How to Make the Most Compelling Case for CSR Software: Part 1 of 3

Articulating your “Why”

Questions to consider:

• What CSR objectives are you trying to accomplish (and how will software help)?
• What are your company goals and what role does CSR play in achieving them?
• How are you measuring success?
  
  

Whether you’re starting a CSR program from the ground up, wanting to invest in software to grow and scale your program or looking to switch vendors, you’ll need buy-in from leadership. Investing in CSR has shifted to a must-have and companies who fail to prioritize it are putting employee retention, engagement and productivity at risk, in addition to brand loyalty and overall profitability.

This blog series is designed to help you make a compelling case for CSR software by taking you through how to do it, step-by step.  

Before we get to the “how,” we need to start with the “why.” In the first part of our three-part series, you’ll learn to identify your CSR goals, tie them to your company’s broader business objectives and determine how you’ll measure success. Think of this as your CSR vision. Without a clear vision, getting that ‘Yes’ will be challenging.

Let’s get started.

Regardless of where you are in your CSR journey, you know that having a successful CSR program is key to engaging your workforce and building a stronger, more connected culture — one that inevitably leads to many bottom-line benefits (which we’ll cover in Question 2). With consumers, employees and investors all expecting companies to do good in the world, your CSR program is the gateway to meeting that expectation.

The reasons to lean into CSR are numerous but doing it right at any stage of growth requires resources and budget. Purpose-built software should be at the top of your request list. With that in mind, how can you clearly articulate to your leaders what your objectives are and how software will help you achieve them? 

Here are some examples on why software is crucial for different CSR program scenarios. Your objectives may be different (or more comprehensive). Think about your greatest needs. 

Building a CSR program from scratch

Objective: To implement a giving and volunteer program to help engage employees.

How software helps: CSR software makes it easier and more efficient for us to build and manage the program, while providing us with the tools to track key metrics.



Scaling a CSR program

Objective: To increase participation in our CSR program globally, maximizing engagement and impact for all of our employees and the communities we operate in — without having to expand our team.

How software helps: CSR software makes it easier and more efficient for us to build and manage the program, while providing us with the tools to track key metrics.

Switching software vendors

Objective: To adopt a new software solution that gives us better insight into program performance against our program objectives.

How software helps: (The right) software will provide real-time visibility into our program’s performance. Robust and reliable reporting capabilities will allow us to share how we’re tracking against objectives with our stakeholders, while informing our program strategy.

Now you’re ready to tie these objectives to broader business goals.

You have your CSR program objectives, but in order to sway decision makers, you’ll need to show how they contribute to the company’s overall goals. Making that link is critical.

Let’s look at the correlation between some common business goals and the role CSR can play in achieving them.

Though several internal and external factors contribute to the achievement of the above goals, it’s clear that a strong CSR program is proven to help build better businesses.

Investing in high-performing CSR software makes it easier for all employees to participate in activities that give them a sense of purpose and for CSR teams to manage your program, while measuring its impact. And a program that’s powered by software designed exclusively for CSR is better positioned to help your company meet its goals, from engagement and retention to brand perception, DEI and more.

We’ve shown the correlation between CSR and business goals and why CSR software is a key enabler. But how do you know if those goals are being met? As with any investment, leaders will want to see the return and how you’ll measure it.  

First, let’s start with our CSR program objectives. Your chosen CSR software solution should have reporting functionality that allows you to track your progress. 

These stats will give you and your stakeholders valuable insight into program performance which can then be attributed to overall company goals. 

A great CSR program can have a huge impact on your company. Your stakeholders want to see that you’ve identified — and can easily source — the data points required to measure that impact. 

You're ready to articulate your "why"

Hopefully you can now define your ask and help get your leaders on board. Getting clear on your CSR program objectives, how they ladder up to company goals and how you’ll measure success creates the perfect set up for building a compelling business case for investing in CSR software that powers corporate purpose.