General
How to choose the best carbon management software
Angela Thompson
January 23, 2023
/
5
min read
If you’ve decided that it’s time to replace your carbon accounting spreadsheet with carbon management software, then you’ve come to the right place. However choosing the right carbon management software can be a challenging task. In order to make sure you're selecting the software that meets your needs and provides the best value, it is important to understand the features and benefits of the different carbon management software solutions available. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when selecting the best carbon management software platform for your organization.
First, consider the type of carbon management system you need. Whether you’re a consulting firm or enterprise company, there are different software solutions for different types of organizations and different levels of carbon management, so make sure you identify the right software for you.
For example, there are a few solutions on the market that help organizations to keep track of their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. However, Scope 3 emissions are notoriously difficult to track, and many solutions lack robust Scope 3 emissions management.
On average, 80% of an organization's emissions are Scope 3 emissions — all the indirect emissions from the organization's activities occurring from sources that they do not own or control. They cover emissions associated with supply chain, procurement, business travel, waste and water. Because these are the largest contributor to an organization's overall emissions footprint, it is essential to look for a carbon management software solution that can accurately track and manage Scope 3 emissions. This ensures that your organization understands its full emissions footprint, and can effectively manage and reduce its emissions over time.
Next, consider the features and benefits of the software. You’ll want to make sure the carbon management software you choose has the ability to accurately track, store, and analyze your emissions data. This will help you make informed decisions about your carbon management efforts.
It goes without saying that you should seek out a solution that is easy to use. It should have a user-friendly UI and visual dashboards that makes it easy to pull actionable emissions insights. The platform should also allow you to easily export data for reporting purposes under global standards and frameworks such as CDP, GRI and TCFD.
Another important feature to seek out is the ability to forecast what your future emissions will look like under an unlimited number of different scenarios. This includes the ability to build custom emissions models to consider factors such as carbon prices, business growth and renewable energy use. This will allow you to compare the carbon performance of suppliers in the same categories to each other, and create a carbon reduction plan that aligns your suppliers' targets with your own net zero targets.
Because a carbon management software solution is data-driven at its core, another important factor to consider is the data management features of the platform and how easy it is to import data into it.
For example, an AI-driven solution will allow you to import your data into the system no matter what the structure or taxonomy of your input data is. This can save you time and effort spent on manual data preparation and import.
Another feature to examine is quality and quantity of third-party integrations that are available. Leveraging a secure API integration to a trusted third-party makes it easy to import your data into the carbon management software platform, saving you time and effort in the long run.
A further factor to consider is the ability of the software to engage with your vendors. A good carbon management software platform will allow your suppliers to calculate and report their own emissions from Scope 1-3, providing you with a comprehensive view of your value chain emissions. This makes it easy to identify hotspots in your supply chain, and allows your suppliers to set their own SBTis, ensuring that all emissions associated with your organization are accounted for.
A additional aspect to weigh is the cost of the software. Some carbon management software solutions may be more expensive, but offer more features and benefits than others. Ideally, you’ll want to engage in a pilot before purchasing the software in order to ensure you are selecting the right software to meet your needs. A pilot allows you to try the software for yourself and see if it meets your organization’s goals. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether the software is the right fit for your organization and will create value in the long term.
Finally, consider the customer support and training options available with the software. It is important to have access to customer support and training to ensure you get the most out of the software as your organization changes and grows.
Avarni is an AI-driven carbon management software solution used by some of the world’s biggest companies. Our comprehensive calculation methodology and data collation from your supply chain ensures that all your Scope 1-3 emissions are identified — including all 15 categories within your Scope 3 emissions. Avarni empowers you to:
Get in touch with us to see how Avarni can help you to effectively manage your carbon emissions and make informed decisions about your decarbonization efforts.
