In today’s business culture, ensuring workplaces are safe, inclusive, and eco-friendly isn’t just a trend – it’s a necessity. Many governments around the world have rolled out policies regarding workplace environment, health, and safety (EHS) standards, requiring businesses to prepare and file reports, make data transparent to the public, and articulate future plans of improvement.
For some small businesses, EHS data isn’t an issue and can be compiled manually or with minimal technologies. For most businesses and large corporations, however, old legacy systems make this job impossible. This can result in unsafe and unhealthy work environments, cost companies millions of dollars, and worse, lead to worker harm.
That’s why many companies are turning to purpose-built EHS software.
In this article, we’ll explore the key benefits of purpose-built EHS software, and how it can drive efficiency, transparency, compliance, and innovation within your organization.
Let's dive in.
environmental, health and safety software defined
Similar to sustainability management software, EHS software (sometimes also known as occupational health and safety software) is a type of software that is uniquely tailored to help organizations monitor, manage, prepare reports, and improve their environmental, health, and safety performance. EHS software is unlike other software in that it specifically addresses data such as diversity, community and resources, and health and safety issues and compliance.
SaaS Software Defined
To fully understand any EHS or sustainability software and thus decide which software provider is best for your organization, it’s important to understand what SaaS software is. Here is our brief definition.
SaaS (which stands for software-as-a-service) is a type of software that is hosted by a provider, allowing users access to the application, including all features, capabilities, storage, updates, and security measures that are hosted in a cloud environment by the provider.
SaaS has grown so much in popularity primarily due to its ability to shoulder a lot of the overhead costs associated with robust software that traditionally users would have to bear. This includes hardware, IT infrastructure and specialists, security measures and storage systems, and any scalability features that ever-evolving companies require in order to remain competitive. One of the driving features behind it is the scalability.
A few examples of popular SaaS software include:
- Salesforce
- Google Workspace
- Zoom
- HubSpot
It’s rare that an organization won’t use SaaS software, including your own.
4 benefits of a purpose-built EHS software
Purpose-built EHS software offers a powerful solution to many issues that organizations face today. It enables them to track, measure, manage, and optimize their environment, health and safety initiatives with accuracy and efficiency, in real-time.
In this section, we’ll explore the key advantages of investing in purpose-built EHS software, and how your business can boost transparency and drive measurable impacts, so you can stay ahead of the game when it comes to your EHS initiatives.
1. centralized data management improves efficiency
Managing EHS data across departments, locations, and various workflow systems almost always leads to errors, redundancies, and crucial reports and deadlines getting missed. This can become costly for organizations and worse, can lead to unsafe and unhealthy workplaces as issues are not properly identified and resolved.
Many large companies struggle to manage the vast amount of EHS data they need. Across departments, locations (both regionally and globally), and partners and supply chains. If each location uses different systems, or responds to regional policies, redundancies, errors and confusion can ensue. This can be extremely costly.
With purpose-built EHS software, all data is centralized into one platform that is accessible anywhere, anytime, ready for collection, collaboration, and action.
- Streamlined Data Collection: Integrations are automated and IoT-enabled data gathering allows users to pull information from multiple sources.
- Human Error is Significantly Reduced: Human error is one of the biggest cost factors when it comes to health and safety, which EHS software can significantly reduce.
- Time and Money Saved: Without the need to constantly input data into various systems and ensure it’s correct across locations, with EHS software workers can focus on analyzing the data and driving initiatives that help improve working conditions and the environment.
Purpose-built EHS software can solve problems by unifying all data collection and storage into an easily accessible cloud software platform.
2. purpose-built means tailored for regulatory compliance
EHS policies around the world are becoming more robust. They are in place to protect workers, employers, communities, and ecosystems. One of the biggest challenges however is the continual evolution of the policies. They are constantly shifting, which means companies have to keep current with what regulatory requirements will affect them. In addition, many large corporations have locations around the world. All of those regulations must be adhered to.
It’s easy to see how legacy ways of data management just don't suffice and will, in fact, create problems.
Purpose-built EHS software will ensure organizations stay compliant with evolving regulations.
- Real-Time Alerts: A good purpose-built EHS software platform will alert you when your organization is reaching non-compliance threshold so you can take action immediately.
- EHS Reports Automatic and On Demand: Purpose-built EHS software allows users to populate reports, on-demand with up-to-date accuracy.
- Audit Readiness: Purpose-built EHS should allow your organization to be ready for an audit at a moment’s notice with a traceable, verifiable record of all EHS-related activities. The audit process is simplified and costs are saved.
A good purpose-built EHS SaaS platform allows organizations to be proactive about their EHS activities, and reduces the risk of fines, penalties, reputational damage, or worse, workplace harm.
Through transparency, you earn the trust of investors, customers, and other stakeholders by showing your company’s commitment to the environment, health, and safety.
3. analytics on-demand for strategic action
Purpose-built EHS SaaS software often has advanced functions for analytics on-demand, tailored specifically to what an organization and its user need. This capability gives deeper insight that can help inform decisions for strategic action.
- Predictive Analytics: Purpose-built EHS SaaS gives users access to historical data to predict trends and forecast future issues, enabling the ability to make adjustments.
- Custom User Interface: Purpose-built EHS SaaS allows users to customize the dashboard to their unique requirements, allowing them to adapt quickly to evolving rules and regulations.
- Scenario-Modeling For a Proactive Strategy: Purpose-built EHS software allows users to test different strategies to highlight what will have the most impact on EHS results.
As companies strive towards creating safe and eco-friendly environments, purpose-built EHS software can be the tool they need to achieve success. It can simulate various scenarios, including outcomes and solutions, so organizations can take proactive steps to mitigate possible issues.
By inputting data on current health, safety and environmental conditions, a company can explore multiple strategies to improve EHS ratings within the organization.
Organizations need the capacity and flexibility to forecast as many outcomes as possible in order to stay ahead of the curve and mitigate loss. By this, organizations gain the trust of the public, stakeholders, and other investors.
4. cost savings through cloud performance
Good EHS SaaS software should pull double duty: help streamline EHS data management and save on overhead costs through resource optimization.
With real-time data analytics and scenario mapping, companies can identify risks and potential expenditures before they happen, allowing them to pivot and stay ahead of the game. That’s just one way good EHS software can save costs for organizations.
The other way is by offloading a lot of resource investments that come with software onboarding. By using SaaS software, companies shift a lot of the overhead burden to the provider.
As SaaS software is provided through a cloud application system, the provider hosts all security, updates, storage, and all hardware in a shared system that organizations can access. This removes the hefty costs associated with purchasing and updating all of the aspects of a robust software system, and allows companies to access what they need, when they need it.
Cost savings like this not only bolsters profitability but demonstrate to stakeholders and investors that your organization can drive financial benefits. This underscores trust among customers, investors, and other stakeholders, and positions your organization as an industry leader in not just growth, but EHS compliance and proactive measures.
With the right EHS software, your organization can remain competitive in a demanding market.
tips to help you choose the right EHS software for your organization
Choosing the right EHS SaaS software for your organization can be a task in itself. It involves evaluating what your company needs, and factors that a SaaS software might have, including scalability, user-friendliness, integration capabilities, and overall cost.
With the right platform, your chances of success with your EHS endeavors are much higher. Here are 5 tips to help you choose the right EHS software for your organization.
articulate your needs
Gather your team and identify what they need. What are the specific metrics they need to keep track of? What are the organization's EHS goals? What rules and regulations apply to the organization? Consider both short and long-term goals to ensure the software you choose will align with your evolving needs.
test usability
Take advantage of software demos and let your team decide what is or isn’t working for them. If there is an extensive and involved onboarding process, it’s far less likely that the software will be a success. The easier it is to use, the quicker your team will adopt it. Do this across departments and facility locations.
assess software features
Some software platforms can be bloated or include out-of-the-box features that aren’t useful and bog down resources, including the cost.
When investigating EHS SaaS software, look for key features that you know your organization needs. Features such as predictive analytics, automated reporting, stakeholder engagement, collaboration and communication, are all tools that will add value to your organization, ensuring you remain compliant.
These features should also provide you with deeper insights into your EHS performance so you can pivot when needed.
look for integration capabilities
EHS SaaS software needs to integrate seamlessly with your existing workflows, including supply chain management, monitoring tools, ERP tools, and so on. Doing so ensures smooth data flow, minimal disruption, and worker buy-in.
make support a priority
Providers that offer robust customer support, including training and updates, should be a priority when selecting the right EHS software. This ensures that onboarding is seamless and that all the software’s features and capabilities are used to their full potential. EHS software providers like AMCS can be that partner to help your organization meet their full potential.
purpose-build EHS management software is essential for competitive companies
Purpose-built EHS management software is the tool that companies need to forge their way into a prosperous future. It’s now a strategic necessity that empowers organizations to meet their EHS goals, remain competitive, and showcase their responsibility to stakeholders, investors and the public.
Choosing the right EHS platform partner is a crucial step towards that future and can help your organization monitor, manage, and analyze its data to drive insights. AMCS EHS Solution is the purpose-built platform that companies need.
To learn more about how AMCS can help you drive your goals, contact an EHS management expert today.