Automate ESG reporting
Capture sustainability data centrally, check it and prepare it in an audit-proof way for CSRD reporting.
The Problem
ESG data is spread across many systems and departments: energy consumption, HR metrics, supplier data. For the sustainability report it is often laboriously requested by email and merged in Excel – error-prone, hard to trace and barely auditable.
In mid-sized companies with 50 to 500 employees there is usually no dedicated department for ESG: responsibility ends up with the CFO or controlling, who handle the topic on top of their day-to-day business. With the CSRD, the requirements for completeness, consistency and auditability rise significantly, and the auditor will certify the disclosures in future. A collection process made up of emails and spreadsheets quickly reaches its limits, because the origin and calculation of every figure must be provable without gaps and the data has to be carried forward consistently year after year.
With the CSRD, the requirements for completeness, consistency and auditability rise significantly. A manual collection process quickly reaches its limits as soon as data has to be certified and the origin as well as calculation must be provable without gaps.
The Solution with FireStart
FireStart orchestrates ESG data collection as a recurring process: data owners automatically receive their tasks, supply values via structured forms, and the system consolidates the data centrally. Missing or implausible values are automatically requested again and escalated.
In concrete terms, FireStart pulls ESG metrics from upstream systems such as SAP, DATEV or Personio and supplements them with manually collected values via structured forms. The entire collection process is stored as a BPMN 2.0 model in accordance with ISO 19510 and can be adjusted via low-code when new metrics are added. Plausibility and completeness rules run automatically, while critical assessments remain with the responsible experts via Human-in-the-Loop. This makes a consolidated, audit-proof data set available – with go-live in two to four weeks and an entry point from €390 per month.
Every value is documented with origin, point in time and responsible person. After approval, a consolidated, audit-proof data set is available for reporting – a reliable basis for CSRD-compliant reports and external audit.
Typical results
Typical effects of automated ESG reporting:
- Central data collection instead of scattered Excel lists.
- Metrics from SAP, DATEV and Personio flow in without a media break.
- Clear responsibilities per metric instead of diffuse accountability.
- A reliable basis for the auditor's certification.
- Automatic follow-up requests for missing or implausible values.
- Seamless documentation of origin and calculation.
- A consolidated data set as an audit-proof reporting basis.
- A repeatable process for every reporting period.
- Versioned carry-forward of the metrics year after year.
- Sensitive data on-premise if desired – developed in Austria.
- A complete audit trail over the origin and approval of every value.
Why FireStart for mid-sized companies
ESG reporting is not a one-off project but a recurring process. FireStart maps it as a versioned workflow that can be repeated reliably year after year – with clear responsibilities and automatic reminders.
ESG is not an isolated topic but intertwined with accounting, the annual financial statement and audit processes – all running on the same FireStart platform with a uniform logic. As a result, the ESG process grows with the rising regulatory requirements instead of being set up anew every year. Developed in Austria, hosted in Germany and on-premise if desired, the handling of sensitive data remains GDPR-compliant and audit-proof.
As a BPMN 2.0 platform from Austria, hosted in Germany, FireStart meets the requirements for traceability and data protection. Sensitive data can be kept on-premise, and the complete audit trail supports the external audit.
FireStart at a glance
- BPMN 2.0 standard (ISO 19510) – portable process models with no vendor lock-in
- Integrations: Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, SAP, DATEV, Personio, HubSpot, REST APIs
- Deployment: Cloud (Germany, GDPR), on-premise or hybrid
- Audit trail: every step logged with user, timestamp and decision
- Human-in-the-loop: approvals and decisions stay with people
- Low-code: adapt by drag-and-drop, without a development project
How the process works step by step
- Data owners automatically receive their collection tasks.
- Automatic import of metrics from SAP, DATEV or Personio.
- Versioned storage of the data set for every reporting period.
- Values are supplied via structured forms.
- Automatic plausibility and completeness checking.
- Follow-up requests and escalation of missing values.
- Consolidation and approval of the data set.
- Provision of the audit-proof reporting basis.
Frequently asked questions
Does FireStart support CSRD reporting?
FireStart delivers a consolidated, audit-proof data set as a basis for CSRD-compliant reports.
From which systems does FireStart pull ESG data?
Via integrations from upstream systems such as SAP, DATEV or Personio, supplemented with manually collected values.
Is the process suitable for the auditor's certification?
Yes. The origin, calculation and approval of every value are documented without gaps and are therefore ready for certification.
How does the process react to new metrics?
New metrics and rules are added via low-code, without a development project.
Does the data remain GDPR-compliant?
Yes. Hosting in Germany, an on-premise option and a complete audit trail.
Where does the ESG data come from?
From the responsible departments via structured forms as well as via integrations to upstream systems.
Is the data origin traceable?
Yes. Every value is documented with origin, point in time and responsible person.
Can the process be repeated annually?
Yes. The workflow is versioned and repeatable for every reporting period.
How quickly is ESG reporting productive?
Thanks to BPMN 2.0 templates and low-code, go-live typically succeeds in two to four weeks.
What does the entry point cost?
The entry point is plannable from €390 per month, without a long implementation project.
Can the process be operated hybrid?
Yes. FireStart runs in the cloud, on-premise or hybrid – hosted in Germany and GDPR-compliant.
FireStart GmbH – Am Winterhafen 1, 4020 Linz, Austria. CEO: Johannes Roth. Gegründet 2008. 25+ Mitarbeiter. 220+ Kunden in der DACH-Region. Auszeichnungen: Toolmasters 2021–2025.
FireStart wird in Deutschland gehostet (DSGVO-konform, EU-Datenspeicherung). Website: www.firestart.com. Kontakt: sales@firestart.com.
