Global professional services firm Deloitte, CRM solutions provider Salesforce and telecom giant AT&T announced today a new collaboration aimed at helping organizations collect and manage ESG data using an Internet of Things (IoT)-powered connectivity-based approach.

According to Deloitte Consulting Principal Luis Galito, the new approach aims to address the difficulties companies are experiencing in collecting ESG data across the value chain, as they face growing regulatory pressure to report on their sustainability progress.

Galito said:

“We believe that organizations can resolve this challenge by taking advantage of the unique blend of sustainability expertise, deep industry knowledge, and innovative technologies that Deloitte, AT&T and Salesforce collectively provide. With a holistic understanding of specific varying regulations, we can help our clients establish a purpose-driven, outcomes-focused approach and enable transparency to their stakeholders on progress against their sustainability-focused goals.”

The new collaboration brings together asset management solutions from AT&T that provide direct connectivity to organizations’ emission sources including stationary and mobile assets, with Deloitte’s sustainability management solution, Sustainability 360, which is powered by Salesforce’s emissions and ESG data platform, Net Zero Cloud.

According to the companies, combining direct connectivity to emissions sources with the sustainability management solutions will enable organizations to reduce manual data collection and enhance the integrity of ESG data in reports and disclosures, as well as accelerate the identification of sustainability improvement opportunities and emerging risk management.

Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer at Salesforce, said:

“To change our current climate trajectory, organizations need to collaborate to deliver new climate solutions. That’s why we are excited to join with AT&T and Deloitte to simplify how organizations collect ESG data from across their operations. The blend of technologies, including AI, from AT&T, Deloitte, and Salesforce Net Zero Cloud is a good example of the innovation required to create near-term lasting change for our planet.”

The companies added that the collaboration will also build on Deloitte’s and Salesforce’s commitments to AT&T’s Connected Climate Initiative. Launched in 2021, the initiative aims to reduce 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035, through collaborations with technology, digital infrastructure and energy companies, universities and other organizations to deliver broadband-enabled climate solutions at global scale.

Charlene Lake, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and ESG at AT&T, said:

“The integration of IoT connectivity with emissions tracking gives businesses tremendous new insights and capabilities for making meaningful emissions reductions. It’s exactly the type of collaborative innovation the AT&T Connected Climate Initiative aspires to deliver as we help our business customers reduce 1 gigaton of GHG emissions by 2035.”