Swisscom and Atlantic Ventures have collaborated to produce the Sustainability Software Radar, offering a comprehensive overview of sustainability and carbon management software solutions. This report serves as a valuable resource for ESG managers and CIOs, aiding them in selecting the most suitable tools. The primary aim is to assist Swiss businesses in implementing holistic and data-driven sustainability and carbon management practices.
As the landscape of sustainability reporting evolves, more than 1700 Swiss companies will be mandated to undertake comprehensive sustainability reporting. Starting this year, companies exceeding 500 employees with a balance sheet total exceeding CHF 20 million or revenues surpassing CHF 40 million must adhere to climate reporting standards in line with the TCFD framework. The carbon footprint is increasingly becoming a pivotal metric in corporate management. The mandated climate balance sheet must be auditable, encompassing the planning, control, and execution of effective decarbonization measures in alignment with net-zero management. However, many companies face challenges in utilizing data for recording, calculating, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, making sustainability software crucial for robust data-driven sustainability and carbon management.
The Sustainability Software Radar, derived from an analysis of over 240 software vendors and their solutions, provides a market overview, enabling ESG managers and CIOs to navigate the dynamic landscape. Start-ups and emerging Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, established ESG software providers, and global software and cloud corporations all play vital roles in this ecosystem. Notably, over half of the surveyed providers were founded after 2015, contributing significantly to innovation in cloud- and data-driven carbon reporting and sustainability management.
A key trend in the latest software generations focuses on solutions providing comprehensive carbon and ESG management across the entire value and supply chain. This ensures companies can meet forthcoming regulatory obligations by disclosing both upstream and downstream emissions. The new wave of climate and sustainability management solutions relies on cloud-native software architectures, adaptable data models, APIs for seamless system integration, and AI models for simulating CO2 reduction pathways.
Gina Obrecht, business developer for data-driven sustainability at Swisscom Business Customers, emphasizes the importance of digitization and data-driven business in achieving net-zero goals. Swisscom is dedicated to aiding customers in evaluating and integrating these tools into their existing IT systems, recognizing their pivotal role in the journey toward sustainability.
