The first step in managing your health is to measure your weight and body fat percentage on a scale.
It is the same with companies’ CO2 emissions, and reductions cannot begin without measuring how much they are currently emitting.
In Japan, from April 2022, companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime will be required to disclose climate change-related information in their annual securities reports. The number of companies that have introduced software (SaaS) that can automatically calculate CO2 emissions has increased rapidly.
However, there are so many types of services that it is difficult to know the difference. In the first place, there are many voices saying that they do not know what kind of software is suitable for their company and how to select it.
In May 2023, Business Insider Japan conducted a survey of four major domestic companies: Asene, e-dash, Zeroboard, and boost technologies. We asked about the features and strengths of each service.
What are the characteristics of each company, their strong industries, and price plans?
First, let’s start with an overview of each company and basic information about the services they offer. As shown in[Table 1]each company has already acquired many customers.
[Table 1]Service overview of the four major companies *Numbers in Japanese syllabary order (same below) are also based on responses from each company.
| Asuene | e-dash | zero board | booost technologies |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service name | CO2 emissions visualization, reduction, and reporting cloud service “Aszero” | e-dash | GHG emissions calculation and visualization cloud service “zeroboard” | booost Sustainability Cloud (boost GX) |
| The number of customers | Over 3300 companies | About 3500 bases | Introduced to 2000 companies in 10 months from the launch in January 2022. * Subsequent detailed numbers are not disclosed | Cumulative total of over 1000 companies, 168,000 points of introduction |
| amount of sales | private | private | private | private |
| Cumulative funding amount | 2,526,810,000 yen *Including capital surplus | 100% owned by Mitsui | About 2.5 billion yen | 1,430,650,000 yen *As of January 31, 2022.Including capital reserve |
| Target scope* | scope 1-2-3 |
scope 1-2-3 |
scope 1-2-3 |
scope 1-2-3 |
| Strong industries, scale, etc. | Major companies in general, manufacturers, construction/construction, real estate, logistics, retail, finance, etc. | There are many manufacturing industries, but regardless of industry.We have a wide range of usage records from companies with multiple locations to small and medium-sized enterprises. | Manufacturing (mainly automobiles, chemicals, daily necessities, food, retail), construction, transportation, finance, and local governments | Retail, Apparel, Food. ion, Z Holdings, Persol, Major companies such as EDION |
| Rate plan | Individual estimate *Varies depending on calculation range, number of bases, options, etc. | 10,000 yen / month depending on the number of bases (details will be announced individually) | Value plan 1 base 180,000 yen / year ~. Plan with calculation support from 2 million yen | Basic plan starting from several hundred thousand yen/month (estimate upon negotiation).There is a plan for starters starting from tens of thousands of yen/month |
* Target scope range = Range covered by the basic plan
Of the four companies, Asene, Zeroboard, and boost technologies are startups, and e-dash is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui.
The founders and representatives of Asuene, e-dash, and ZeroBoard are all from Mitsui.
As shown in[Fig. 2]most of the CO2 emitted directly or indirectly by companies themselves comes from purchasing electricity and burning fuel (scopes 1 and 2). Asene and ZeroBoard, which have the specialized knowledge cultivated at Mitsui & Co., Ltd., which is strong in energy, and e-dash, which can effectively utilize their resources, may be one of the reasons why they are in a leading position in the visualization business.
[Figure 2]Companies are required to calculate not only CO2 emissions directly and indirectly from their own company (scopes 1 and 2), but also emissions that include procurement of raw materials and disposal of products (scope 3).
On the other hand, booost technologies was originally involved in the power management business, so the accumulated knowledge and know-how can be said to be a great strength.
Also, to extract the figures necessary for calculation,Cooperation with ERP (core information system) etc. is also importantis. When we asked each company about the main systems that can be linked,
- Asuene: More than 100 types of core systems and various cloud services such as SAP ERP and Microsoft Dynamics
- e-dash: Sansan’s Bill One, e-dash Carbon Offset
- zero board: SAP, various accounting software
- boost technologies：NTT Com “Flexible InterConnect”, TOKIUM Invoice Receiving Cloud “TOKIUM Invoice”, NTTPC Invoice Summary Service “Top Cruise”
There was an answer.
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Multilingual support and reduction support… What are the strengths and characteristics of each company?
Next, let’s look at the “strengths and features that other companies don’t have” that we asked each company.
* Below, each company’s response to the free description column in the questionnaire “strengths and characteristics that other companies do not have”.
■ ASENE’s strengths and characteristics not found in other companies
- Over 90% average monthly growth in terms of order value, 3,300 new hires (the largest number in the industry), and over 70 partner companies
- Established a local subsidiary in Singapore. Rapidly increasing adoption by companies aiming for net zero in APAC and around the world
- We were the first Japanese CO2 visualization company to receive the Environment Startup Minister’s Award from the Ministry of the Environment (FY2022).Rule-making and policy proposals through Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “J-Startup” certification
- Concluded an agreement with Koumi Town, Nagano Prefecture to realize carbon neutrality, introduced “ASZERO”, and supported reductions through the introduction of biomass power generation and EV vehicles.In Miyazaki Prefecture, visualization and reduction plans for multiple farmers’ CO2 emissions are being formulated, and decarbonization solutions are being verified.
- Aiming to support decarbonized management of local companies, we have formed business alliances with more than 40 financial institutions, including The Norinchukin Bank.Partnering with over 30 businesses as a decarbonization solution partner
- By combining with the ESG evaluation service “ESG Cloud Rating (ECR)”, one-stop management of decarbonized management and ESG management is possible.
Asene advocates “one-stop solution for decarbonization”. By scanning invoices, etc., it is possible to reduce work man-hours by up to 70%, and it is said that it has the largest implementation track record in the industry.
In addition to supporting local decarbonization, we are actively promoting overseas expansion, such as establishing a local subsidiary in Singapore, the first Japanese visualization company to do so. As an optional function, it also supports English, Chinese (traditional), Thai, Vietnamese, and Spanish. It is also possible to calculate CO2 emissions for each product or service.
e-dash’s “strengths and features not found in other companies”
- Just by uploading invoices, Excel, etc., it will be converted into data on the e-dash side. While outsourcing to e-dash, accurate information can be accumulated without spending time and effort
- In addition to visualization, we also provide guidance, proposals, and execution support for specific actions for reduction based on knowledge and examples of reduction methods.”One-stop” service that can be completed within the same e-dash
- People who are working on visualization for the first time, people who have to move forward by bundling multiple bases, and people who want to manage overseas bases.Courteous support that responds to all needs and allows you to work with peace of mind while maintaining close communication
e-dash has a wide range of achievements from multi-site companies to small and medium enterprises. We have partnered with more than 150 financial institutions, including regional banks and credit unions, and businesses that have reduction solutions, not only to visualize but also to propose and implement reduction measures.
Being able to “mobilize all the know-how of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.”, which has developed a comprehensive energy service business around the world, is a major strength.
■ “Strengths and features not found in other companies” of ZERO BOARD
- We are constantly adding new functions, and we update the functions once every two weeks.We try to respond to user requests as quickly as possible
- 20 people in the sustainability, decarbonization, and IT fields, including environment-related consultants and ESG promotion managers for major companies, LCA practical managers for automobile manufacturers, environment and sustainability managers for food companies, and greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation managers for local governments. We have formed an in-house decarbonization support expert team.Calculation support with high expertise in all directions
- We dare not have our own reduction solutions and are devoted to being a GHG data platformer. We have formed alliances with various companies and designed a path to reduction so that users can choose the most necessary solution.Therefore, users can select and consider the one that suits their company’s issues from a wide variety of solutions.
Zero board, which is SaaS-like and frequently updates its functions. It is said that it has the number one market share in the prime market. We are also focusing on versions with industry-specific functions, and have already released a version for the construction industry, and a version for the logistics industry is under development.
The company itself has not taken the next step of visualization: reducing emissions. However, by partnering with many companies that have reduction solutions, users can choose the method that suits their challenges. It supports invoice scanning and also has a CO2 calculation function for each product.
■ Booost technologies’ “strengths and features not found in other companies”
- Utilizing the knowledge and know-how that started from the power management business, we can develop products, flexibly customize according to customer needs, and provide consulting services.As a result, listed companies also introduced
- Calculated and visualized 7.3% of total domestic GHG emissions in about a year and a half since product launch
- Within 3 years, aim to acquire 30% market share of companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market for the entire business
booost technologies said that one of the company’s strengths is its strength in dealing with listed companies. The goal is to “acquire a 30% market share among companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market within three years.”
Equipped with functions that support efficient input, such as initial registration of data. In addition, it supports emissions management for each of 235 countries/regions and 25 languages for companies with overseas bases. It is also possible to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by product or service.
Do you offer carbon credits?
As long as we are engaged in economic activities, it will be difficult to reduce CO2 emissions to zero simply through efforts to reduce emissions. What can we do to bring the amount of CO2 we emit to zero? What is attracting attention is offsetting using carbon credits.
We asked each company about whether they are providing carbon credits or not.
-
Asuene: Provided as an option plan for ASZERO. Compatible with major domestic and international credits (J-credits, non-fossil certificates with tracking, green power certificates, overseas renewable energy certificates
, JCM credits) - e-dash: Provided through the e-dash Carbon Offset site. In addition to overseas voluntary credits on the site, J credits can be purchased at the required amount from the end of May 2023.Non-fossil certificates can be procured by proxy by bidding upon inquiry.
- zero board: Carrying out sales and brokerage.We plan to provide a credit matching platform in the future
- boost technologies: Optional non-fossil certificate purchase reservation service available (starter plus plan or higher)
What is your strategy for service continuity and stability?
The “visualization” business is expected to grow to $64.4 billion (approximately ¥9 trillion) by 2030. With this sense of anticipation, companies of all sizes, from giant tech companies to startups, are entering the market.
Is it a service that can be used continuously and stably? Reliability is an important factor in software selection.
Finally, we will introduce each company’s strategies for stabilizing and scaling their businesses.
■ Main strategies of Asene
- In November 2022, we established a local subsidiary in Singapore for the first time as a CO2 visualization company. Rapid adoption in APAC and the world
- In February 2023, he participated in the Japan-Singapore Public-Private Economic Dialogue as a climate tech startup representative.In May of the same year, formed a business alliance with Pavilion Energy, the largest government-affiliated energy company in Singapore, and executed voluntary carbon credit transactions held by the company.
- In May 2023, we became the first CO2 visualization company to establish a global development center in Cebu City, Philippines to strengthen product and function development.Strengthen the recruitment of overseas engineers and strengthen product development for the global market
■ Main strategy of e-dash
- Continuous expansion of functions and services that sincerely meet customer needs, not only from emission control but also from the viewpoint of energy optimization
- Promote decarbonization in local areas while deepening cooperation with partner financial institutions and local governments
■ Main strategy of zero board
- A strategy to expand the customer base by utilizing the network of alliance partners and an ecosystem such as decarbonization reduction solutions provided together with partners
- Established a local subsidiary in Thailand, where there are many Japanese manufacturing bases, and is developing local companies as well as Japanese companies.Starting from Thailand and expanding to the entire ASEAN
- Planning to deploy as a management tool for sustainability management not limited to GHG
- Add a support function that utilizes AI, etc., to the specialized support that required human intervention to improve efficiency and speed.
■boost technologies main strategy
- In order to respond to social needs for ESG management, we will not only support the realization of carbon zero/carbon neutral, such as visualization of CO2 emissions, but also environment such as water and resources, social such as human capital, governance Providing a platform that can manage ESG in general and contributing to the improvement of corporate value
*The above survey results have been partially rephrased to the extent that they do not change the meaning of the responses.
Source: BusinessInsider
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