures compliance.

Benefits of Automating ESG Reporting with Keboola

• Save Time & Resources: Eliminate manual data entry and repetitive tasks, freeing your team for higher-value work.
• Increase Data Quality: Automated validation and enrichment ensure accurate, consistent, and audit-ready data.
• Stay Compliant: Always up-to-date with the latest EU standards, thanks to continuous platform updates and expert support.
• Scale Effortlessly: Suitable for small businesses, mid-sized companies, and global enterprises—configurable to your needs.
• Democratize Access: Empower business users, not just IT, to analyze and act on ESG data.
• Flexible Deployment: Cloud-based SaaS or secure on-premise options for regulated industries.
• Expert Support: Guidance from Keboola and partners like PwC and RBI, ensuring a successful ESG journey.

Implementation: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Every ESG implementation is unique but follows a proven process:

1. Discovery Workshop: Map your current data sources, reporting objectives, and automation priorities.
2. Prioritization: Identify high-impact data points for automation and integration.
3. Connection & Integration: Connect internal systems and automate data flows with Keboola’s growing library of connectors.
4. Onboarding & Training: Onsite or remote expert support, training, and best-practice sharing.
5. Go Live & Support: Instant access to the SaaS application, continuous monitoring, and technical support as you expand usage.

Minimal technical preparation is required—most customers can upload existing Excel templates or start with manual data entry, then transition to automation at their own pace. Security concerns are addressed with robust access controls, data encryption, and cloud or on-premise deployment options.

Cost, Trial, and Support

• Free 3-Month Trial: Test all features with no obligation. Includes onboarding, expert assessment, and proof-of-concept setup.
• Transparent Pricing: After the trial, pricing is based on the number of entities and scale—typically less expensive than hiring a full-time ESG specialist.
• Expert Guidance: Get personalized support from Keboola and partners, including regulatory updates and best practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How quickly can we get started? Immediate SaaS access is available. Most organizations onboard in days, not weeks.
• Is Keboola cloud-based? Yes, but single-tenant (on-premise) deployment is available for large or regulated enterprises.
• What if regulations change? Keboola and partners continuously monitor updates, ensuring your reporting remains compliant.
• Do I need an in-house ESG consultant? Initial setup benefits from external expertise, but Keboola’s automation and templates enable independent operation over time.
• What support is included in the trial? Full onboarding, personalized assessment, and technical support for implementation and data integration.

Transform Your ESG Reporting—Automate, Comply, and Lead

Keboola’s ESG solution helps you automate data collection, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive sustainability insights—without the headache. Empower your team, impress your stakeholders, and turn ESG reporting into a business advantage.