KNAPP: Getting ahead of regulatory reporting to steer business process transformation
Seizing the opportunity to drive value beyond compliance
As the vanguard of intralogistics and intelligent warehouse systems, KNAPP AG responded with urgency to the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) mandate. With SAP Sustainability solutions, KNAPP was able to transform its reporting processes using a resource-efficient, automated solution, enabling the company to go beyond compliance and advance its “now4tomorrow” program.
| Industry | Region | Company Size | Partner |
| High tech | Hart bei Graz, Austria | 8,330 employees | KPMG Austria |
round of CSRD reporting to be completed well ahead of 2027/2028 mandate.
metrics integrated and automated for CSRD compliance.
audit-ready reporting foundation across the company.
Solution Reporting Architect, KNAPP AG
Proactively establishing a strong sustainability data foundation
As a value chain technology leader, KNAPP develops and manufactures intelligent warehouse systems that feature the latest advances in digitalization, software, automation, and robotics. Based in Hart bei Graz, Austria, and at the forefront of logistics for over seven decades, KNAPP has 8,330 employees, 49 locations, numerous subsidiaries, and an international customer base.
Recently, the European Commission (EC) released the Omnibus package, adjusting compliance thresholds and shifting reporting timelines, which directly impacts the CSRD. Even with a two-year CSRD reporting extension available, KNAPP proactively chose to take action, establishing its sustainability foundation well before the deadline.
With automation in its DNA, KNAPP set out to fundamentally shift the company from its labor-intensive reporting processes to a resource-efficient, automated solution. Its digital transformation required evaluating existing software, data systems, and processes; integrating and automating 200 to 250 metrics; and establishing an end-to-end flow to manage and consolidate sustainability data.
Director, ESG Technology Consulting, KPMG Austria
Forging ahead with a technology-enabled approach to sustainability reporting
The grace period for the EU’s Omnibus package provided a strategic opportunity for KNAPP to get in front of the requirements with a technology-enabled approach to sustainability reporting that promises to deliver long-term business value. By establishing a sustainability data foundation ahead of the timeline, the company could comfortably prepare for its first round of compliance reporting.
With the primary goal of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting compliance, KNAPP implemented the SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution to enable integration of its ESG data. The solution allows for transparent reporting and audit-ready CSRD disclosures. Implementation of the SAP Sustainability Footprint Management solution provides insights and carbon footprint calculations at scale, enabling customer and market transparency. In addition, the SAP Datasphere solution delivers a unified data experience, providing data integration, cataloging, warehousing, federation, virtualization, and semantic modeling.
To assist with the implementation, KNAPP leveraged its strong relationship with KPMG Austria, relying on the SAP partner’s extensive expertise in implementing SAP solutions. KPMG launched a deep dive into KNAPP’s existing technology. This included mobilizing KPMG professionals with regulatory acumen to guide the technological and business changes.
Driving sustainable impact through automation and efficiency
By automating data collection across its business using SAP Sustainability Control Tower, KNAPP established an audit-ready reporting foundation. The company can now leverage prebuilt metrics mapped to major ESG standards, use dashboards to identify trends, and access the solution’s AI-enabled ESG report templates. Offering a holistic view of KNAPP’s sustainability data, the solution also enables the company to better steer its ESG initiatives and shape future decision-making. Carbon footprint calculations generated from SAP Sustainability Footprint Management also help KNAPP gain transparency on the environmental impact.
With an efficient reporting solution in place, KNAPP can now meet the Omnibus requirement with time to spare. Early alignment with CSRD also empowers the company to make real-time business adjustments and evolve with the regulatory landscape.
In an effort to not only comply but thrive, KNAPP significantly advanced its internal now4tomorrow program, an initiative designed to produce the company’s inaugural sustainability report, a pivotal companion to its annual financial statement.
Vice President, Integrated Management System, KNAPP AG
Assessing strategic business value across the value chain
With a sustainability data foundation in place using SAP Sustainability solutions, KNAPP is prepared to analyze its value chain, assessing the upstream and downstream effects. This not only allows the company to comply with regulatory requirements but also helps significantly advance its internal now4tomorrow program.
Based on an ESG approach, the three-year now4tomorrow program incorporates 6 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations and follows the EU’s European Sustainability Reporting Standards guidelines. The program addresses the company’s business as a whole, redefining internal roles, responsibilities, and policies.
Ultimately, KNAPP’s ongoing digitalization, automation, and retrofit programs will continue to make sustainability visible, measurable, and able to support resource conservation throughout the company. KNAPP is on track to deliver its first sustainability report by fiscal year 2027/2028, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to a transparent, sustainable future.
Want to know more about KNAPP?
KNAPP: Getting Ahead of Regulatory Reporting to Steer Business Process Transformation (SAP Business Transformation Study)
The Opportunity: More Than Just Compliant Reporting (KPMG article)
Featured partner
With skilled professionals, global reach, and advanced technology, KPMG delivers high-quality services and trusted advice to the world’s leading organizations. Following a deep dive into KNAPP’s existing technology, KPMG mobilized professionals with regulatory acumen to define CSRD requirements and lead the implementation of SAP Sustainability solutions to achieve ESG reporting compliance.