The huge range of sustainability apps now on offer will collapse into a small number of integrated business software platforms, research firm Verdantix predicts.

 

In a recent survey of 65 software providers Verdantix found 126 applications that support environment, energy, carbon, corporate responsibility, sustainability and health and safety business processes. 

 

It says four niche categories of software applications – carbon management, sustainability reporting, energy management and environmental compliance – will disappear and be replaced “integrated sustainable business software platforms.”

 

“In the past, issues like environmental compliance, water management and CSR reporting were low priorities for the majority of organizations,” said Verdantix analyst Peter Charville-Mort.

 

“But in the last three years energy costs, sustainability brand risks, and looming climate change regulations have transformed sustainability from a CSR issue into a strategic challenge. Software providers like Enviance, Hara and SAP have responded by investing in a new breed of sustainable business software platforms.”

 

Verdantix said the number of sustainable software apps for business has grown from 31 to 126 over the past five years, with the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model now dominating because of its scalability.

 

The survey found that 93% of sustainable business software was bought by execs with dedicated sustainability responsibilities, such as the CSO. Just 18% was sold directly into the IT organization.