Willow, Microsoft Team to Link Digital Twin to Sustainability Cloud

Willow, a leading provider of digital twin solutions, has partnered with Microsoft to integrate the proptech firm’s WillowTwin platform with the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability.

The connection, which Willow developed, enables the seamless exchange of precise data between WillowTwin and Microsoft’s sustainable reporting platform.

“This integration will streamline sustainability reporting for any corporation who own and or manage facilities, providing accurate and contextual sustainability insights at both a macro portfolio level, as well as at an individual facility level, including insights into carbon intensity and emissions over time, right alongside the existing energy intensity and usage,” the companies said, in statement they jointly issued on Wednesday.

According to Willow, the connection will enable users to receive accurate emissions calculations to be included in their overall emissions reporting, and also to spearhead emission-reduction efforts by the property owner.

“Subsequently, real-time insights can be used to drive actions, through the WillowTwin, to reduce future emissions,” the statement said.

The partners said the integrated cloud solution solves a key industry challenge in the reporting of sustainability targets. Companies often don’t have a single data source, rely heavily on static reports, and have limited access to real-time or contextual data.

“Corporations are now faced directly with the challenge of how to comply with and adapt to the shifting requirements of sustainability management and reporting. But in order to make a genuine impact, they must fully account for the influence their facilities have on their company footprint,” said Bert Van Hoof, president and chief operating officer of Willow, in a statement.

The partners said the integration will give property owners and operators an “accurate and holistic view of their sustainability footprint.”

“By integrating Willow with the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, any company that owns or manages facilities can now move closer to having sustainable IT infrastructure and reduce the environmental impact of operations” Elisabeth Brinton, corporate VP of Sustainability at Microsoft, said.

Willow has been integrating WillowTwin with other platforms as it aims for a “plug and play” platform that will differentiate itself from all of the SaaS-oriented platforms in the proptech market by integrating the best solutions.

In October, Willow announced a partnership with Procore Technologies, a leading provider of construction management software, to streamline the transition of digital deliverables from the construction phase to the handover and operations phases in a more structured and efficient manner.

According to the partners, their initiative will create a “digital thread” that connects a historical record of construction data—starting with the construction supply chain—to the virtual replica of the built, allowing owners to deploy digital twin smart asset solutions with greater speed.