Governance Indicator

The Governance Indicator incorporates both governance and social indicators and offers – using a data-driven method – an integrated and objective view of governance practices and social responsibility within B2B relationships.

ESG has a major impact on how companies are assessed, financed and selected as customers, suppliers or partners today. Banks, investors and organisations are increasingly taking sustainability criteria into account in their decision-making processes.

GraydonCreditsafe consciously focuses on the Governance and Social dimensions, as these are currently measurable in a reliable and objective manner within an ESG context.

The Governance Indicator gives you an objective indication of how companies deal with social responsibility and good governance — quickly, scalable and data-driven.

The Governance Indicator in brief

What? Objective indicators for Social & Governance
For whom? Companies that operate in B2B
Why? Risk management, compliance, reputation, and continuity
How? Data, artificial intelligence, and local expertise

What is the Governance Indicator?

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) is a widely used approach to assessing corporate social responsibility. There is a clear relationship between social responsibility, good governance and the long-term financial performance of companies.

GraydonCreditsafe's Governance Indicator translates this into practical, objective indicators for the social and governance aspects of companies. By integrating these indicators into business processes such as sales, purchasing, compliance, HR or risk management, organisations can make faster and more consistent informed decisions.

Why not Environmental (E)?

Although ESG is often treated as a unified concept, the Governance Indicator specifically concentrates on Governance & Social indicators. At present, there are insufficient uniform and objective Environmental components available to conduct reliable analyses. A lack of consistent and comparable data points makes it difficult to provide reliable indicators at company level.

To guarantee the quality and reliability of the analysis, GraydonCreditsafe therefore deliberately focuses on Social & Governance. For these domains, sufficient objective data is available to screen companies in a consistent and scalable manner.

What is it?

provides indications, not scores or ratings
supports screening and decision-making

What is it not?

it is not an audit or certification
does not contain an environmental component

When is the Governance Indicator relevant for your organisation?

The Governance Indicator is relevant for all companies that operate in the B2B sector, regardless of sector or size.

Screening customers and suppliers

Organisations are increasingly being held accountable for the social and governance practices of their customers, suppliers and partners. The Governance Indicator provides a quick indication of potential risks in terms of continuity, compliance and reputation.

Applications:

Acceptance of new customers
Supplier screening during procurement process
Periodic assessment of existing portfolios

Risk management and compliance

In addition to financial parameters, social and governance factors are playing an increasingly important role in professional risk management. The Governance Indicator supports risk teams with uniform and scalable screening, without time-consuming questionnaires or manual analyses.

Advantages:

uniform and scalable screening
support for internal compliance processes
better substantiation of decisions

Reputation, image and employer branding

Employees, customers and partners increasingly expect organisations to treat people and governance with respect. By working with companies that fit in with your values and strategy, you strengthen your reputation and attractiveness as an employer.

Result:

stronger reputation
more attractive employer
higher customer and employee retention

Continuity and access to financing

Social and governance indicators are increasingly being included in credit assessments and long-term relationships with financial institutions. Companies that focus on these indicators strengthen their resilience and long-term survival chances.

Impact:

better positioning with banks and investors
greater long-term resilience
higher chances of survival

Discover how you can screen customers and suppliers

How is the Governance Indicator calculated?

The Governance Indicator is not an audit, score or absolute assessment. It provides an objective indication based on data, statistical correlations and expertise, enabling organisations to make faster and more consistent decisions.

Step 1. Use of structured and verifiable data

GraydonCreditsafe uses existing, structured data sources, including data from the social balance sheet and other publicly available information.

Step 2. Analysis of patterns using data, AI and expertise

By combining data with artificial intelligence and human expertise, relevant behavioural patterns and statistical correlations are identified. This allows information to be derived that is not directly available as a separate data point, but which is relevant within a broader context of social and governance behaviour.

These analyses do not lead to conclusions, but to an indication of probabilities that help to identify risks in a timely manner.

Step 3. Translation of non-measurable elements into indications

Some social and governance aspects are difficult to measure directly. Through academic research and collaboration with universities, certain intangible elements are nevertheless translated into useful tangibles, such as:

language use and structure of corporate communication can say something about management style
management style and diversity are linked to innovative capacity
diversity and governance structures correlate with resilience and stability

Conclusion

Thanks to its local roots and in-depth knowledge of the Belgian market, GraydonCreditsafe can correctly interpret these indicators within their economic and social context.

The Governance Indicator supports organisations in screening, comparing and monitoring companies within customer, supplier or partner portfolios.

It does not replace in-depth research, but it does enable fast, consistent and scalable analyses.

Frequently asked questions about the Governance Indicator

What is the difference between ESG and the Governance Indicator?

ESG is a broad approach to sustainable business. The Governance Indicator deliberately focuses on Social & Governance dimensions within ESG, because these areas can be measured objectively and uniformly today. The Environmental component is not part of the indicator due to insufficiently consistent data points.

Is the Governance Indicator a score or rating?

No. The Governance Indicator is not a score, a rating or an audit, but an objective indication based on data, statistical correlations and expertise that enables companies to screen and compare more quickly and consistently.

For which companies is the Governance Indicator relevant?

For all organisations that operate in B2B and want to screen customers, suppliers or partners on social and governance aspects.

Can I use the Governance Indicator for customer and supplier screening?

Yes. The indicator has been specifically developed to efficiently screen portfolios, sectors or entire populations.

How objective are the indications?

The indications are based on structured data, statistical models, AI and human expertise. They provide probabilities and signals, not conclusions, and form a reliable support for professional decision-making.

Is the Governance Indicator available in Accelerator?

Yes. The Governance Indicator is available via Accelerator, but it can also be used to enrich existing processes.

Ready to use the Governance Indicator in your organisation?

Would you like to know how the Governance Indicator fits into your processes or use case? Our experts are happy to assist you.

No obligations, we are happy to think along with you.

Last updated: February 2026.