Data is the backbone of any successful business function, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is no exception. ESG data collection can be complicated, but Net Zero Cloud has a great suite of tools to help manage this process.
This article will discuss data collection and verification, the associated change management, and the tools Net Zero Cloud provides to support these functions.
Data Collection
Over the past decade, I’ve been involved in implementation projects across various Salesforce products. In typical Sales or Service Cloud implementations, legacy data often meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Fluid: Contacts change jobs. Opportunities get worked, then reworked, multiple times.
- User-Driven: Data is sourced from user activity, such as pipeline management and case creation, rather than from another system or tangible activity.
- Internally Focused: Data end users are internal users, often within a specific department or business function, as well as leadership. At most, internal auditors may validate adherence to documented processes.
This is not to say that this data should not be clean, accurate, or auditable. However, implementations often focus on generating new data rather than centralizing and reporting from various sources.
In contrast, Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud (NZC) requires data collection across an enterprise, often involving coordination from operations, finance, HR (for social and governance data), and any other business units contributing to emissions. As emissions reporting regulations increase in scope and consequence, it is imperative to ensure the data reported is properly supported.
It also is important to remember that Net Zero Cloud is, at its core, a carbon accounting platform. And carbon accounting is accounting. The data driving emissions calculations should be regarded with the same scrutiny as financial data. Auditors will certainly treat it that way.
Fortunately, the NZC product team has heavily focused on data collection and accuracy, streamlining the process for organizations of all sizes and ESG maturity levels. This article will discuss these tools in detail. However, as with any project, it is important to consider the users and their new or changed responsibilities before rolling out new tools.
Change Management
Inventory Data Sources
The first step in managing change for a Net Zero Cloud implementation is to inventory all relevant data sources. This includes identifying all systems, databases, and spreadsheets where emissions data is currently stored. Remember that NZC projects are often cross-functional and can come from different departments across an enterprise. Sometimes a single category of data (such as business travel) might have multiple sources of data across different departments.
It’s also important to consider what asset-specific data will come directly from the site, like utility bills or other fuel consumption. Sometimes, a single location might have multiple types of data. For example, a company has multiple production facilities that are each responsible for their own utility bills, vehicle fleet, etc. If this data is not currently aggregated into a platform, an organization will need to consider how to collect it from site users.
Assign Data Owners
In line with the prior step, each data source, or even each bill at each site, should have a designated owner responsible for ensuring the entry, accuracy, and completeness of the data. Data owners should be knowledgeable about the data they manage and understand its importance in the overall emissions reporting process.
If a data source is manual or otherwise not integrated, owners should also be made aware of how frequently they should input their datasets into NZC.
Develop a Roadmap
Developing a roadmap is essential for guiding the implementation process. This should define:
- What Scopes and Categories will be incorporated into NZC, and when?
- What data sources will be integrated into NZC, and when?
- When should advanced NZC features be rolled out along with prerequisite data requirements?
It should also identify potential risks and mitigation strategies. A well-defined roadmap helps keep the project on track and ensures all stakeholders are aligned with the project goals.
Data Collection Tools
CSV Load Templates/In-App Uploads
Net Zero Cloud includes a Lightning component that allows users to export templates for any object. Additionally, a Flow action and prebuilt template allow users to upload CSVs directly to NZC records.
This feature is useful for importing large amounts of data, and non-technical users often find it simpler than learning a tool like Data Loader.
New Flow Template
Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud provides a Flow template specifically designed for energy-use data collection. This template allows users to select a specific energy use type and displays relevant fields on a subsequent screen. It can be customized as needed to meet organizational requirements and incorporate data validations.
When placed on a Home Page or even in the Salesforce mobile app, this tool can save users’ clicks and lower the learning curve to begin entering data.
Platform Licenses
While this isn’t necessarily a tool, it is extremely valuable to NZC customers’ bottom lines. Users with Platform licenses, costing a fraction of a full Sales or Service Cloud license, can access a limited version of NZC that is primarily focused on energy use data entry.
This offering is extremely valuable to organizations that have numerous sites where users need to enter utility or other consumption data.
Integration
Data integration strategy requires consideration of an organization’s priorities, budget, IT resources, and application environment. Many organizations will choose to integrate high-priority data sources relevant to NZC, including:
- Asset/Energy Use Data: Utility aggregators and billing systems.
- Business Travel Data: Expense systems and logistics.
- Other Scope 3 Data: ERP and financial systems.
Audit Tools
As with financial accounting, companies that use Net Zero Cloud to prepare data for external parties often undergo third-party auditing. Net Zero Cloud provides several features to assist with this process.
Audit Dashboard
Net Zero Cloud includes a suite of prebuilt CRM Analytics (CRMA) Dashboards that provide insights into emissions and environmental data. The Audit Dashboard, specifically, provides organizations with insights into data trends by asset, asset type, and period.
These visualizations can help sustainability managers and leadership identify anomalies and investigate trends.
Calculation Export
Net Zero Cloud automatically calculates emissions and environmental data based on consumption or spend data, along with environmental reference data. While the Developer Documentation provides detailed descriptions of calculations by field and object, auditors are often looking for the calculations specific to the data they’re reviewing.
Carbon Footprint and Annual Emissions Inventory records in Net Zero Cloud include a feature that exports calculation data for some or all of the records being aggregated:
These exports provide detailed insights into how emissions figures are derived, ensuring transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Field History Tracking
Field history tracking is a powerful audit tool within Net Zero Cloud. It allows organizations to track changes to key data fields over time, providing a clear audit trail. This feature is particularly useful for verifying data accuracy and identifying any discrepancies that may arise during the reporting process.
Summary
Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to streamline data collection and auditing for emissions reporting. By effectively managing change, utilizing the platform’s collection tools, and leveraging robust audit capabilities, organizations can ensure accurate, transparent, and compliant emissions reporting. As the importance of ESG reporting continues to grow, these tools will become increasingly vital for organizations committed to sustainability and regulatory compliance.
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