VSME report, step 2 (4): Collection methods

What do "manual" and "aggregated" data collection mean?

Manual data collection means that you either (1) open a data point and answer it yourself or forward it to a colleague, or (2) use our collaboration feature to collaborate with selected experts.

1. Answering a data point yourself or requesting an answer from a colleague This is useful if it’s a simple question that affects the entire organization. An example of this is B1 24e "What is your undertaking's legal form?", where the question can typically be answered by one person at the group level—either by you or by requesting the answer from a colleague, as shown here.
2. Collaboration – Answering a data point together with selected experts For qualitative questions, it may be necessary to gather input from multiple experts within the company, as they each possess specific knowledge that, when combined, provides the full answer to the respective data point. You can use our "collaboration" feature for this. An example of this is C3 55 "If you operate in high climate impact sectors and have adopted a transition plan for climate change mitigation, please provide information about it, including an explanation of how you are contributing to reduce GHG emissions." Here, it may be beneficial to collect input from multiple colleagues. Each of them can contribute parts of the answer, and you can then summarize them into one final answer.

Aggregated data collection means that this data point is sent to a larger group of entities, e.g., all subsidiaries or all locations, along with all other data points selected for aggregated data collection. The recipient receives a request with all the data points selected for aggregated data collection and assigned to them. An example of this is B6 35 "Please disclose your total water withdrawal." which is sent to all entities, locations, etc., and then aggregated into one total based on all inputs.

Click on Aggregate, and you can also select different consolidation circles. You can send specific data points, e.g., environmental data, to a particular group or a specific level of units within the organizational structure, and send other data points to others.

The aggregation is based on the organizational structure and assigned users. It allows data to be collected from various units simultaneously with one click, and the responses are automatically aggregated.

For each data point, you can also click the pencil icon to provide background information about the respective data point, which all potential recipients can then access and view, such as internal descriptions.

What’s next?

Once you have reviewed all the disclosure requirements, and data points and selected the data collection method, click on "Complete Step," and you can proceed to Step 3, where you can actually enter and collect the data.