Is there a more cost-effective way to generate a VSME report than hiring an ESG consultant?
Yes – with a specialised VSME software solution like ESG Lift, you can generate your complete VSME report starting from just €590/year, instead of paying €5,000–€25,000 for an external consultant. The AI-powered VSME Assist Chatbot guides you seamlessly through all relevant data points, meaning no prior experience in ESG reporting or sustainability disclosure is required. Typically, the compilation take only 1–3 hours.
How cost-effective is ESG reporting software compared to a consultant?
A comparison of the ESG reporting costs reveals a clear advantage:
Sustainability Consultant (one-off + annual updates):
Initial sustainability report: €5,000–€25,000
Annual ESG updates: €2,000–€8,000
Total 5-year ESG consulting cost: €13,000–€57,000
ESG Lift Software:
Year 1: €590–€1,590 (depending on company size)
Total 5-year software cost: €2,950–€7,950
Total savings over 5 years: up to €49,000 in ESG compliance costs
Which ESG tasks can an SME realistically manage in-house using software?
With ESG Lift, SMEs can manage their entire sustainability disclosure independently:
• Capture all 100 VSME basic data points
• Calculate Corporate Carbon Footprint according to the GHG Protocol
• Export EFRAG-compliant PDF sustainability reports
• Track multi-year ESG KPIs
• Share ESG disclosures with customers, banks, and investors
When is an external ESG consultant still necessary?
Engaging an external ESG consultant is recommended if, in addition to automated ESG data collection, your company requires a complex double materiality assessment, third-party assurance of the sustainability report, or a comprehensive corporate sustainability strategy. ESG Lift allows you to invite ESG consultants directly into the platform, enabling a hybrid approach that leverages software efficiency alongside expert consulting.
How long does it take to prepare a VSME report using ESG software?
With ESG Lift, the initial ESG reporting process typically takes only 1–3 hours for the basic module. The built-in VSME Assist AI chatbot guides you through every disclosure point, explaining exactly what ESG data is required. In subsequent years, prior-year sustainability metrics can be imported, meaning only updated figures need to be entered.
VSME reporting more cost-effective than using consultants: Detailed cost comparison between software vs. consultancy, and why ESG Lift is the most economical solution for most SMEs.