Leading retailers Robert Dyas and DFS have hailed their data-led approach to achieving their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, with Robert Dyas achieving a 30% reduction in electricity consumption and DFS realising a 28% cut, as well as benefiting from enhanced employee wellbeing and customer experience.
With rising energy costs and an increased focus on environmental impact, many organisations are looking for ways to operationalise their approach to ESG but are stalling at implementation.
Working with start-up consultancy Beyond ESG, both retailers have implemented a data-led approach which turns stores and offices into “data rigs” through sensor technology and building management software.
This, combined with data science capabilities, converts prosaic energy consumption information into actionable data insight.
This, in turn, allows Beyond ESG to optimise schedules and controls which manage usage and traffic flows, enabling enhanced space utilisation and product placement. This can result in improved customer experience adding incremental revenue to the bottom line.
Power and lighting usage are also managed to reduce environmental impact and minimise energy costs by an average of 28%, while air quality and ambient temperatures are also gauged to enhance staff and customer wellbeing as well as boost employee productivity.
Robert Dyas finance director Charlotte Walker said: “The commercialised approach means that the project has been self-funding almost from the start.
“The team’s energy and experience has galvanised the internal team to realise a 30% reduction in energy usage across our retail stores and has provided us with an opportunity to reduce our impact on the environment at the same time.
“The project has been straightforward to implement and has given us a platform to monitor our environmental impact and energy costs at the touch of a button.”
DFS Group head of property services Angeline Griffin added: “ESG is now embedded within our business strategy and we are converting intention into action by this investment.
“The structured and programmatic approach to this project has allowed us to unlock a wealth of unrealised potential in a short space of time. We are so far tracking at 28% savings on power consumption, as well as realising commercial benefits that the insight has unlocked.”
Beyond ESG managing partner Nick Robinson concluded: “Our data-led approach to ESG turns obligation into opportunity by shrinking energy costs, reducing capital expenditure, minimising OpEx and diminishing legal and regulatory interventions.
“At the same time through advanced analytics it generates incremental revenue by optimising the shop floor and improves the working environment for employees – while simultaneously reducing the burden on the environment.
“This is good for climate change, good for the business, good for the customers and good for the employees. A win, win, win, win scenario.”
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