Why EHS Teams Choose Point Solutions (And Why There’s a Better Way)

4 minute read

As a modern EHS leader, you know it’s critical to digitize your safety program. The challenge for small or midsize businesses (SMBs) is knowing what kind of solution will actually work for your team.  

Picture this: Inspections are inconsistent, so you search for “best inspection management software” and find an affordable, easy-to-implement tool built for that exact need.

• Six months later, you’re looking at three different dashboards, manually copying data between systems, and spending more time managing software than managing safety. 

We hear this story regularly from EHS leaders who started with the best intentions. A quick fix for one need soon becomes a patchwork of disconnected tools—holding leaders back from their broader safety vision.

That’s the problem we’re solving with Intelex Essentials. 

Intelex Essentials delivers a streamlined safety management solution for SMBs. Book your walkthrough to see how the platform enables safety leaders with limited resources to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and improve safety outcomes.

Point Solutions Vs. Intelex Essentials 

Point Solutions tackle one specific problem at a time, like incident tracking or inspections. Each solution has its own user interface, workflow and reporting capability. They might help you in the short term, but they struggle to grow with your organization and miss the opportunity to provide the complete safety picture you need.  

Intelex Essentials helps you manage multiple safety applications with a consistent user interface and experience, reporting capabilities, and mobile web app. The five core safety applications have built-in best practices, competitive pricing, and the ability to add applications as your safety program matures without added complexity or long implementation timelines of enterprise software.  

Why People Choose Point Solutions 

There are many valid reasons why point solutions are tempting:  

• “We needed something fast and affordable.” 

• “We had one problem to fix. I.e., inspections were falling behind.” 

• “I wanted a system I could manage myself.” 

• “Leadership wasn’t ready to invest in a full system.” 

But, unlike Intelex Essentials that meets these needs while also providing a unified, scalable platform, point solutions come with a hidden cost.

The Real Cost of a Single-Purpose Solution

Single-purpose software seems logical at first glance. Individual licenses cost less than a comprehensive platform, implementation is quick, and the tool does what it says it will.  

But the true cost isn’t in the monthly subscription. It’s hidden operational expenses that compound over time.  

• Added admin time: Manual data entry, duplicate work and formatting issues can eat up 10-15 hours per week. With the average EHS manager in the USA earning $83,000 per year, that’s $31,000+ annually in hidden labor costs.

• Gaps in insights: When your incident data lives separately from inspection results, you miss the patterns that prevent future incidents. A simple question like “What’s our 12-month rolling average?” requires multiple applications and building spreadsheet reports to connect the dots.  

• Compliance risks: Scattered information makes audits stressful, and compliance verification time-consuming. Regulatory bodies need complete documentation, not data fragments from different systems.  

How Intelex Essentials Delivers Where Point Solutions Can’t 

Problem with Point Solutions	How Intelex Essentials Solves It
Manual admin work for capturing, collating, and reporting data.	Built-in OSHA and RIDDOR compliance tools, guided task delegation, data-driven decision-making.
Solves only one issue, not system-wide challenges.	Five core safety apps + mobile functionality + reporting in one integrated platform.
Time-consuming setup or difficult DIY configuration.	Self-service configuration and implementation + expert support from Intelex’s safety professionals.
Tech sprawl and silos with every new solution added.	Scalable design that grows with your organization—no extra tech chaos required.
Disjointed user experience limits adoption and engagement.	Clean, intuitive design across mobile and desktop + consistent UI that eases change management.

Choosing the Right Path Forward 

Let’s revisit the challenge from the beginning: knowing what kind of solution will actually work for your team.  

There are two paths you can follow:  

Path 1: Continue with isolated applications that solve one-off, temporary needs as problems arise.  

Path 2: Build your safety program with a unified platform that delivers immediate value today and can grow and eliminate future integration challenges.  

For immediate value that grows with your needs, choose Intelex Essentials.  

Book your walkthrough