ROI Analysis

Spreadsheets vs ESG Software

Is it time to move beyond Excel? Here's an honest comparison of manual vs automated ESG management.

Spreadsheet Approach

Familiar, flexible, free. But becomes unwieldy as reporting requirements grow.

200-400 hours per report

ESG Software

Automated data collection, calculations, and reporting. Scales with your needs.

20-40 hours per report

ROI of Automation

70%
Time Saved
Average reduction in reporting effort
90%
Error Reduction
Fewer calculation and data entry errors
6-12 mo
Payback Period
Typical ROI timeline
0.5-2
FTE Equivalent
Staff time freed up annually

Detailed Comparison

AspectManual/SpreadsheetsESG Software
Data CollectionManual entry from invoices, emailsAuto-import from ERP, utilities, APIs
Time per Report200-400 hours20-40 hours
Error Rate5-15% typical<1% with validation
Audit TrailScattered across files and emailsComplete, timestamped audit log
Real-time VisibilityQuarterly at bestLive dashboards
Multi-frameworkSeparate workbooks per frameworkOne dataset, multiple outputs
ScalabilityLinear increase in effortMinimal additional effort
Version ControlFile naming chaosBuilt-in versioning

When to Consider ESG Software

You have 3+ facilities or entities to consolidate
You report to multiple frameworks (BRSR, GRI, CDP, etc.)
You need assurance-ready audit trails
Leadership wants real-time ESG dashboards

Ready to Automate?

See how ESG PULSE can save 70% of your reporting time. Start with a free trial.