ESG Champions of India 2024

20 | ESG Champions of India 2024 [ EXPERTS VIEW ] HOW DOES BIRLASOFT INCORPORATE ESG PRACTICE INTO ITS STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS? Birlasoft is deeply committed to sustainability, focusing on reducing its carbon footprint through energy efficiency and solar energy, alongside initiatives in waste and water management. Project Shodhan, launched in 2017, tackles agricultural challenges like crop residue burning with sustainable farming practices. We continue to invest in diversity and employee well- being, uphold strong corporate governance, and partner with platforms like Coursera for employee development. Integrating ESG into our strategy mitigates risks and promotes innovation and growth. HOW IS COMPANY HELPING ORGANIZATIONS WITH ESG INTEGRATION AND DRIVING SUCCESS ACROSS VARIOUS BUSINESS VERTICALS? Birlasoft leverages its digital transformation and technology consulting expertise to embed ESG principles in businesses across sectors, offering customized solutions for unique organizational needs. In Manufacturing, Energy and Emissions Management System (EEMS) aids clients, like Fortune 500 engine manufacturers, reduce GHG emissions and optimize energy use through IoT, asset tracking, data monitoring, and analytics. It enhances efficiency in tracking energy and water generation, reduces manpower requirements, and ensures impeccable GHG emission monitoring. For Life Sciences, IntelliPoint ensures employee health and safety with contactless screening, social distancing, and tracing, enabling touchless check-ins, thermal scans, compliance monitoring, hotspot detection, and risk-based health monitoring. In BFSI, ESG CSR Automation & Data Analytics framework accelerates ESG metric integration across corporate net-zero visions and investment portfolios. Integrating ESG factors into investment workflows, assesses ESG risk, uses AI & ML for self-learning algorithms, facilitates efficient investment decisions, emission monitoring, sustainable finance integration, risk management, and compliance with international standards. WHAT ARE COMPANY’S KEY ESG GOALS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND HOW DO THEY ALIGN WITH THE COMPANY’S OVERALL GROWTH STRATEGY? Birlasoft aims to align ambitious ESG goals with our growth strategy. This encompasses initiatives like carbon reduction, water conservation, diversity, and employee well-being, reflecting core values for long-term success and stakeholder value. Birlasoft targets 35% gender diversity by 2025, training all employees on unconscious bias, reducing our carbon footprint, achieving zero waste to landfill status, and ensuring 100% supplier compliance with our code of conduct. By embracing renewable energy, clean technologies, and responsible procurement, we aim to minimize environmental impact. With strategic partnerships, Birlasoft seeks to meet these goals, fostering innovation, growth, and societal benefits. These ESG goals catalyze innovation and performance improvement, reinforcing our commitment to a responsible future. Arun Dinakar Rao Chief People Officer Birlasoft Limited Dun & Bradstreet