Efficient CSRD implementation: how to save time and money
Find out how you can achieve efficient CSRD implementation with the right tools and methods. Save time and money!
- The double materiality assessment (DMA) is the central starting point for CSRD implementation and helps you focus on what matters most.
- The right tools cut reporting time by over 100 hours and reduce costs significantly.
- A structured approach covers project planning, data collection, reporting and continuous improvement.
- The voluntary VS (formerly VSME) has been in force since 24 September 2026 and is open to all companies that are not subject to CSRD reporting.
- Combined tool costs can start from around EUR 1,499 with time savings of 140 hours or more.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) presents companies with new challenges and opportunities in sustainability reporting. At a time when regulatory uncertainties, such as the delays in the implementation of the CSRD in Germany and the changes from the Omnibus package, are affecting planning certainty, it is all the more important to find efficient and cost-effective solutions.
This article shows you how to implement CSRD efficiently with the right tools and methods. Find out how an audit-ready materiality assessment and the use of free CSRD software solutions pave the way to successful CSRD compliance.
The Omnibus Directive has been in force since 18 March 2026: from financial year 2027, only companies with more than 1,000 employees and more than EUR 450 million in net turnover are subject to reporting. Both criteria must be met cumulatively.
Materiality assessment for efficient CSRD implementation
The double materiality assessment (DMA) is a central component of CSRD implementation. It helps you identify the relevant topics and ESRS data points that need to be included in your sustainability report. A carefully conducted DMA ensures you use resources efficiently and focus on what actually matters.
Advantages of the materiality assessment
- Focus on what is relevant: DMA reduces the complexity of sustainability reporting. By identifying material topics, you can focus on areas that are important for both internal and external stakeholders. Topics classified as "not material" do not have to be reported.
- Resource efficiency: Focusing on key issues avoids unnecessary effort and saves time and money.
- Transparency and credibility: A well-founded materiality assessment increases the transparency and credibility of sustainability reporting.
- Strategic value: The materiality assessment can also serve as a strategic tool. By systematically recording and evaluating significant impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs), you can develop long-term strategies that account for economic, environmental and social objectives.
Efficient implementation with the materiality assessment Excel template
CSR-Tools offers a user-friendly materiality assessment Excel template. This tool guides you step by step in identifying stakeholders and systematically recording and evaluating material topics. The template is adapted to the revised ESRS and is based on the EFRAG guidelines for conducting the DMA.
| Tool | Cost | Time saving |
|---|---|---|
| Materiality assessment Excel template | from EUR 499 (one-off) | 60+ hours |
| Data point mapping tool (adapted to the revised ESRS) | from EUR 997 (one-off) | 30+ hours |
To determine the data points to be reported, the data point mapping tool can be perfectly combined with the DMA Excel template.
Conduct your double materiality assessment step by step. Adapted to the revised ESRS, based on EFRAG guidelines, with a time saving of 60+ hours.
AI-supported implementation with the Materiality Master
The web-based Materiality Master software solution is an efficient alternative to the Excel template. It also includes the identification of reportable data points. Key advantages:
- User-friendliness: The software is easy to use and you cannot accidentally overwrite a formula.
- Artificial intelligence: Seamless AI integration leads to considerable time savings during the DMA.
- Audit trail: Changes can be tracked by the auditor in an audit-compliant manner.
- Automatic updates: No data needs to be copied between documents; updates run automatically in the background.
- Access rights: You can control who has access to which IROs or topics and who can edit them.
- Languages: Each user can choose between German, English, Hungarian and French. Further languages will follow.
- Data points: A tool for automated determination of ESRS data points is included.
| Tool | Cost | Time saving |
|---|---|---|
| Materiality Master | from EUR 449 (annual plan: EUR 1,999) | 130+ hours |
Efficient CSRD implementation: reporting
Once the materiality assessment is complete and data points are identified, the next step is a gap analysis, data collection and reporting. Here are the tools that can help.
VS (Voluntary Standard) report template
The VSME (published by EFRAG in December 2024) has been replaced by the VS (Voluntary Standard). The VS was adopted on 3 July 2026, published in the EU Official Journal on 21 September 2026 as Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1560 and has been in force since 24 September 2026. It is open to all companies that are not subject to CSRD reporting, not only SMEs. From financial year 2027, CSRD-obligated companies may not request information beyond the VS from value-chain partners with up to 1,000 employees.
The Word template for a sustainability report according to the VS has been developed for companies outside the CSRD scope that want to prepare a lean voluntary sustainability report according to the VS. It provides a structured framework so that you only need to insert your sustainability data into the tables and text fields provided. The template is adapted to the VS (formerly VSME), the voluntary EU standard that sits alongside the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). An additional guidance document makes it easy for companies and CSRD consultants to use without prior knowledge.
| Tool | Cost | Time saving |
|---|---|---|
| VS report template (Word) | EUR 699 (one-off) | 80+ hours |
A structured Word template for your sustainability report based on the VS. Includes a guidance document. Time saving of 80+ hours.
DNK software for efficient CSRD implementation
The free software of the German Sustainability Code (DNK) supports companies in collecting, managing and reporting sustainability data. It provides a solid foundation for meeting CSRD requirements and offers assistance in collecting data points. The DNK's CSRD software was initially released as a beta version; check the DNK website for its current scope. The DNK platform is converting its VSME module to the VS by the end of 2026.
| Tool | Cost | Time saving |
|---|---|---|
| DNK software | Free (publicly funded) | 50+ hours |
With the VS template (for voluntary reports) and the DNK software, you can organise your reporting efficiently.
Practical tips for efficient CSRD implementation
1. Project planning and resource allocation
Start by forming an interdisciplinary team. Create a schedule with clear milestones and deadlines. Identify and allocate the required resources early.
2. Data collection and management
Identify relevant data sources in your organisation and supply chain. Collect data using the VS template (for voluntary reports) or the DNK software, then validate it for accuracy and completeness.
3. Reporting and review
Compile the CSRD report with the collected data. Review internally first, then commission an external review. Collect and incorporate stakeholder feedback before publication.
4. Communication and publication
Define your publication strategy. Publish the report on your website and other relevant channels. Communicate results openly and transparently.
5. Continuous improvement
Monitor progress against your sustainability targets. Adjust strategies regularly based on new data and regulatory changes. Share best practices within your team and network.
The revised ESRS were adopted on 3 July 2026 and published in the EU Official Journal on 21 September 2026 as Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1563. They apply mandatorily to financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2027. Mandatory data points are reduced by more than 60 %, total data points by more than 70 %, and the materiality assessment is simplified. For financial year 2026, companies can choose between the previous and the revised ESRS. Find the details in our article on the final ESRS and the VS standard.
Conclusion
Efficient CSRD implementation is achievable with the right tools and a structured approach. Using the materiality assessment Excel template together with the data point mapper and the DNK software, CSRD reporting can start from around EUR 1,499 with a time saving of at least 140 hours.
Using the Materiality Master in combination with the DNK solution, you can save over 180 hours of reporting time for around EUR 1,999 per year.
- Significant time savings through purpose-built tools
- Lower implementation costs compared to consultancy-heavy approaches
- Audit-ready documentation from the start
- A sustainability report that meets regulatory requirements
- A foundation for continuous improvement in your ESG processes
Systematically map your ESRS data points with our mapping tool, adapted to the revised ESRS. Save over 30 hours of manual work and export the result as an Excel file.
Frequently asked questions about efficient CSRD implementation
Which companies are required to report under CSRD after the Omnibus changes?
The Omnibus Directive has been in force since 18 March 2026: from financial year 2027, reporting is mandatory only for companies with more than 1,000 employees AND more than EUR 450m net turnover. Both criteria must be met cumulatively. Companies that fall below these thresholds are outside the CSRD scope but may still benefit from preparing a voluntary report based on the VS (Voluntary Standard).
What is the difference between the VSME and the VS (Voluntary Standard)?
The VSME was published by EFRAG in December 2024 as a voluntary standard for small and medium-sized enterprises. It has been replaced by the VS (Voluntary Standard), which is open to all companies that are not subject to CSRD reporting, not only SMEs. The content is based on the VSME with small adjustments. The VS was published in the EU Official Journal on 21 September 2026 as Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1560 and has been in force since 24 September 2026.
How long does a double materiality assessment take?
Without dedicated tools, the DMA typically takes 100 to 200 hours depending on company size and complexity. Using the materiality assessment Excel template can cut this by 60+ hours. The Materiality Master software can save 130 hours or more through AI-assisted processes and built-in data point mapping.
Can companies use the VS template even if they are not CSRD-obligated?
Yes. The VS sustainability report template is specifically designed for companies outside the CSRD scope that want to report voluntarily according to the VS. Preparing a voluntary report can strengthen credibility with customers, investors and supply-chain partners, even if there is no legal obligation.
