Features in ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Analysis Software
for Investment Research & Analysis
Specialized tools for evaluating companies based on ESG criteria, providing scores, ratings, and insights into sustainability performance to support responsible investment strategies.
We ask vendors to mark their product against our feature list. It is not available for all products and in some cases we have derived data from publicly available sources. The list of features follows. Vendors can add a further 10 key features of their own.
Data Coverage
Extent and depth of ESG data collected and analyzed across markets, regions, and asset classes.
- Asset Class Coverage
- Different asset types (equity, fixed income, etc.) analyzed.
- Company Coverage
- Number of companies for which ESG data is available.
- Controversy Data Inclusion
- Presence of real-time or historical controversy data.
- Coverage of Small/Midcap Companies
- ESG data availability for smaller or less-covered companies.
- Data Source Transparency
- Clarity and detail in sources for ESG data points.
- Geographic Coverage
- Regions or countries included in ESG data datasets.
- Historical Data Depth
- How many years of historical ESG data are accessible.
- Private Company Data
- Availability of ESG data for private/non-listed companies.
- Sector Coverage
- Variety of industries and sectors included in the dataset.
- Thematic Coverage
- Coverage of specialized ESG themes (e.g., gender diversity, climate change).
- Third-Party Data Integration
- Ability to ingest and reconcile data from multiple external ESG data sources.
- Update Frequency
- How frequently ESG data is updated.
Data Quality & Reliability
Controls and metrics ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of ESG data.
- Audit Trails
- Record of all changes to client data sets.
- Completeness Scores
- Quantitative measure of data completeness for each entity.
- Data Provenance Tracking
- Traceability of data to its original source.
- Dispute Management Tools
- System for lodging and resolving data quality disputes.
- Error Checking & Anomaly Detection
- Automatic identification of data inconsistencies.
- Manual Review/Override Capability
- Ability for manual review/approval of key data points.
- Source Diversity
- Use of multiple sources to triangulate ESG data.
- Timeliness Metrics
- Tracking lag between data availability and reporting.
- Update Frequency Documentation
- Clear communication regarding regularity of data refresh.
- User Data Feedback/Correction
- Facility for users to flag and correct erroneous data.
Environmental Factors Analysis
Detailed data and analytics focused on environmental metrics and themes.
- Alignment to SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
- Mapping to relevant UN SDGs in environmental analysis.
- Biodiversity Impact
- Analysis of company operations impact on biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Carbon Emissions Tracking
- Tracking and evaluation of direct/indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
- Climate Risk Exposure
- Assessment of a company's exposure to climate-related risks.
- ESG Data for Supply Chain
- Inclusion of environmental data from company’s supply chain.
- Energy Efficiency Metrics
- Tracking energy use per unit of output or revenue.
- Environmental Policy Disclosure
- Tracking public disclosure of environmental policies and commitments.
- Green Revenue Tracking
- Measurement of revenue derived from environmentally positive activities.
- Waste Management
- Assessment of waste generation, recycling, and disposal policies.
- Water Usage Data
- Monitoring of water consumption, scarcity risks, and management policies.
Governance Analysis
Evaluating quality, structure, and effectiveness of corporate governance frameworks.
- Anti-Bribery and Corruption
- Evaluation of anti-bribery, corruption policies, and enforcement mechanisms.
- Audit and Controls
- Assessment of internal controls, risk management policies, and audit independence.
- Board Structure Evaluation
- Analysis of board composition, independence, and expertise.
- ESG Integration at the Board Level
- Extent to which the board considers ESG in its oversight.
- Executive Compensation Analysis
- Tracking of executive compensation compared to company performance.
- Governance Controversy Monitoring
- Detection and tracking of governance-related controversies or violations.
- Ownership Transparency
- Disclosure and analysis of ownership structures and significant shareholders.
- Shareholder Rights Protection
- Analysis of shareholder voting rights and anti-takeover mechanisms.
- Transparency of Disclosures
- Quality and frequency of corporate disclosures on governance practices.
- Whistleblower Protection Mechanisms
- Availability and effectiveness of employee whistleblower programs.
Integration & Interoperability
Capabilities for connecting ESG data and tools to broader investment and research workflows.
- API Access
- Availability of APIs for automated data access and integration.
- Bulk Data Uploads
- Ability to ingest custom or proprietary datasets at scale.
- Custom Data Fields/Tags
- Ability to create and use custom metadata for data organization.
- Data Export/Download
- Ability to extract ESG data in various formats (CSV, Excel, etc.).
- Data Synchronization
- Automated data updates between the ESG platform and other systems.
- Direct Database Connectivity
- Connection to client SQL or other databases for advanced analytics.
- Integration with PMS/OMS
- Plug-and-play links with portfolio or order management systems.
- SSO/Identity Management
- Single sign-on and identity integration with corporate IT systems.
- Third-Party Platform Integration
- Pre-built connections to major investment/analytics platforms (Bloomberg, FactSet, etc.).
- Webhooks for Event Triggers
- Support for webhooks to trigger downstream workflows on new ESG events/scoring changes.
Portfolio & Investment Analytics
Tools for integrating ESG data into investment analysis and decision-making.
- Automated Reporting
- Generation of regular, customizable portfolio ESG reports.
- Benchmark Comparison
- Comparing portfolio ESG ratings against relevant benchmarks.
- Carbon Footprint Calculation
- Aggregated measurement of portfolio carbon exposure.
- ESG Attribution Analysis
- Identifying how ESG factors drive risk and return in a portfolio.
- Engagement Tracking
- Monitoring and reporting on shareholder engagement activities.
- Exclusion/IQ Screening
- Excluding companies based on ESG compliance or controversy thresholds.
- Impact Measurement
- Monitoring real-world environmental or social outcomes tied to investments.
- Portfolio ESG Scoring
- Aggregating ESG scores at the portfolio level.
- Regulatory Alignment
- Portfolio-level mapping to SFDR, EU Taxonomy, or other ESG regulations.
- Scenario Analysis
- Modeling how ESG events or improvements impact performance metrics.
Regulatory Alignment & Compliance
Features supporting alignment with and reporting on ESG regulatory requirements and standards.
- Audit Logs
- Detailed record of user actions for audit purposes.
- Automatic Regulatory Updates
- System updates to reflect latest regulatory changes.
- Disclosure Readiness Checklist
- Checklist functionality to track status of required disclosures.
- Document Repository
- Central repository for ESG policies, audit reports, and disclosures.
- Flagging of Non-Compliance Risks
- Automated alerts when companies or portfolios are at risk of ESG non-compliance.
- Legal & Compliance Integration
- Features enabling alignment with legal and risk monitoring systems.
- Multi-Regime Support
- Support for tracking and reporting under different regulatory regimes.
- Red Flag Alerts
- Real-time alerts for regulatory, reputational, or compliance concerns.
- Regulatory Reporting Templates
- Pre-built templates for SFDR, TCFD, EU Taxonomy, etc.
- Workflow Approvals
- Integrated workflow for review and approval of ESG disclosures/reports.
Scoring, Ratings & Methodology
System for calculating ESG scores/ratings and the transparency of its methodologies.
- Ability to Drill-Down
- Detailed view on individual scoring sub-components or metrics.
- Audit Trail
- Record of changes made to scores or methodology.
- Customizable Scoring
- Ability for users to define or adjust scoring methodologies.
- Integration of Qualitative Assessments
- Support for incorporating research analyst notes or reviews in scores.
- Override Functionality
- Ability for users to override the default rating with their own assessment.
- Peer Benchmarking
- Ability to compare ESG ratings against peer groups.
- Rating Scale Granularity
- Level of detail (number of tiers/grades) in scoring.
- Sector-Specific Weightings
- ESG criteria weighting based on industry relevance.
- Standardized Methodologies
- Use of recognized ESG scoring/rating standards (SASB, GRI, etc.).
- Time-Series Ratings
- Historical time series of ESG scores/ratings available.
- Transparency of Algorithms
- Clear documentation on how scores and ratings are calculated.
Security, Privacy, & Support
Focus on data protection, user privacy, system reliability, and customer support.
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Access to customer support at all times.
- Data Encryption at Rest and in Transit
- Protection of ESG data with strong encryption.
- Disaster Recovery
- System redundancies and recovery protocols tested regularly.
- GDPR/CCPA Compliance
- Adherence to major global data privacy regulations.
- Incident Notification System
- Alerts users regarding outages, security, or data incidents.
- Knowledge Base and Community Forums
- Online support content and user discussion boards.
- Multi-factor Authentication
- Support for enhanced authentication mechanisms.
- Onboarding and Training Resources
- Comprehensive user training and onboarding materials.
- Role-Based Access Control
- Granular permission management for users and teams.
- SLA for System Uptime
- Service level agreement specifying minimum uptime.
Social Factors Analysis
Evaluation of social and human capital aspects within ESG frameworks.
- Community Engagement
- Measurement of company initiatives for community health, welfare and education.
- Diversity & Inclusion Metrics
- Tracking gender, minority, and board diversity statistics.
- Employee Training Metrics
- Data on employee training hours, programs, and development outcomes.
- Health and Safety Data
- Monitoring of workforce safety, accident rates, and regulatory compliance.
- Human Rights Adherence
- Assessment of policies and practices for upholding international human rights.
- Labor Practices Assessment
- Evaluation of working conditions, labor rights, and employee relations.
- Philanthropy Tracking
- Mapping of corporate giving, foundations, and charitable contributions.
- Product Responsibility
- Evaluation of product safety, quality, and customer satisfaction metrics.
- Social Controversy Monitoring
- Real-time or historical monitoring of negative social events or controversies.
- Social Supply Chain Risks
- Assessment of social risks within the supply chain (forced labor, child labor, etc).
User Experience & Reporting
Features supporting usability, collaboration, and exporting of ESG insights and analyses.
- Accessibility Compliance
- Adherence to WCAG or other accessibility guidelines.
- Advanced Visualization Tools
- Charts, heatmaps, and other visualizations for ESG data.
- Collaboration Tools
- Commenting, user tagging, and shareable links for analyses.
- Customizable Dashboards
- Personalized dashboard and workspace arrangements.
- Mobile/Tablet Interface
- Mobile-responsive design or dedicated apps.
- Multi-language Support
- Interface and reporting available in multiple languages.
- Narrative Generation
- Auto-generated textual summaries and insights.
- Permissioned Views/Sharing
- Granular control over who can access or edit ESG reports and data.
- Report Template Library
- Pre-set templates for various ESG report types.
- Scheduled Report Delivery
- Automated creation and delivery of regular ESG reports.