A double challenge for companies: digital transformation and sustainable development

Modern companies face two interrelated challenges: to succeed in their digital transformation while integrating a sustainable development model. The stakes are high: organizations must not only digitize to remain competitive, but also report on their practices and their social and environmental impacts. "Making the most of data is becoming a necessity," explains Cédric Jadoul. Companies must be able to identify and analyze key indicators to guide their strategic decisions. This allows them to optimize their operations, predict market developments and better understand their social and environmental impact, with the aim of reducing negative effects and seizing opportunities for sustainable innovation. »

To remain competitive, companies must turn data into strategic insights to optimize their operations and meet growing expectations for transparency and accountability.

The CSRD: transparency and compliance in the ESG strategy

Regulations are evolving to require companies to be more transparent. The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) now requires companies to report on their ESG performance.

"These obligations encourage companies to collect and structure their data, as their partners and subcontractors also expect proof of commitments in terms of CO2 emissions, HR practices and social impact," adds Cédric Jadoul. Ultimately, stakeholders – employees, customers and investors – demand this transparency, and companies can no longer ignore their social responsibility.

ESG criteria, such as energy certificates in real estate, are becoming decisive elements in the choice of consumers, employees and investors. Cédric Jadoul explains that ESG performance is an indicator of good management and sustainability, influencing the valuation and attractiveness of companies in the market.

Complex and essential data management

ESG data comes from multiple sources: sensors in buildings, production lines, company vehicles, customer interactions, and more. This diversity creates a vast and complex ecosystem, which is difficult to manage without the right technological tools. "Collecting the relevant data is the first challenge, but it's only the first step," says Cédric Jadoul. Once collected, this data must be analyzed so that the company understands its real impacts and acts accordingly. Without rigorous collection, it risks losing sight of its sustainability course. »

To be actionable, data must be aggregated in a centralized platform. This makes ESG information accessible to generate dashboards and reports, identify levers for improvement, and measure the impact of actions. This approach is becoming essential to ensure the reliability of sustainability reporting, especially as the complexity of ESG metrics increases.

Cédric Jadoul - "Organizations need to equip themselves with global data management platforms. These systems make it possible to collect, aggregate, analyze and value data, providing a solid foundation for a sustainable ESG strategy oriented towards continuous improvement. »

The data platform: a central pillar of the ESG approach

In this complex context, a data platform is a strategic asset. "A data platform makes it possible to consolidate all the information necessary to make ESG data usable in a coherent way," explains Cédric Jadoul. This ecosystem makes it easy to create reports, generate dashboards, and track business impact in real-time. By automating data processing and consolidating key information, the data platform helps companies to better manage their sustainability actions.

Automation is crucial. Without it, collecting and analyzing ESG data can be time-consuming and time-consuming and time-consuming. Automated management allows teams to focus on value-added actions, not just gathering information. "The end goal is not to produce reports, but to generate clear and actionable information to make informed decisions. It is a question of putting in place a continuous action plan, based on reliable indicators, to move towards increasingly sustainable practices," adds the managing director of Fujitsu Luxembourg.

Identify levers for action and improve ESG performance

Mastering data allows companies to better understand how they operate and identify levers for action to improve their ESG indicators and overall performance. Production data, for example, reveals opportunities to optimize processes and reduce energy consumption. In the steel industry, adjusting processes according to demand reduces the energy used and the environmental footprint. In the IT sector, GreenOps approaches make it possible to manage IT resources according to real needs.

Cédric Jadoul - “It is often observed that by strengthening the well-being of employees, we also improve overall performance"

"Companies can thus reduce the energy consumption of their infrastructures by reducing the use of resources during off-peak periods, such as at night or at weekends," explains Cédric Jadoul. This generates cost savings and also reduces their environmental impact. »

Valuing sustainable practices also has a positive impact on employees, as improving their well-being contributes to the company's efficiency and performance.

"It is often observed that by strengthening the well-being of employees, we also improve overall performance," he concludes. Sustainability is becoming an economic lever in its own right, making it possible to align environmental, social and financial objectives in the same development strategy. »

Ultimately, improving environmental and social impacts represents not only a regulatory constraint, but also a strategic opportunity for companies that want to position themselves as sustainability leaders. By integrating data at the heart of their ESG strategy, they are equipping themselves with the means to create value over the long term while meeting the growing expectations of their stakeholders