Maintain compliance and prepare for third-party verification by enforcing strict data quality standards within your reporting workflow. By utilizing internal validators and mandatory evidence attachments, you ensure your ESG metrics are completely reliable and traceably sourced.
Establish the Internal Validation Workflow
To prevent inaccurate data from reaching your final report, you must utilize the platform's dual-approval system. Every indicator should pass through a designated internal reviewer before being locked and finalized.
Navigate to the ESG Data menu in the main left-hand sidebar.
Click on the Data Collection tab to view your active indicators.
Ensure every assigned indicator has a designated user listed in the Validator column.
Instruct your Validators to open completed forms and click either the Mark as Validated button to approve the data, or the Need Changes button to reject it.
Tip: Never assign the same user as both the Owner and the Validator for a single indicator. Maintaining a strict separation of duties is a core requirement for most financial and ESG auditing standards.
Mandate Supporting Evidence
Unsubstantiated claims cannot be easily verified by external auditors. You must require your Data Owners to upload source documentation to prove every quantitative metric or policy claim they provide.
Open a specific indicator by clicking its row in the main Data Collection table.
Scroll down past the main input fields to locate the Add Document section.
Click the Upload a File button to attach primary sources, such as utility bills, ERP data exports, or internal policy PDFs.
Verify that the attached file name appears directly below the upload button, confirming it is permanently linked to this specific metric.
Document Methodologies and Assumptions
Raw numbers often require context to be fully understood by reviewers and auditors. You must use the integrated communication tools to explain exactly how specific figures were calculated.
Scroll to the very bottom of the open datapoint form to locate the Comments text box.
Type a detailed explanation of any calculation formulas, data exclusions, or estimation methods used to arrive at the final inputted number.
Click the Submit button located next to the text box to post your explanatory note.
Note: These comments remain permanently attached to the datapoint form, creating a clear historical record for future reporting cycles and external auditors.
Resolve Rejected Datapoints
When a Validator identifies an error or notices missing evidence, they will send the form back to the Owner. Owners must monitor and resolve these flagged indicators promptly to avoid blocking the project.
Navigate to the top of the main Data Collection table where the search and filter options are located.
Click the Status drop-down filter located in the filter bar.
Select the Need Changes option from the list to isolate all rejected forms.
Open the flagged indicator and scroll to the Comments section at the bottom to read the Validator's specific feedback.
Correct the data in the main input fields, click the Save button, and then click the Mark as completed button to resubmit the form for a second review.