In a highly competitive and constantly changing business environment, understanding and optimizing your value chain is essential. This article provides a detailed guide on how to effectively investigate and evaluate your value chain, with practical tips aimed at professionals and entrepreneurs.

What is a value chain?

The value chain includes all the activities, resources, and relationships that a company uses to create and deliver its products or services, from conception to delivery, consumption, and end-of-life. The value chain includes:

- Internal Operations: Activities such as human resource management.

- Supply, Marketing, and Distribution Channels: Processes involved in sourcing materials, delivering products, and engaging customers.

- External Factors: Elements such as financing, geopolitical and regulatory context that influence the company.

Why is it important?

Understanding the value chain is crucial for several reasons:

- Identification of Key Impact Areas: Recognizing where materials, resources, and processes create the most significant impacts.

- Improvement of Efficiency: Optimizing operations to reduce costs and improve productivity.

- Sustainability Reporting: Complying with reporting standards like the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Steps to investigate and evaluate your value chain

Step 1: Understand the context

Map your value chain

Start by mapping all activities and actors involved. This includes suppliers, production processes, distribution channels, and end customers. Understand the size, sectors, nature of activities, and geographical locations of each actor.

Analyze the business model

Examine how your business model interacts with the value chain. Consider how strategic objectives align with operational processes and value chain activities.

Step 2: Conduct a materiality assessment

Identify Impacts, Risks, and Opportunities (IRO)

Identify potential and actual IROs within the value chain. Focus on areas where material impacts are most likely to occur, considering both upstream (suppliers) and downstream (customers) relationships.

Engage stakeholders

Engage stakeholders to validate findings. Stakeholders may include suppliers, customers, employees, and external experts.

Step 3: Gather data

Collect primary and secondary data

Collect data directly from actors within the value chain. If primary data is not available, use secondary sources such as industry reports, public databases, and academic studies. Ensure data collection methods are robust and reliable.

Estimate missing data

When direct data collection is not feasible, use estimates and proxies to fill gaps. Base these on reasonable and supportable information to maintain accuracy and reliability.

Step 4: Analyze and report

Evaluate results

Analyze the collected data to assess the performance and impact of the value chain. Look for patterns and trends that may highlight areas for improvement or potential risks.

Reporting and disclosure

Prepare reports in accordance with ESRS and CSRD requirements. Ensure sustainability statements include information on material IROs and how they are managed throughout the value chain.

Step 5: Implement improvements

Develop policies and actions

Based on the results, develop policies, actions, and targets (PAT) to address material issues within the value chain. Ensure these actions are specific, measurable, and aligned with strategic objectives.

Monitor and review

Regularly monitor value chain performance and review the effectiveness of implemented actions. Adapt strategies as needed to continuously improve efficiency and sustainability.

Practical tips for value chain assessment

- Leverage Technology: Use digital tools and software to track and analyze value chain activities.

- Collaborate with Partners: Work closely with suppliers and customers to ensure transparency and mutual benefits.

- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest regulations and best practices in value chain management.

- Invest in Training: Ensure the team is well-trained in sustainability practices and value chain optimization.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the value chain begin and end?

It begins with the procurement of raw materials and ends with the final delivery and disposal of the product by the end user.

Are financial assets considered in the value chain?

Yes, if they relate to business operations and sustainability impact.

How should the materiality assessment process be organized?

Adapt it to the business context, focusing on areas with material impacts and involving stakeholders.

How to disclose information about the value chain?

Include details on material IROs in the value chain and how they are managed, using primary data and estimates when necessary.

What does "reasonable effort" mean for collecting value chain data?

Use all available resources and methods to collect accurate data without incurring excessive costs or efforts.

How can value chain estimates be developed?

By using industry averages, proxies, and secondary data sources when direct data collection is not feasible.

Assessing and optimizing your value chain is crucial to ensuring sustainability and efficiency in business operations. By following the steps outlined in this guide and utilizing practical tips, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your value chain and make informed decisions that drive success.