Do I need prior knowledge to use ESG Lift for ESG reporting?
No – ESG Lift is designed so that no prior knowledge of sustainability reporting or ESG is required. The VS Assist AI chatbot guides you step-by-step through each data point, explaining what information is needed and where to find it. SMEs only need access to their basic operational data, such as energy consumption, employee headcount, and waste volumes.
How user-friendly is ESG Lift for beginners?
ESG Lift was developed with the explicit goal of being easy to use for SMEs without prior ESG experience. The VS Assist chatbot is the central onboarding mechanism – it asks questions in plain language and explains any concept that is not self-explanatory.
What do I need to prepare before using it for the first time?
To get started with ESG reporting, SMEs need:
• Electricity and gas bills (for carbon footprint and CO₂ calculations)
• Employee list with full-time equivalents (FTEs)
• Basic company and location data
• Optional: Vehicle data for Scope 1 emissions
Most SMEs already have this information available in-house – no external data collection is required.
What if I still need assistance?
ESG Lift provides onboarding support and the option to invite certified consultants directly onto the platform. This allows an advisor to optionally guide you through individual steps of your ESG reporting process without requiring a full advisory mandate.
How long does the training take?
Most users are productive within 30 minutes. The VS Assist chatbot handles the guidance, eliminating the need for separate training. In the first year, generating a complete sustainability report typically takes 1–3 hours.
ESG Lift prior knowledge: why no prior ESG expertise is required, what data SMEs need to prepare, and how the VS Assist chatbot guides you through the process.