SAP has begun the first of what is anticipated to become an ever-growing migration of reporting mechanisms to a cloud platform.
With its newly launched version 5.0 of SAP Carbon Impact OnDemand, which reports carbon emissions, the software company is positioning the product at a lower cost and at various scales.
SAP is using Amazons emerging cloud computing storage feature to collect environmental data. Once inside the cloud, a user is able to process the data and receive detailed reports.
SAP already offers a number of cloud-based services to customers, under the name of OnDemand. But this is the first to use Amazons cloud platform. The service can be used with SAPs Business Suite or by itself.
Already, companies have taken notice. Autodesk, Arch Chemicals and Fisker Automotive have lined up to use Carbon Impact OnDemand.
SAP Carbon Impact OnDemand will enable us to comprehensively manage our total environmental impact at all locations worldwide, including energy efficiency, said Doug Udall, Arch Chemicals director of sustainability, in a statement. Its on-demand functionality will help us track our carbon footprint and navigate the complex requirements for voluntary and mandatory reporting, including CDP reporting.
Users are able to upload or gather energy consumption information from their business units, which the software will then summarize in a series of reports or dashboards. Companies can also establish EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) connections with utility companies and other energy providers, thereby allowing the system to instantly input information. Software management for logistics and fleets can be used to provide critical data.
Due to the uncertainty and volatility in energy prices, as well as the growing concerns of consumers, NGOs and governments about organizations energy and carbon costs, companies face a tremendous challenge, said Peter Graf, chief sustainability officer for SAP AG. They need to reliably report and profitably reduce their carbon footprints in their home markets and on a global scale.
The newest version of Carbon Impact OnDemand features a new section for discussions and the ability for users to create unique carbon-emissions-based calculations. The service also has incorporated its metrics with those from the Carbon Disclosure Project, which allows users to standardize and promote company reporting of carbon emissions.
