Many large global organizations are taking advantage of EHS software to save time, reduce risk, and prevent unwanted events.
But if you work at a small to mid-size company, you might be wondering whether you really need EHS software, or if it's overkill.
The good news is that organizations of any size -- from 10 to 100+ users -- can benefit from EHS software. So how do you know if it's a smart investment for your business, specifically?
Here are 10 common symptoms we see from companies who are in need of EHS software:
1.You've had incidents, fines, or penalties.
All too often, companies wait until after a serious accident or noncompliance event to recognize that their current EHS management system isn't working. By then, they've suffered damage to their profits, their reputation, and their company morale.
Worker injuries or OSHA violations are a surefire sign that you need EHS software. But even if you've had a good track record in the past, it's important that you don't wait until it's too late to recognize that your spreadsheets or homegrown system is a liability. The reality is that the cost of EHS software is far less than the cost of a single incident or fine.
2. Your data is hard to locate.
When information is spread out across paper records, spreadsheets, and multiple databases, it's hard to find what you need. EHS software organizes all your compliance, risk, and sustainability data so everyone in your organization has a single source of truth.
3. You spend days or weeks pulling reports.
If your team is manually creating reports, they're spending less time on valuable activities like implementing ISO 14001 or improving your employee training program. With software, you can use standardized or custom templates to generate fully formatted reports in seconds.
4. You're tied to your computer.
When you don't have access to your data on the go, it's hard to make decisions based on current information. It's also time consuming to travel to your facilities, record data on paper forms, and then go back to the office to input that information.
With mobile EHS software, you can get alerts, look at reports, and enter data from your tablet or smartphone. You can capture data offline -- say, when you don't have a WiFi connection -- and sync it to the central database once you're back online. You can even assign audits and inspections at the site level in order to eliminate costly travel to remote locations.
5. You've lost EHS staff.
High staff turnover is a problem in nearly every EHS department. The benefits of software are twofold: Having a formal, centralized system in place prevents you from losing knowledge when staff leave, and makes it easier to get new employees up to speed.
6. Things sometimes fall through the cracks.
As your compliance and sustainability responsibilities grow, it's not uncommon for tasks to be forgotten or incomplete. Software lets you manage all your activities in a centralized calendar and track tasks through to completion, with automatic notifications of deadlines and other actions.
7. You're still using email for internal communications.
Email is cheap, quick, and easy to use -- and it's also a terrible way to communicate with your team. Email attachments get buried in your inbox, and there's no way to ensure things get done. Instead, EHS software gives you a centralized location to share data across facilities and departments, assign and manage tasks, and track actions to completion.
8. You're not sure what your team is up to.
When you've got people spread out across multiple locations, it's hard to know who's working on what. A centralized system gives you insight into what everyone's working on, who has outstanding tasks, and who's getting things done on time. There's no question who's responsible for tasks, no duplication of work, and you can make sure your team's workload is distributed evenly.
9. You don't have a clear picture of your performance.
As big data keeps getting bigger, EHS teams are faced with the challenge of trying to keep tabs on massive quantities of information. Software with dynamic dashboards can give you a comprehensive view of compliance across your facilities so you can quickly visualize and drill down on trends and speed up decision-making.
10. You're unsure of your risks.
Even if you've had a consistent compliance record, the risks companies face today have changed, and so have the technologies used to identify and manage those risks. Keeping a log of risks in a spreadsheet is no longer the best way to get ahead of potential issues.
Software can help you improve your risk management efforts by identifying gaps in your safety and environmental programs, analyzing organizational trends, and preventing issues before they arise.
Next steps
Is your company experiencing any of the symptoms we've described above? If so, it's time to consider purchasing EHS software. The next step is to download our free guide, "Homegrown Vs. Off-the-Shelf EHS Software: Pros, Cons, and Finding the Right Fit" to learn which type of software is right for you.
Want more personalized advice? Schedule a demo with our solutions team today and we'll show you the features you need to tackle your specific challenges.
