Consulting
Interview: Deloitte & SmartHead Collaboration
We sat down with a leader from Deloitte’s ESG team to discuss how they approach sustainability reporting, the evolving market, and why SmartHead has become one of their recommended ESG tools.
Q: To start, could you tell us a bit about your role at Deloitte and how it connects to ESG work?
I lead a team in Czech Republic and Slovakia that focuses on on ESG and CSRD reporting from advisory perspective as well as assurance. As auditors, we care deeply about data quality and proper internal controls. That’s something we also look for in ESG data management tools like SmartHead.
Q: From a broader perspective, what sparked Deloitte’s focus on ESG? Was it driven by regulation or something deeper?
It’s a bit of both. As a firm, we have our own sustainability goals globally and at the regional level. Because we offer audit and advisory services, governance and risk control are naturally important to us. In terms of services, our focus is driven by client demand. We’ve actually been doing ESG work for over eight years in Czech Republic and Slovakia, long before CSRD became a hot topic.
Q: Let’s talk about SmartHead. What was the driver for starting that collaboration?
It began through a mix of internal connections and seeing the product in action. Before we had mutual clients, we identified SmartHead as a promising solution. Once clients began seriously looking for tools, we included SmartHead in our recommendations.
Q: When recommending ESG tools to clients, how do you usually approach that decision?
It really depends on the client. Many didn’t want to commit to a complex tool in the early stages. But when we saw they were serious about ESG, we usually recommended SmartHead among other solutions because they wanted something simple, fast to implement, and cost-effective. We never push a specific vendor, but SmartHead often aligns well with what clients are looking for.
Q: What do you see as SmartHead’s biggest advantages?
A few things stand out: first, ease of use and a short implementation timeline. Clients also value that the platform supports local languages, which matters when the reporting standards are already complex. It covers the main ESG areas like carbon footprint and EU taxonomy in one place, and it’s flexible - something that’s becoming more important with changes to legislation.
Q: Do you or your team work directly in the SmartHead platform when supporting clients?
Our role is to provide guidance and support throughout the process. For instance, after completing a double materiality assessment, we help clients organize and structure their data in a way that prepares them for reporting, and SmartHead is a logical next step for housing that data.
Q: What do you expect in terms of collaboration going forward — any plans to deepen it?
We have a solid working relationship already. We align regularly, share feedback, and look at joint opportunities. We’re hosting a webinar together soon — these types of activities help build awareness and educate the market. We're also exploring regional collaboration beyond the Czech and Slovak markets.
Honestly, the demand will depend on how the legislation evolves and how companies react. But when companies are looking for a tool that’s quick to roll out, flexible to future standards, and available in many languages — SmartHead will remain a strong option.
