Listen to your customers
Early on, EHS software was a simple program that consisted of a standalone database and the ability to create basic reports. The information stored in these systems was usually limited to incidents, inspections, and training. However, as companies realized their data could be used more strategically than just counting basic metrics, they began asking for more features in their EHS software solutions.
The evolution from siloed EHS Management applications into fully integrated EHS management platforms has been driven by this need for increased functionality. With each new release of an EHS tool came new capabilities and features, such as:
- Increased breadth in EHS Application offerings (e.g., Sustainability, PHA/Risk Management, MOC, Occupational Health)
- Advanced Interactive Reporting modules or Dashboards allow users to visualize trends and patterns in real time across the enterprise.
- 3rd Party Integrations - which allow organizations to tie in other systems into their EHS management platforms.
- Configurable forms & fields - these allow organizations to add custom fields into existing core functionality so they can report against additional metadata being entered into the system.
- Mobile Support - which allows users to view and interact with data on their mobile devices.
Innovation from EHS Vendors is as critical today as ever. From supporting advanced analytics to mobile-friendly experiences and highly configurable platforms, EHS vendors must constantly innovate and build new features and capabilities into their solutions. These features help organizations manage their risks and liabilities more effectively while also helping them to reduce costs.
The complex global regulatory landscape
The regulatory landscape is more complex than ever. The number of countries with environmental regulations has increased by almost 50% since the year 2000, and more than half of those regulations were enacted within just the last five years.
With these new regulations, there comes a greater need for software that can manage them all. Data from multiple sources are needed to track compliance with each country's laws, which means keeping up with a lot more paperwork than ever before. This makes it harder than ever before to keep track of everything at once! The result is that a centralized software solution is needed to keep track of and manage EHS compliance obligations.
The key to staying compliant is having a system that allows you to track and manage your EHS regulatory obligations. This will help you avoid the fines and penalties that can come from not keeping up with all of the necessary requirements. Integrating with EHS Regulatory Content providers is a proven way to help ensure alignment between the work being done across all global jurisdictions and the applicable regulatory obligations.
Cost Center to Cost Avoidance
As EHS management software has evolved, it's become less of a cost center and more of a strategic tool that significantly impacts the corporate bottom line. In the past, companies had to rely on custom point solutions for managing EHS, which required complex and extensive implementations, often taking 9-12 months to get started. Now with platform technologies like ServiceNow, companies can strategically benefit from solutions like Serenity EHS to reduce liability risk and avoid costs associated with regulatory noncompliance and penalties.
Conclusion
EHS management software is evolving at a rapid rate. This evolution is fueled by the need for better compliance, improved operational efficiency, and increased data-driven decision-making. The three perspectives highlighted above have played an important role in reshaping how organizations manage their environmental, health, and safety programs today.
