How Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability Supports Accurate CSRD Reporting
You can get accurate and fast CSRD reporting with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability. New studies show that cloud tools save time and cut down on mistakes. These tools also help your reports follow CSRD rules. With Microsoft Cloud, you keep all your sustainability data in one place. This makes it easy to handle, find, and share data with your team. AI-powered insights help you spot trends and risks. This gives your group a clear way to make better choices and follow the rules.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability lets companies keep all ESG data together. This makes CSRD reporting faster and more correct.
Dashboards and templates help users follow CSRD rules. They also help make reports that meet audit standards with less work.
AI tools like Copilot give quick ideas and automate checks. They help teams find risks and make better sustainability choices.
Strong data integration and audit features keep reports honest. They track every change and control who can see the data.
Custom dashboards and workflow tools let companies change their reporting to fit their goals. This helps them get ready for new CSRD rules.
CSRD and Microsoft Cloud
CSRD Overview
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) brings new rules for reporting. Now, you must share more details about your company’s ESG performance. Accurate reports help you build trust and follow the law. The CSRD says you need to give information about your company’s environmental, social, and governance actions.
Tip: Learn the main CSRD rules first. This helps you plan and keeps you from being surprised later.
Here are the main CSRD rules you need to follow:
Report on many ESG topics like pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, circular economy, biodiversity, employee diversity, human rights, and governance.
Use the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for your reports.
Send digital reports in the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF).
Get an independent third party to check your sustainability data.
Add your sustainability information to your management report.
Update your reporting steps often to match new rules.
Use the double materiality principle—show how sustainability affects your business and how your business affects sustainability.
Report about your value chain, not just your own company.
These rules mean you need good data, clear steps, and tools to stay organized.
Microsoft Cloud Role
Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability helps you follow CSRD rules. You can use it to collect and study your ESG data in one place. The platform lets you track things like carbon footprint, water use, waste, and biodiversity. It has templates and dashboards to help you match ESRS and double materiality rules.
You get automated workflows that make collecting and reporting data easier. Microsoft Sustainability Manager helps you handle ESG data, automate jobs, and get ready for audits. It has features like sustainability journals, a chart of sustainability accounts, and sustainability ledger entries to keep your data neat and easy to check.
With Microsoft Cloud, CSRD compliance becomes a simple, step-by-step process. You get more clarity, accuracy, and trust in your sustainability work.
Key Features for CSRD
Emissions Dashboards
You can see your company’s greenhouse gas emissions with easy dashboards. These dashboards show Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. You get a full picture of your company’s impact on the environment. The carbon accounting is checked by outside experts, so your data is trustworthy and ready for audits. The dashboards work with Microsoft Sustainability Manager. You can watch how your company is doing and check for risks using standards like IFRS S2.
Track both direct and indirect emissions in all scopes.
Use good data that stays the same for reports.
See your emissions with Power BI templates.
Share and send emissions data without trouble.
Keep all sustainability data together for better teamwork.
Tip: Use dashboards to find problems and risks early. This helps you make smart choices and keep up with CSRD rules.
Data Integration
Strong data integration helps you keep your sustainability reports correct and easy to follow. Microsoft Sustainability Manager uses layers to organize your data. Each layer has a job to keep your data safe and easy to check.
You can use Dataverse shortcuts and one-way sync to keep your data moving right. Data trail features let you see every change, so audits are simple. Alternate emissions features let you use different ways to count emissions. This helps you be more exact and follow CSRD rules.
CSRD Templates
You can make CSRD reporting easier with ready-made templates in Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager. These templates match ESRS and use details from EFRAG IG 3. You can get your ESG data ready, see it, and check it for CSRD rules.
Match numbers to ESRS needs.
Make checks and see what you need to share.
Ask auditors to look at and talk about your reports.
Look at CSRD rules and get data with built-in connectors.
Check data with your team or outside helpers.
These templates save you time and help you handle hard compliance jobs. You can use them for other rules if you need to. Microsoft is making a special data platform with custom connectors and apps. This helps you meet needs for your industry.
AI Insights
You can make your reports better with AI-powered insights. Microsoft Sustainability Manager uses AI tools like Copilot to help you write and check ESG reports. You can use simple commands to make emissions, water, waste, and CSRD reports fast.
Get quick reports and summaries with Copilot in Power BI.
Use AI agents for real-time sustainability tips.
Automate checks, rule matching, and risk alerts.
Study documents and make models with AI tools.
Make approval and audit steps faster for compliance.
You can handle and study lots of ESG data, with hundreds of KPIs and thousands of datapoints. AI helps you find patterns and missing parts in your CSRD work. This lets you make your reports better and keep up with new rules. Teamwork features help your group work together and keep things clear.
Note: AI tools help you turn hard ESG data into easy ideas. This helps you meet CSRD rules and grow in a smart way.
Compliance and Reporting
Audit Readiness
You have to get ready for CSRD audits with strong rules and clear records. Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability gives you tools to watch every change in your data. You can use audit trails to see who made changes and when they did it. Role-based access controls let you pick who can see or change sustainability data. This helps stop mistakes and keeps your records safe. Document management tools help you sort and keep all files needed for CSRD. Auditors can check your data, leave notes, and mark jobs as done in Purview Compliance Manager. You can turn on auditing, look at logs, and set rules to keep your records ready for checks.
Watch every data change with audit trails.
Only let trusted people see or change data.
Keep and sort documents for easy audits.
Give out audit jobs and check progress as it happens.
Tip: Use Microsoft Sustainability Manager and Copilot to make reports and check documents faster for audits.
Data Transparency
You must show clear and correct data in your CSRD reports. Microsoft Cloud helps you keep all ESG data in one safe spot. You can get information from energy, emissions, water, and waste systems. Keeping data in one place makes it easy to find and share. Teamwork tools let your group work together on reports. AI and machine learning help you find patterns and make CSRD reports. Automation cuts down on manual work and keeps your reports the same.
Keep ESG data in one place for easy use.
Use AI to study and sum up big data sets.
Make reports automatically for better accuracy.
Let many teams work together on reports.
Note: Built-in templates and approval steps help you follow CSRD rules and keep your data clear.
Workflow Tools
You need good tools to handle CSRD reporting steps. Microsoft Cloud has many workflow tools that make your work easier. The table below lists main tools and what they do:
These tools collect data, give dashboards, and help you follow new rules. You can change workflows, watch progress, and make sure each step meets CSRD needs.
Tip: Use dashboards to see progress fast and try out different plans to match your business goals with sustainability.
Getting Started
Setup Steps
You can begin CSRD reporting with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability. First, set up Microsoft Sustainability Manager. Make sure you have the right access to use all features. Here is an easy way to get started:
Sign in to Microsoft Sustainability Manager as an administrator.
Connect your data sources like energy, water, waste, and emissions.
Import ESG data using connectors or by entering it yourself.
Use the CSRD template in Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager to organize your reports.
Set up automated workflows to collect, check, and store sustainability data.
Give roles and permissions to your team to keep data safe.
Check your dashboards and reports to make sure they are correct before you send them.
Tip: The CSRD template helps you finish your first report faster and meet EU rules.
Customization
You can change your CSRD reporting to fit your company’s needs. Microsoft Sustainability Manager lets you customize dashboards and reports. Follow these steps to make a reporting setup that matches your goals:
Copy any insights page, like Emissions, Water, or Waste, to start.
Edit the dashboard with Power BI designer. Pick your data, add filters, and make custom visuals.
Save your dashboard and set it as the default for users who need it.
Switch between default and custom dashboards to see different views.
Delete custom dashboards if you do not need them anymore.
You can also use custom reports and built-in calculation methods. AI-powered insights and Copilot help you make reports quickly and make smart choices.
Support Resources
You can use many support resources to help with CSRD reporting:
Microsoft Sustainability Manager and Copilot use AI to make reports and study data.
CSRD templates in Purview Compliance Manager help you collect and organize needed data.
Central ESG data management makes reports more accurate and easy to see.
Data governance features help with audit trails and workflow steps.
Dashboards and templates can change to match new CSRD needs.
Microsoft gives guided tours, e-books, forums, partner networks, and solution centers.
Training modules on Microsoft Learn teach sustainability, CSRD reporting, and tools.
Note: Training modules have practice exercises and tests to help you learn CSRD compliance with confidence.
You can make CSRD compliance easier with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability. The platform keeps all ESG data together. It automates reporting and uses AI to help you get more accurate and clear results. You can use ready-made templates and dashboards. This makes it simple to collect, check, and share sustainability data.
Keeping ESG data in one place means less manual work and fewer mistakes.
AI tools help you find patterns and improve sustainability actions.
Ready-made templates help you make fast CSRD reports that are ready for audits.
Try a demo, join a workshop, or talk to Microsoft experts. These options help you get ready for CSRD rules and build a strong sustainability plan.
FAQ
How do you start CSRD reporting with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability?
First, sign in to Microsoft Sustainability Manager. Next, connect your data sources. Use the CSRD template in Purview Compliance Manager. Set up automated workflows to help with reporting. Check your dashboards before you send your report.
What data sources can you connect for CSRD reporting?
You can connect energy, water, waste, and emissions systems. Use built-in connectors or upload data by hand. Keep all ESG data together for easy access and reporting.
How do you customize CSRD dashboards and reports?
Copy any insights page you want to use. Edit dashboards with Power BI designer. Add filters and visuals to make them better. Save your custom dashboard when you finish. Switch between default and custom views when you need to.
What tools help you prepare for CSRD audits?
Use audit trails to track changes in your data. Set role-based access controls for safety. Organize documents with management tools. Assign audit tasks in Purview Compliance Manager. Review logs to stay ready for checks.