Helix now allows companies with multiple internal accounts to securely share datasets without requiring VPN access. This makes collaboration across sites, subsidiaries, or departments faster and easier, while sensitive data stays protected. This article covers the following questions:
What is sub-account linking, why does it matter, and what does it include?
How do I enable and manage sub-account linking?
Feel like you're missing information? This article connects to the following articles; check them out if you want to learn more:
What is sub-account linking, why does it matter, and what does it include?
Sub-account linking allows datasets (specifically, Material and Transport datasets) to be reused across internal Helix accounts without a VPN.
This feature eliminates the difficulty of VPN-based data transfers. It allows large organizations to scale modeling across multiple accounts while keeping data protected.
What does sub-account linking include (and exclude)?
Included:
Allows selected internal Helix accounts (sub-accounts) to import datasets from each other.
Shares the calculated environmental impact result only. It does not include the underlying material details.
Automatically updates results if the source dataset changes.
Excluded:
It does not expose BOM, formulas, or confidential data.
It does not allow external companies to access your data.
It does not add new functionality. It simply removes the VPN barrier between approved internal accounts.
What data is (and isn’t) shared?
Shared | Not Shared |
Environmental impact result (e.g., kg CO₂) | Bill of Materials (BoM) |
Dataset metadata (e.g., name, year) | Internal formulas, supplier details |
Source account name (for traceability) | Process flow or unit operations |
Example of how sub-account linking works
Example of how sub-account linking works
Company A and B are connected:
Company A (Head Office) makes rubber seals.
Company B (a regional factory) uses those seals in their products.
Without linking, Company B needs a VPN + Ecochain support to import the seals dataset.
With linking, Company B can import the result of the seals dataset directly.
How do changes in one account affect others?
Once a dataset is imported using sub-account linking:
It is connected to the original source.
If the original dataset is updated (e.g., emissions factors are revised), all accounts using it will display the new result.
Even if the product using the linked dataset is locked, the imported impact result will still update.
Caution - Linked data: Linked data is dynamic. Any change at the source will affect dependent (i.e., connected) products.
How to enable sub-account linking?
Note - Enabling this feature: This feature must be enabled by Ecochain for your account. Contact your Environmental Specialist to request access.
Enable Data Open Access
Go to Settings -> Data open access. Here you can toggle linked sub-accounts between open and closed access.
Figure 1: Showing Data Open Access settings page with closed and open access toggle.
2. Choose the sub-accounts to link. Your unliked accounts are on the left. Your linked (i.e., open access) accounts are on the right. Click on an account to toggle access (Figure 1).
3. Hit Save in the bottom right to save your changes.
Import custom datasets
Navigate to your import account by switching accounts in the top navigation bar
Figure 2: Switching to import-account
Navigate to Results > Product overview
Click on Export to download an Excel template for importing custom impact indicator values.
Figure 3: Click Export for template
Fill out these required fields in the excel template. the "product" in the sub-account will be used as a material in your main account. Column G, "Year", determines in which year of the import account the material is stored and accessed by Helix. Multiple materials can be uploaded at once, each on their own line.
Figure 4: Required custom import fields
The rest of the columns are optional, and you'll see fields for all impact indicators for EF 3.1, EN15804+A2, NMD standards, and more. Fill out the cells for the LCA standard you're using.
Figure 5: Impact indicator cells
6. Save the file in CSV, comma delimited format. You can now upload this material in the product overview page.
Figure 6: Click "Choose file"
7. With "Dry run" checked, you can test if the import works as intended. It should show non-zero values next to the indicators you filled out, and "product NOT found" is okay, it means there is no existing product with this name, but one will be created for this import.
Figure 7: Dry run import results
8. Once satisfied with the results, navigate back to results > product overview, uncheck "dry run",and import the file again. You'll now see the material name in the product overview list.
Figure 8: Successful custom impact material upload.
Using the import account materials in the main account
Now that you've successfully added custom impact materials to your import account, they can be used without a VPN in your main account purchasing page import files.
Switch back to your main account, and navigate to Input > Company > Purchasing
Figure 9: Purchasing Page
Click "Export" to obtain a template for correct importing format
Figure 10: Download the import template
Open the Excel file, and fill in the following required cells. This can also be done for more than one material, each on a new line.
Figure 11: Purchasing page template
Material name: this is the name of the material as it will be used in the main account. To avoid confusion, it's usually best to make this name the same/similar as the name of the "product" in the import account. This material name and the "product" from the import account are the same thing, this is just the step that allows the main account to fetch the impact data from the custom import account.
Product: This must match the "product" name in the import account exactly
Company: This must match the import account name exactly as it appears in the company dropdown, spaces and capitals included.
Year: This must match the year in which the custom material is stored in the import account.
Unit: use "KG" as a default, Helix accepts limited other units.
Purchased amount: Fill in some amount. This can be changed later in Helix.
Save the excel and click import on the Helix purchasing page, select the excel file.
Figure 12: Successful upload, preview shown.
You'll see the screen above detailing what information Helix extracted from the Excel file. Hit Save.
5. You'll now see a material with a connected "dataset", that being the custom impact data from your import account!
Figure 13: Successfully attached custom impact material
Sub-account linking makes it easier to collaborate securely across your Helix accounts, without compromising data privacy or needing VPN access. If you're ready to streamline your modeling workflow, reach out to your Ecochain representative to get started.
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