How Two Technical Attributes Can “Future Proof” Your EHS&S Software
Dorian Bailey
May 1, 2025
I dream of a brand-new car. I’ve picked out the model and my preferred color, wheels, seat fabric, smart phone integration, trim kit, you name it. The “Build Your Dream Car” tool on the manufacturer’s website enables me to define the exact car I want without talking to a single person. It’s pretty great.
“Build Your Dream EHS&S Software”
If you dream of EHS&S software that will fit your organization hand-in-glove today and in the future, you should demand software with two technical attributes: metadata-driven architecture and multitenancy. While they may be unfamiliar terms to some, they are the crux of software that is, dare I say: “future proof.”
Simply put, when your software is built with those two attributes, power users can tweak the software to make it their own without writing a line of code and without talking to a single person (unless they want to).
In response to a new permit, perhaps your waste compliance team needs the software to trigger a review cycle when a particular chemical is present. Metadata-driven software empowers power users to adjust business logic without any vendor fees or delays.
Maybe your organization needs a new supply chain survey to boost its Scope 3 emissions tracking. Metadata-driven software empowers power users to tweak fields and create new input forms without any vendor fees or delays.
In response to ESG and CSRD uncertainties, what if the sustainability team requires real-time water metrics to be included in dashboards and reports? Metadata-driven software empowers power users to configure data sources and interfaces without any vendor fees or delays.
In short, metadata-driven architecture and multitenancy software empowers its users to roll out all sorts of changes without any coding experience and without any interruptions. It’s pretty great.
The “how” versus the “what”
My selection of a V6 with a sunroof and vegan leather seats has no impact on how the engine runs, and my selections have zero bearing on any other owner of this model of car. My configurations only affect what my driving experience will be, not how the mechanics operate.
Metadata-driven architecture follows the same principle. Think of the software platform as the “engine” that makes EHS&S software “go.” Thanks to metadata driven architecture, users can configure what their software does without affecting how the engine works and without affecting any other organization using the platform.
So, what is multitenancy?
Think of your bank as an example of multitenancy. The bank stores the data and assets for thousands of independent accounts. The bank handles the big stuff, like FDIC backing, cyber security, savings rates, transaction processing, online banking capabilities, reporting tools, and more. As they make improvements to those services, the enhancements are seamlessly rolled out to every account holder simultaneously. Meanwhile, one account holder can set up direct deposits, execute wire transfers (perhaps to buy that dream car), and define the recipients for bill-pay without affecting any other accounts at the bank.
Similarly, when an EHS&S software vendor makes enhancements to their multitenant cloud software platform, they are seamlessly rolled out to all clients without interruptions to service. Meanwhile, as your power users tweak “what” the software does, those changes are immediately reflected across your organization (and only your organization).
Why do these technical attributes matter in this regulatory environment?
There’s no shortage of change and uncertainty – from the regulatory priorities and applicability in the US and abroad, to the emerging contaminants to track. If your EHS&S software isn’t built to flex, it will quickly become obsolete.
If state and local regulations become more stringent, how will your software adapt? If your company becomes subject to future CSRD provisions, how will your software adapt? If federal regulatory requirements change again in four years, how will your software adapt? Waiting for a traditional software vendor to rebuild and release updated functionality to address current realities could mean that your organization is perpetually out of sync with the market.
Multitenant, metadata-driven architecture from Locus Technologies makes EHS&S software flexible, agile, and resilient in the face of constant regulatory change. Our clients can rapidly adjust to new requirements without writing a single line of code and without waiting for the release of new product functionality. Whether our clients need to add new data elements, modify workflows, change rules, or change what is being reported, it’s all configurable by power users without impact to underlying code. Company A sees their modifications in real time, and Company Z sees theirs, while all clients continually see the latest version of Locus Platform that underpins all tenants.
“But wait! There’s more!” Create your own apps.
Multitenant, metadata-driven architecture not only supports true configuration by power users, but it also enables clients to build their own no-code apps on the platform. Perhaps you need to track the daily particulate matter of chickens or do something else super-specific to your business. No problem. Locus Technologies is a 100% cloud-based, metadata-driven, multitenant platform supporting 30+ purpose-built apps as well as a secure sandbox for clients to make their own apps.
What will you create?
To learn more about Locus for EHS&S, please visit www.locustec.com/future-proof.
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About the Author
Dorian Bailey
Locus Technologies
Bringing over 25 years of experience in environmental programs, sustainable construction, materials science, and regulatory compliance, Dorian Bailey joins Locus with a rich background in driving impactful initiatives within the industry. Before her role
at Locus, Bailey held senior positions at the Port Authority of NY & NJ, managing multimillion-dollar contracts encompassing various environmental services, sustainability initiatives, and regulatory compliance efforts.
Dorian Bailey specializes in quantifying embodied carbon dioxide emissions from construction materials, a critical focus considering the construction industry’s significant contribution to global carbon emissions. Her expertise in managing environmental investigations, consulting services, hazardous waste disposal, and air/emissions monitoring will be invaluable in advancing Locus’ mission of providing a leading-edge SaaS for sustainability and regulatory compliance.
At the Port Authority, Bailey supervised and audited construction, professional, technical, and contractual staff to ensure compliance with federal, NYSDEC, and NJDEP regulations and permits. She also played a pivotal role in designing and implementing environmental contract laboratory programs. Engineering support for greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant inventories was also provided. Bailey was instrumental in developing sustainability tracking in Stage IV construction, including material circularity, the quantification of on-site diesel emissions, and the embodied carbon of construction materials.
Dorian Bailey specializes in quantifying embodied carbon dioxide emissions from construction materials, a critical focus considering the construction industry’s significant contribution to global carbon emissions. Her expertise in managing environmental investigations, consulting services, hazardous waste disposal, and air/emissions monitoring will be invaluable in advancing Locus’ mission of providing a leading-edge SaaS for sustainability and regulatory compliance.
At the Port Authority, Bailey supervised and audited construction, professional, technical, and contractual staff to ensure compliance with federal, NYSDEC, and NJDEP regulations and permits. She also played a pivotal role in designing and implementing environmental contract laboratory programs. Engineering support for greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant inventories was also provided. Bailey was instrumental in developing sustainability tracking in Stage IV construction, including material circularity, the quantification of on-site diesel emissions, and the embodied carbon of construction materials.