GRI software certification program what it is?

Hello Friends,

Recently we hear a lot on GRI - Software and Tools program and SAP SuPM is the first software to be certified for it. What is this certifiation all about? What is the advantage in getting certified for Software and Tools program ? Here it goes.

The GRI software and Tools program is certifying “tools and softwares” that contain GRI copyrighted content like - GRI Reporting Framework, GRI Learning Publications, Sector Supplements or any other publication data protected by GRI copyright law. GRI certifications does not endorse or recommend software, it only certifies the GRI content is correctly used and further, does not carry any responsibility for the quality or use of the overall tool or software that contains GRI Content
Since SAP BO Sustainability Performance Management provides a predefined core and additional KPIs content and associated protocols based on Global Reporting Initiative G3 Framework, this certification provides a level of assurance that the software contains correct usage of GRI content and reference to GRI, completeness of content, appropriate division of elements, clear demarcation between GRI and other reporting frameworks.

The major elements for which GRI checks the software include i) Complete GRI Guidelines ii) Defining Report content, quality and boundary, iii) Complete standard disclosures iv) Sector supplements v) Learning publications or vi) Other GRI copy righted content. GRI holds right to certify parts of elements instead of complete GRI elements; the applying authority needs to inform GRI prior to entering into MoU, what GRI elements they want to be certified for.

GRI software certification process involves i) processing of application form ii) signing of MoU iii) agreement of non disclosure iv) content check v) issuing certificate vi) Announcement in GRI Website and vii) Finally annual update.

This level of assurance will be a major welcome in the Industry, as the recent one paragraph of wrong information in 900+ pages of report put IPCC their reputation in stake.

Thanks

Regulatory Compliance - the SaaS way !

Hello Friends,

Today morning when I woke up to the music of my 2 year old daugther - Lasya, and checked my email – I saw a mail from SAP Flash on “SAP Solution Stragey for Year 2010” – It immediately made me recollect all the thoughts which were running in my mind for past few months on “Managing Regulatory Compliance in a SaaS way”. Even in my earlier post – I wrote SAP might start supporting the EH&S / Sustainability in a SaaS way”. I think it would be interesting to post my views (literally my own views – Disclaimer here !) on Regulatory Compliance using SaaS. Here it goes ….

Regulatory Compliance is slowly moving towards the SaaS mode of delivery Model, slowly but surely towards SaaS base !. SaaS has the potential to shape a new era in the life of Regulatory Compliance and Sustainabiity Management and serve as a core structure – and style – that defines corporate sustainability in the long run. Key point would be the the ability to support many variations in regulatory requirements, processes, rules and data without custom code. Definitely there are not many customers in world – who are buidling their own codes to manage their business processes, however this happening in some major players and in some functional areas of new regulatory spaces like REACh. Throughout the world – regulations are evolving rapidly and it takes some more time for these to settle down – name it REACh, GHG Management, Cap & Trade. It takes more for developing world to do business in a SaaS way, again it’s a business opportunity and a threat !. I anticiapte it will take couple of years if not decades to fully realize the benefit of SaaS offering for Regulatory compliance.

But company’s can start investing in this sphere to assess the initial data security. For example, investigating in the deployment of use non-sensitive data, such as MSDS, TremCards and DG Documents, Over time, as familiarity and security in the SaaS grow, complete regulatory compliance including disaster recovery can move to the SaaS. Ultimately the SaaS and the data center will switch roles, with the local data center being the disaster recovery site and the SaaS becoming the production site. The major benefits include massive cost shifts, on demand access, disposal infrastructure and new levels of collaboration - support of the regulatory experts to tackle regulatory requirements right the word go, and opportunity to concentrate on core business needs !.

The major benefit and constraints however is the threat of vanishing Base of Pyramid – Customers– who might vanish in short period of time. Another constraint is data migration in SaaS for geographical roll outs for geographically separate data centers (Need to completely understand the Reservoir Project - Intercloud worlload mobility)! And many companies still need legacy Systems to feed their day to day ERP components – making access to these systems in the SaaS is a necessacity. As it should not be a problem as all major databases still focus on relational data storage, all major relational database products now provide native support for storing, accessing and even querying data in XML format.

Finally, there are already quite a number of EH&S Vendors supporting SaaS model, however the major benefit SAP provides is "Access to an emerging generation of software applications that simply never could have been implemented in the traditional, internally managed model"

I would like to study a bit more on this and share my detailed views from multiple data sharinng, security, and other deployment issues in future post.But it will be an exciting journey ahead for industries to go for a SaaS way

Thanks

Reflections in Mirror - Whats in store for SAP EHS Consultants in year 2010

Hello Friends,

Its almost exciting begining for EH&S Consultants, when world leaders meet at Coperhangen, all the consultants crossed their fingers hoping some accord would be reached. There was so much dicussions on "BASIC" countries, finally it was just a handful countries, which stalled the historic meet into a non-binding accord similiar to a bus ticket,as mentioned by a Green peace activist.

Well this very outcome should not stop EHS consultants from feeling excited for year 2010. There are so many doors which were open in the year 2009, hoping for Coperhangen success, are now at the door step of opening major market. Whether they are in GHG management, Sustainabilty Reporting or even REACh COmpliance. Market is now in perfect stage for these projects to roll out. SAP also released couple of exciting products during late December like - Sustainability Performance Management, Best Practices for Analytical Reporting Dashboards usign BusinessObjects and SAP Carbon Impact with enhanced features like Facility Dahsboard, XML flashcards. SAP EHS Management with Specialized Incident handling usign Adobe Smart forms. Even Product Compliance - REACH COmpliance 2.0 is on Ramp Up stage. Overall its a exciting stage for EHS consultants to begin the year 2010 - aiming high.

We could also see couple of initiatives later part of 2010, from SAP to enhance the existing SAP EH&S & Sustainability protfolio to cover " Operational and Decision Supporting" - with lot of Analytics now in place with SAP SPM and SAP BP for Analytics Reporting - how best to adapt to requirements to comply with sustainability requirements. The support / extending, SAP Carbon Impact with ECOInvent Database for Lifecycle Assessment for detailed Product Carbon Accounting or SAP Supporting the EH&S / Sustainability in SaaS way !.

Again wishing you all Happy journey in this exciting phase and those who wish to be in EHS field, definately good time to get into SAP, make yourself ready by learning GHG Lead Auditors course or Certificate on Sustainability Assurance Practioners or BusinessObjects with EHS knowledge.

Thanks