Ripple’s Founder and CEO Adrian Smith gives the story behind Ripple and explains what makes the platform stand out

Can you explain what Ripple does?

Ripple is the easy-to-use AI sustainability data management solution that saves time and cuts costs for companies of any size, in any sector, anywhere.

By simplifying the collection, reporting and sharing of sustainability data and enhancing connectivity across value chains, Ripple enables businesses to reach their sustainability goals faster and more efficiently ensuring they stay compliant and competitive.

For example, users can simply drag any file onto the platform and Ripple’s AI engine will do the rest. We can also connect directly to sources of data to optimise processes behind the scenes. We don’t charge the earth. We recognise the cost challenges for smaller businesses trying to be sustainable and our standard platform is free for these businesses. We also save as much as 90% of the average time it takes to process compliance and sustainability data, reducing the time burden on companies as well as the costs.

Why did you set up Ripple?

Ripple was conceived as a solution to the increasing pressures being put on businesses of all sizes to collect, report and share credible sustainability information.

Our priority is the majority of SMEs that are concerned about the upfront costs and complexity of tracking their sustainability performance and communicating that with their customers. ESG regulations globally have increased by 155% in the past decade, with 1,255 ESG regulations introduced worldwide since 2011 (Source: ESG Book). This perhaps explains why currently only 8% of UK SMEs are reporting on their sustainability. Yet despite this, more than eight in 10 (83%) say that sustainability is important to them and 21% of firms indicate that, with the right frameworks and support in place, they would be “ready and willing” to start reporting (Source: ICAEW).

Research has shown that transparent reporting fosters accountability and encourages companies’ towards decarbonization and resource efficiency. Data from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) show that organizations using reporting frameworks have seen up to 12% year-on-year reductions in emissions due to improved resource efficiency and stakeholder accountability.

With roughly 5.5m SMEs in the UK and 26m in the EU, this presents a huge opportunity for change. Our mission is to remove the friction for businesses in managing their sustainability data and in doing so, help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable economy.

What are the features of Ripple’s platform?

Ripple’s innovative AI, with its advanced machine learning technology, is at the heart of our user experience and connectivity. The platform can process a wide variety of structured and unstructured data sources such as documents, images or sensor data. Ripple identifies the data’s purpose and derives the sustainability and compliance use cases, from extracting the Co2 from fuel bills to processing insurance certificates for legal compliance. Users simply need to drag and drop a file onto Ripple or connect a data source and our AI does the rest.

Ripple users can connect with their suppliers and customers via the platform, to create a sustainability ecosystem that improves visibility and collaboration. This in turn creates a ‘ripple effect’ that facilitates more transparency and accountability in sustainability goal setting, tracking and measurement. Ripple helps larger businesses access primary data and helps smaller businesses by making the process of data collection simple.

Ripple’s intuitive AI story engine is another feature that generates bespoke material aligned to a company’s specific sustainable activities and data, in real time and with minimal input. This allows users to promote their company at the click of a button, helping companies boost visibility and promote their business more effectively to support growth.

Who can use Ripple?

As a secure SaaS platform, Ripple can be used by companies and organisations of any shape and size, in any sector, anywhere.

With standard and premium packages on our core platform, Ripple can be tailored to the sustainability, compliance and data needs of any business. If a business invites you to join Ripple, you can do so at no additional cost at the click of a button. It is that easy.

Once on Ripple, users can benefit from time savings of up to 90% on compliance and regulatory reporting. This will bring big cost savings which will compound over time.

In addition, Ripple users can benefit from cost efficiencies from the Ripple ecosystem, where members can pass on offers and discounts to other users.

The more companies that join Ripple’s ecosystem, the greater the efficiencies that can be achieved, creating a sustainability ‘ripple effect.’ We believe this will help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable economy.

How easy is it to sign up to Ripple?

Ripple is simple to sign up to. Users can register online here and there is no installation needed. We provide clear video guides on how to access the various functions and get started. Our customer success team is on hand to guide the set-up process and our 24/7 support function provides assistance for any users that need additional help.

Depending on the size of the organisation, Ripple can be accessed by any number of users from any number of locations. Access is permissioned by role ensuring that only qualified and approved staff can access sensitive information, and only approved information will be shared. Ripple gives its users complete control of how, when and where their data is used. This can bring additional benefits for employee engagement, for example encouraging employees to track their own emissions through their use of company vehicles, commute, work related travel or their own sustainability initiatives. Ripple’s platform incorporates gamification with heart icons to motivate and reward sustainable activities, enhancing the user experience.

What makes Ripple stand out?

A unique feature of Ripple’s platform is its ability to connect stakeholders across the value chain. Suppliers and partners can join Ripple at no extra cost, gaining access to associated time and cost benefits. Ripple’s value chain ecosystem makes complex tasks, such as capturing scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions data, easier and more efficient. The more partners and suppliers that join Ripple’s ecosystem, the greater the efficiencies that can be achieved, creating a sustainability ‘ripple effect.’

This combined with the pure simplicity and time savings offered to all businesses are a clear differentiator.

How will you be enhancing and growing the platform?

We are developing new modules such as our energy management module which will identify cost saving opportunities for our customers.

We are also developing an AI assistant to go further in our mission to reduce the burden on SMEs by automating more of the time-consuming activities of ESG data management and reporting.

Ripple will continue to grow through organic growth from its users, but also through partnerships with a mix of organisations, from business trade groups through to specialist sustainability consultancies. Our focus in on growing in markets where regulatory compliance is complex, costly and time consuming. Our aim is to make sustainability simple for businesses everywhere.