How ESG SaaS Platforms Support Real Estate Companies in Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

Sustainability criteria play a huge role in investment decisions. That's why ESG SaaS platforms are establishing themselves as important tools for the collection, analysis, and reporting of ESG data in a structured and standardised manner. By automating the data collection process, real estate companies can reduce the time and resources spent on manual data collection and analysis. Automated processes form the foundation for a range of support tools that facilitate comprehensive ESG management for asset managers. These include extrapolations to fill data gaps, scenario planning for deriving optimisation measures, and integrated scoring processes, enabling real estate companies to manage their ESG activities more effectively using SaaS solutions.

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One Platform for Holistic ESG Management 

As the ESG transformation progresses, an increasing amount of data and assets need to be managed. To maintain control, it is important to establish a central platform for ESG management within the company—a single source of truth for all data and stakeholders. This platform can be integrated with additional technologies for specific areas of ESG management, such as smart meters or intelligent heating systems for optimising building operations. With Alasco ESG Management, we support real estate companies purposefully at every stage:

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Data Collection

The manual collection of building and consumption data is a process that is very time-consuming and requires a lot of ressources. Often, data must be gathered from various sources and manually entered into spreadsheets or other systems. This process is prone to errors, including typos and inconsistencies in data definitions and formats, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of the data. A range of tools (e.g., smart meters, Brunata Metrona) helps to optimise the data collection process, leading to significant time savings and an overall improvement in the quality of the collected information. Alasco consolidates all ESG data, unites it in one platform and processes consumption data entered by various digital solutions to prepare it for further analysis.

Analysis

With ESG SaaS solutions you can quickly run an ESG analysis of a building or portfolio. Alasco only needs up to 5 data points (including usage type, gross floor area, building condition, energy sources) to deliver a first result. If consumption data is missing or incomplete, valid extrapolations from reputable research institutes are used. The integration of the CRREM tool allows for the classification of results within the 1.5- or 2-degree path. Understanding when an asset deviates from the benchmark path or reaches the stranding point according to the chosen CRREM path provides asset managers with insights into the current performance of their assets and helps identify opportunities and risks. The straightforward and rapid ESG analysis is suitable for both acquisition assessments and the evaluation of existing properties.

• Alasco Insight: Of over 1,000 assets recorded in the Alasco ESG software, only 37% across all usage types are rated very good or good in terms of energy efficiency

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Planning 

From theory to practice – this is best achieved with a cost-benefit comparison of individual measures. Alasco's ESG Optimiser compares the emissions reduction and investment costs for optimisation measures such as installing a heat pump or renovating the building shell. Users can plan preset measures or input individual parameters. For each optimisation, the impact on the decarbonisation pathway and the stranding time of an asset, alongside CO2 savings and necessary costs, are directly displayed. Based on these planning scenarios, decision-makers can make informed choices and set priorities within the portfolio.

• Alasco Insight: Significant savings can be quickly achieved by optimising the technical building equipment (e.g., operating times of air conditioning systems). Additionally, optimising heating and electricity systems (e.g., installing a photovoltaic system) and improving the building shell are major levers.

Implementation

Managing measures based on planning in Alasco simplifies the execution phase, as it allows seamless transfer of building, consumption, and analysis data to and from specialised tools such as Solarize, Enpal, or Othermo.

• Alasco Insight: The measures simulated in Alasco could save more than 31,915 tons of CO2.

Reporting & Benchmarking

ESG reporting demonstrates the sustainability of business activities and assets, creating transparency for stakeholders and investors. The reporting process often involves intensive data collection and preparation to meet the respective criteria. A central ESG platform simplifies the reporting process and enhances the quality of reporting through validated data. Integrated templates for SFDR reports or interfaces to scoring providers such as GRESB help complete all steps quickly and effectively.

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ESG SaaS Solutions: The Key to Data-Driven Decisions and Maximising Returns 

As real estate companies bring their ESG strategies from theory to practice to meet the growing reporting obligations and stakeholder demands, ESG SaaS solutions are essential tools for quickly and easily gaining insights into the ESG performance of the portfolio and planning targeted measures. The key advantages are the immediate readiness of the solution and the autonomous decision-making capability for project managers, independent of energy consultants or other service providers. A central platform for all ESG activities, from data collection to reporting, not only simplifies management but also facilitates data-driven decisions to actively manage ESG risks and maximise returns.