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How can DM support creation of ESRS Report

RodrigoCristovao
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
‎2025 Dec 11 4:49 PM
362

In this blog, we'll explore how DM can simplify the creation of ESRS Report, ensuring
compliance while reducing manual effort. Navigating sustainability reporting can be
complex, but DM can be your ally. From SCT (Sustainability Center Tower) datalinking
to xbrl mapping, from taxonomy upload to creation of ixbrl instances, throughout this blog you'll discover practical insights and best practices to make your sustainability reporting efficient and reliable.

Let's turn complexity into clarity.

 

Step 1: Setting Up Reports in SAP DM

Start by creating four reports within the required reporting period:

- Annual Data Repository (Excel Report)
- Annual ESG Report (Word Report)
- iXBRL Instance (iXBRL Report)
- XBRL Taxonomy (Taxonomy Report)

RodrigoCristovao_0-1765374395260.png

Step 2: Configuring the Reports

1. Annual Data Repository (Excel Report)

Create the necessary chapters and subchapters in this report according to the ESG topics the Report needs to cover as in the example below:

RodrigoCristovao_1-1765374585984.png

Each subchapter can be linked to a specific topic, making it easier to organize and map data.


2. Annual ESG Report (Word Report)

Set up chapters that mirror a complete ESG Report, including Cover Page. Table of Contents, Introduction, and other necessary sections as in the example below:

RodrigoCristovao_2-1765374734010.png

These chapters can later be linked to data in the Excel Report, ensuring a consistent flow of information.


3. XBRL Taxonomy (Taxonomy Report)

Upload the ESRS taxonomy provided.

RodrigoCristovao_3-1765374856104.png

Go to the "Upload" tab and click "Choose File" to upload the Taxonomy.

Move to the "Taxonomy Entry Points" tab to import the taxonomy entry points, ensuring that they match your reporting requirements. Once the Entry Point is selected it can be imported by clicking in the "Import Entry Point" button as below:

RodrigoCristovao_4-1765375060733.png

In case you want to know if and how an XBRL scenario is supported by SAP Disclosure Management 10.1; or a new taxonomy version has been announced or released by your regulator and you want to check whether DM supports it - please check note 2138659 - DM XBRL Scenario Support - SAP for Me

3.1. Taxonomy entrypoints (iXBRL Report)


After uploading the taxonomy, you select an entrypoint when creating an XBRL instance or tagging your report. This because:
  • Taxonomies are large and contain many concepts.
  • Entrypoints filter the taxonomy to only include relevant concepts for your filing type.
  • This improves performance and ensures compliance with the regulator’s requirements.
Which entrypoint should be selected?

It depends on:

  • Regulatory requirement (e.g., ESMA ESEF for Europe, SEC for US).
  • Type of report (Consolidated vs. Individual financial statements).

Why does it matter?

Selecting the wrong entrypoint can:

  • Include unnecessary concepts.
  • Cause validation errors.
  • Make your report non-compliant with the regulator’s filing rules.

Official Sources for Taxonomies

IFRS (ESEF filings in Europe):

US GAAP (SEC filings):

Other jurisdictions:

  • Local regulators often provide their own taxonomy (e.g., UK FRC, German OAM).


4. iXBRL Instance (iXBRL Report)

The system automatically creates five essential chapters:

RodrigoCristovao_5-1765375330393.png

  • XBRL Units: Define units (e.g., EUR, kWh, MWh, percentage, tCO2e). See the example below:

RodrigoCristovao_6-1765375433555.png

  • XBRL Contexts: Set up contexts such as Baseline Year, Current Year, and Target Years. See the example below:

RodrigoCristovao_7-1765375485537.png

  • XBRL Taxonomy: Manage the taxonomy for tagging data.

RodrigoCristovao_8-1765375520834.png

  • XBRL Footnote: Add explanatory notes (optional, if required).

  • XBRL Typed Members: Configure typed members, used for advanced tagging
    and additional categorization.


Step 3: Building the Excel Data Repository

Connect the Excel Report (or Briefing Book) to SCT (Sustainability Control Tower) for data synchronization. This ensures that sustainability metrics and disclosures remain consistent across systems.

RodrigoCristovao_9-1765375979563.png

Note that the loaded column should appear with the green check mark for it to be connected.

Design tables, charts, and other elements as needed based on ESRS requirements, ensuring clarity and compliance.

Populate these elements with data sourced from the BDx sheets generated after the SCT connection ensuring all figures are accurate and up-to-date.

If Briefing Books are being used, leverage their dynamic features for narrative-driven reporting and automated updates, reducing manual effort and improving auditability.

 

Step 4: Tagging Data Using XBRL Mapper

Open the XBRL Mapper from SAP Disclosure Management tab in Excel. Please note that DM XBRL Mapper add-in is separate component complementary to DM Client.

Click on "Start" button for the SAP DM XBRL Mapper to Open Mapping Area.

RodrigoCristovao_12-1765376581864.png

Once it opens, load taxonomy that will show in the Mapping Area on the left side of the
Excel as below:

RodrigoCristovao_13-1765376644543.png

Tag each value in the report with the required properties:

  • Concept: The specific ESG metric or category.

RodrigoCristovao_14-1765376706528.png

  • Context (Period): The reporting period (Baseline, Current, Target).

RodrigoCristovao_15-1765376785956.png

  • Units: Measurement units (e.g., EUR, kWh).

RodrigoCristovao_16-1765376840260.png

  • Dimensions (optional): Further define values using categories (e.g., Countries)

RodrigoCristovao_17-1765376922606.png

Tagged values will appear in green, while incompletes tags will show in yellow as the two pictures below:

RodrigoCristovao_18-1765376990786.png

RodrigoCristovao_19-1765377011272.png

Note that in the second picture, since the Context is not selected, the value will show as yellow.

Use the search bar to quickly find relevant concepts:

RodrigoCristovao_20-1765377059257.png

There is also the option to select "Mapping Overview" which will give you an overview of
whatever is tagged in the file as shown below:

RodrigoCristovao_21-1765377095438.png


Step 5: Linking Excel Data in the Word ESG Report

Go to each chapter in the Word report.

Use DM’s functionality to pull data from the Excel report into Word, ensuring consistency.

Apply tagging in the Word document where needed, the same way you did for Excel values, but in this case particularly for text, sentences, or paragraphs matching ESG concepts.

RodrigoCristovao_22-1765377220336.png

 

Step 6: Configuration set up

Work on the Configuration for each chapter with required/needed details. After changing the configuration, click on "Save" to apply the changes.

RodrigoCristovao_25-1765378009384.png


Step 7: Finalizing the Reports

For the iXBRL instance, click “Create” button at the top-level report to generate the XBRL file as shown below:

RodrigoCristovao_23-1765377442019.png

Review the Inline Viewer in iXBRL, where you can activate the XBRL Elements view (top right corner box) to verify tagged values and their properties.

RodrigoCristovao_24-1765377471870.png

For the Word ESG Report, click “Create” to produce the final document, just like it is done for any other Word Report.

Note that the result can only be opened from "Revision tab". Download the latest revision.

 

This Blog guides you through the main steps to ensure that your reports are accurate, compliant, and easy to maintain.

Useful materials:

2138659 - DM XBRL Scenario Support - SAP for Me

Disclosure Management - Checking the iXBRL mapping | SAP Help Portal

ESMA’s website:  European Securities and Markets Authority

SEC’s website:  SEC.gov | Taxonomies and Schemas