Top Salesforce Features for Green Engineering Companies to Enhance Sustainability
The World We Live In and the Road Ahead The global push toward sustainability has gained momentum in recent years. It is clearly driven by the undeniable impact of climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. As industries work to reduce their carbon footprint and minimise their environmental impact, green engineering companies have emerged as pivotal players in this transformation. These businesses focus on designing, implementing, and scaling sustainable solutions that meet the needs of industries, society and the environment. Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, offers a suite of tools and features that enable these companies to streamline their operations and measure the impact of their sustainability efforts. In this blog, we’ll explore how Salesforce achieves this and what are the challenges these companies faced before adopting Salesforce. Government Mandate and Private Sector Interest in Green Engineering Governments worldwide are increasingly enacting policies and regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices. For instance, the EU has enacted ambitious climate regulations under the European Green Deal, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Similarly, the U.S. government passed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which aims to reduce the country’s emissions by 1 billion tons in 2030. Such mandates are shaping how industries operate, and green engineering companies are at the forefront of this change. From implementing renewable energy projects to creating environmentally friendly construction materials, these companies are critical in meeting global sustainability goals. Private sector interest in green engineering has also surged. Many large corporations have announced ambitious sustainability targets, from becoming carbon-neutral to adopting renewable energy and reducing waste. Investors and consumers alike are demanding that businesses take meaningful steps toward sustainability, and green engineering companies provide the expertise and solutions to help them achieve these goals. Work Done by Green Engineering Companies Several green engineering companies have already pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainability. These companies often work on renewable energy solutions like wastewater treatment plants, solar and wind power, carbon capture technologies, and sustainable materials for construction. They are tackling some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues by creating solutions that are not only eco-friendly but also economically viable. Probst Group, one of our clients, and a leader in wastewater treatment technology, is dedicated to providing sustainable solutions for various industries, with a strong focus on green engineering. The company is involved in designing and implementing innovative wastewater treatment plants that not only manage waste but also generate renewable energy. For instance, their project in rural Wisconsin helped dairy processors build a centralised treatment facility. This plant significantly reduced phosphorus discharge, managed high-strength wastewater, and produced renewable energy from biogas, enough to power more than 1,200 homes. Additionally, the project reduced local truck traffic and supported future production expansion. Challenges in Balancing Business Growth and Providing Sustainable Solutions Despite their initiatives, green engineering companies face several hurdles, such as limited resources, competition from larger players, and a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. For green engineering companies, scaling operations while maintaining their core mission of sustainability can be a significant challenge. As demand for green solutions increases, green engineering companies have to constantly find ways to expand their offerings and enter new markets without compromising their commitment to environmental stewardship. Another major challenge is striking the balance between profitability and sustainability. In a competitive market, businesses often face pressure to cut costs, but this can sometimes lead to decisions that undermine their green credentials, such as using less sustainable materials or bypassing certain environmental regulations. The need to strike a balance between short-term financial gains and long-term environmental impact is a constant struggle for many companies. Moreover, the regulatory landscape is constantly changing. Companies must stay up-to-date with the latest government mandates on emissions, waste management, and energy use, which can vary by region. Keeping track of these regulations, especially when operating across multiple jurisdictions, can be overwhelming. How Salesforce and its Rich Feature Set Helps to Maintain this Balance? Salesforce offers solutions to these challenges by providing tools and features to manage projects, monitor regulatory compliance, and measure sustainability metrics—all in one place. The platform’s ability to centralise data, track performance, and forecast future trends allows companies to make informed decisions that align with both their business objectives and sustainability goals. Below are some key modules of Salesforce that can make a significant difference for Green Engineering companies: 1. Net Zero Cloud Salesforce’s Net Zero Cloud is one of the most valuable tools for green engineering companies. It enables organisations to track, analyse, and report their environmental impact, such as greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and waste production. This tool provides real-time insights into a company’s sustainability performance, helping them identify areas for improvement and ensuring they remain compliant with government regulations. By using Net Zero Cloud, green engineering companies can calculate their carbon footprint, set emission reduction targets, and measure their progress over time. This data is crucial for companies looking to build trust with stakeholders, including investors, clients, and government agencies, by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. 2. Customer 360 Salesforce Customer 360 gives companies a unified view of their customers, partners, and suppliers. For green engineering companies, this feature allows for better relationship management across multiple touchpoints, including sales, customer service, and project management. This unified approach ensures that everyone within the organisation is aligned and working toward common sustainability goals. Customer 360 also helps green engineering companies build stronger partnerships by enabling seamless communication and collaboration. Whether they’re working with government agencies to meet regulatory requirements, or with suppliers to source sustainable materials, or with clients to build solutions, Salesforce facilitates the necessary coordination and alignment. 3. Einstein Analytics Salesforce Einstein, the platform’s artificial intelligence (AI) tool, provides powerful predictive analytics that can help green engineering companies optimise their operations. Using machine learning algorithms, Einstein can analyse vast amounts of data to uncover patterns and predict future trends. For example, Einstein can
