Asset managers face many challenges when integrating ESG data in decision-making processes. The key problem is that ESG data is wide and disperse and that detailed disclosure data and third-party assessments need to be combined to gather sufficient insight from it for use in the investment process.

Depending on the investment style, ESG information plays a key role in research, fund product development, external manager selection, asset selection, performance tracking, client reporting, regulatory reporting, as well as voting. In short, ESG data is needed through the entire chain and must be made available to different stakeholders across the investment process.