CSRD study: Fragmented ESG software market
Find out which ESG software solutions are currently being used by companies and other interesting facts in the CSRD Study 2024.
- The UBIRCH ESG Study 2024 surveyed 202 decision-makers on CSRD readiness and ESG tool usage.
- 73% of companies already use ESG software, yet 74 different platforms were named across 174 responses. The market is highly fragmented.
- KPMG and SAP were each cited by 8% of respondents as their ESG solution.
- 60% of sustainability managers see sustainability reporting as an opportunity, not just a compliance burden.
- Only 39% of data providers felt sufficiently informed to make ESG decisions for their company.
Some details in this article may be outdated following the EU Omnibus package. This applies in particular to the scope and deadlines of the CSRD. For the latest information, read our post on CSRD Omnibus: what the EU proposal means for companies. All other study content remains valid.
The UBIRCH ESG Study 2024 offers interesting insights into the landscape of ESG tools and sustainability reporting. It highlights the challenges companies face when implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
Survey of decision-makers in companies on CSRD
Design of the CSRD study
A total of 202 people took part in the study with 15 questions. Around 50% of the participants were sustainability managers (data collectors), C-level managers or controlling managers (data providers).
Half of the respondents work in companies with 10 to 249 employees and 30% work in companies with 1,000 to 10,000 employees. Participants in the CSRD study are active in various industries. The most common are people from the financial industry (14%), manufacturing companies (13%), industry (9%) and IT companies (7%).
CSRD reporting obligation
All individuals stated that they were affected by the CSRD. Just under half were already required to report from 2024. A quarter of the companies planned to publish their first sustainability report in accordance with the ESRS from the 2025 financial year and a further 19% at a later date. Six percent of respondents did not know exactly when they would be required to report.
Since the Omnibus package came into force on 18 March 2026, the CSRD now applies only to companies with more than 1,000 employees AND more than 450 million euros in net turnover. Both criteria must be met. Many companies that expected to be in scope are no longer subject to the obligation. For companies outside the CSRD scope, the voluntary VS (Voluntary Standard), developed on the basis of the VSME standard, provides a practical reporting framework.
ESG frameworks and standards
When asked about the frameworks and standards that companies already use or plan to use, the most common answer (57%) was CSRD, followed by GRI (53%). Other responses include IFRS/ISSB (42%), SASB (41%), UN-GC (36%) and TCFD (31%).
This clearly shows that many companies want or need to be compliant with several ESG standards and frameworks. Not familiar with all the abbreviations? Look them up in our sustainability lexicon.
ESG tools for sustainability reporting
Of the companies surveyed, 73% already use ESG software. That means more than a quarter had not yet decided on a platform to support their sustainability reporting.
Fragmented ESG tool landscape according to CSRD study
In response to the question "Which ESG solution do you use?", a total of 74 different software platforms were named out of 174 responses. The ESG solutions from KPMG and SAP were named most frequently with 8% each. Several patterns stood out:
- Fragmented market for ESG solutions: 74 different platforms were named, and more providers are entering this dynamic market. The variety makes it difficult to maintain an overview and select the right solution for your company's needs.
- General software solutions: Many providers without dedicated sustainability software appeared in the responses. Companies tend to prefer their existing ERP (e.g. SAP) or CRM (e.g. Salesforce), a trend also found in PwC's CSRD software study.
- ESG frameworks cited instead of tools: Among the 74 platforms mentioned, some responses referred to frameworks like TCFD, GRI or CSRD rather than actual software solutions.
- CSR tool overview: Some overlap exists with providers listed in our CSR tool overview (e.g. IBM Envizi, Cubemos and Greenomy), but the study also surfaced exciting solutions not yet covered there, such as CONSUST, Global Climate or Luup.
Source: ESG study, survey of decision-makers in companies on the topic of CSRD by Ubirch (2024)
Most popular solutions for Scope 3 data
Participants were also asked about software solutions for Scope 3 data. 60% stated that they had already implemented software.
The picture here was similarly fragmented. Only Sphera stood out at 6% of responses, followed by Deloitte, Enablon, SAP and Plan A with 4% each.
Is ESG reporting seen as an obligation or an opportunity?
55% of people at C-level or in controlling see an opportunity in sustainability reporting. Among those responsible for sustainability, the figure is 60%. SMEs and smaller companies with fewer than 250 employees tend to be more aware of the challenges the obligation entails.
There is still an unmet need for information among decision-makers. In the Ubirch ESG study, only 39% of data providers stated that they felt sufficiently informed to make ESG decisions for their company.
Despite this, the vast majority of companies (85%) have a budget to meet ESG requirements. The study does not reveal how exactly that budget is used, whether predominantly invested in consulting services, ESG tools or other ways.
It is also worth noting that many companies prefer to report on their sustainability activities quarterly rather than just annually.
Navigating the ESRS data points is one of the biggest challenges in CSRD reporting. Our ESRS data points template helps you track which data points apply to your company and how to collect them efficiently.
Frequently asked questions about the CSRD ESG software study
What did the UBIRCH ESG Study 2024 examine?
The study surveyed 202 decision-makers (sustainability managers, C-level and controlling managers) across various industries. It focused on ESG tool usage, CSRD readiness and how companies perceive sustainability reporting.
How fragmented is the ESG software market?
Very fragmented. Out of 174 responses on ESG solution usage, 74 different platforms were named. Only KPMG and SAP reached 8% each. This makes it genuinely difficult to compare options and choose the right tool for your needs. We cover the top 8 ESG software solutions to help you get started.
Which companies are still required to report under the CSRD?
Following the Omnibus package, which came into force on 18 March 2026, CSRD reporting applies only to companies with more than 1,000 employees AND more than 450 million euros in net turnover. Both criteria must be met cumulatively. Many companies that previously expected to be in scope are no longer obligated.
What is the VS (Voluntary Standard) and who is it relevant for?
The VS (Voluntary Standard) is being developed on the basis of the VSME standard (published by EFRAG in December 2024). It is relevant for companies outside the CSRD scope, including non-SMEs with fewer than 1,000 employees or under 450 million euros turnover. It also sets the ceiling for what CSRD-obligated companies may require from their value-chain partners.
