Global EHS Leaders Survey 2018: Budgets, Priorities & Tech Preferences
Yaowen Ma
Access this research
Access all EHSQ Corporate Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report
Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance
Executive Summary
This report helps EHS executives benchmark their budgets, investment priorities and technology preferences relative to their global peer group. The data collected through the Verdantix survey also supports strategic decision-making and business planning by executives at EHS consulting and technology providers. The annual global Verdantix EHS survey spans 35 countries and was conducted between August and September 2018 via telephone interviews of 411 senior EHS decision-makers with direct responsibility for corporate-wide EHS management strategies and initiatives. Of the 411 respondents, all belong to firms with revenues of at least $250 million and up to over $20 billion, covering 25 industries. In aggregate, 51% of the interviewed EHS decision-makers represented industries with high to very high EHS risk profiles. Our analysis finds that EHS budgets will increase by 4% in 2019, with an emphasis on technology spending and a view towards improving safety and operational risk, incident management, and environmental compliance.Global Multi-Industry Survey With EHS Decision-Makers Delivers Granular Insights
EHS Decision-Makers Perceive Innovation And Digital Transformation To Be High Priorities
The EHS Digital Technology Ecosystem Is Expansive With Momentous Adoption
EHS Leaders Are Adopting Diverse Digital Technologies Beyond Desktop Software Applications
Diverse Training, Learning And Development Solutions Are Necessary For Health and Safety
On A Global Basis, EHS Budgets Will Grow By 4% During 2019
Information Technology Budgets Will Experience 7% Growth During 2019
Improving Safety And Operational Risk Will See The Biggest Spend Growth In 2019
Customers Will Choose EHS Software With User-Friendly Interfaces And Strong Configuration Capabilities
Technology And Internal Dynamics Present Challenges For Further Investment
EHS Executives Face Multiple Technology And Internal Roadblocks That Restrict Adoption
Figure 2. Geographic Location Of Respondents
Figure 3. Priority For Innovation By EHS Function
Figure 4. Involvement In Digital Transformation By EHS Function
Figure 5. Adoption Of Digital Technologies In 2019
Figure 6. Adoption Of Software By EHS Processes In 2019
Figure 7. Adoption Of Training, Learning And Development Solutions In 2019
Figure 8. Change In EHS Spend In 2019 Compared To 2018
Figure 9. Change In Spend Across EHS Categories In 2019
Figure 10. EHS Consulting Projects: 2019 Investment Plans
Figure 11. Change In Spend On EHS Activities Between 2019 And 2018
Figure 12. EHS Software: 2019 Investment Plan
Figure 13. Evaluation Criteria For EHS Software Selection
Figure 14. Factors During Sales Process That Influence EHS Software Selection
Figure 15. Factors That Influence EHS Software Contract Termination
Figure 16. Acceptability Of Different EHS Software Deployment Options
Figure 17. Barriers To Improving EHS Performance
Figure 18. Barriers To Mobile Application Adoption
Figure 19. Barriers To Use Of EHS Software For Analysis
About the Author
Yaowen Ma
Principal Analyst
Yaowen is a Principal Analyst at Verdantix conducting research on EHS and ESG information management. His current agenda focuses on digital technologies, best practices and gr...
Other related content
Our research shows that field service leaders face three critical roadblocks to a superior customer experience: inefficient legacy systems, data silos, and insufficient technolo...
Upcoming / 23 October, 2025
A key component to a positive safety culture – as well as overall firm culture and productivity – is job satisfaction. If workers are happy with their job, they are more likely to ...
12 September, 2025
On September 3, Sphera announced that it has raised fresh capital from Neuberger Berman Capital Solutions following the launch of a funding process in April, when Blackstone anno...
04 September, 2025
As attention shifts away from net zero target setting to asset level decarbonization, many firms are discovering critical disconnect between their energy management efforts and cor...
Upcoming / 24 September, 2025
Supply chains are under increasingly strain to operate with resilience, compliance, and sustainability amidst global geopolitical turbulence. Quality management tools are a critica...
22 September, 2025
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – one of the most influential pieces of ESG regulation – identifies four key types of physical climate risks to businesse...
30 July, 2025