Our close and constructive collaboration with BearingPoint enabled us to successfully integrate SAP SFM into our global system landscape and build a transparent, scalable PCF calculation. By combining specialist expertise and practical implementation, we were able to drive our sustainability goals forward significantly and strengthen our data base for future requirements.
Elina Kessler, Sustainability Manager at Hirschmann Automotive
The impact: Improved transparency for reliable sustainability reporting
Integrating SAP Sustainability Footprint Management (SAP SFM) into Hirschmann Automotive's system landscape enabled the company to efficiently calculate Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) using accurate data with reduced manual input.
This gave them full visibility into materials, production, logistics, and energy use at each site, supporting data-driven decisions and pinpointing emission hotspots by region, location, and product line. Based on these results, Hirschmann Automotive is empowered to introduce strategic steps to lower emissions and consistently track its progress toward achieving decarbonization goals.
At the same time, the solution supports the calculation of the Corporate Carbon Footprint for the whole company, providing a solid basis for meeting the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU CSRD), and helping set and track decarbonization strategies at the corporate level. The validated PCFs for finished products also establish clear and trustworthy information that can be shared with customers, also in accordance with Catena-X.
What we did: Addressing emissions reporting and data management challenges
BearingPoint supported Hirschmann Automotive in advancing its sustainability ambitions by implementing SAP SFM. Starting with a pilot project, targeted workshops identified key emission drivers and defined all relevant PCF categories as well as the associated data requirements.
The project team collected all necessary data for accurate and scalable calculations, carefully filling in any gaps through detailed analysis. SAP SFM was then configured, including tenant setup for both operational and training purposes, as well as defining user roles.
Comprehensive training was delivered for key users, enabling Hirschmann Automotive’s stakeholders to independently operate SAP SFM, validate calculation results, and proactively plan for future scalability. Following the successful pilot, PCF calculation was rolled out globally, supported by the integration of SAP SFM into the company’s system landscape via an automated interface. This allowed for the inclusion of all relevant business transactions in product-level emissions calculations.
In addition to delivering product-level insights, BearingPoint assisted Hirschmann Automotive in with its corporate carbon footprint reporting, ensuring compliance with annual CSRD requirements throughout the organization.
The starting point: Overcoming emissions reporting and data management challenges
Operating in a highly regulated environment in terms of emissions reporting, Hirschmann Automotive is dedicated to improving the carbon footprint of its products. Meeting expectations for accurate and scalable emissions calculations across a large and diverse product portfolio meant capturing the data across materials, manufacturing steps, and upstream suppliers.
With thousands of finished goods, evolving production processes, and limited internal capacity, the company needed a standardized, automated solution that used the latest data from its ERP system to calculate PCFs regularly. Ensuring accuracy and consistency across the entire product portfolio, while remaining ready for evolving regulatory requirements, became critical. Also, addressing these challenges was essential not only for maintaining customer trust but also for progressing the company’s sustainability goals.
Hirschmann Automotive
Hirschmann Automotive develops and manufactures high-performance connector systems and cable assemblies for the automotive industry. As a company with more than 60 years of experience, Hirschmann Automotive is a global supplier leading automotive OEMs and Tier 1s. The company operates production and development sites across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, employing several thousand people worldwide.
