As sustainability requirements become increasingly important, companies need to be able to demonstrate their sustainability performance to customers, banks and business partners. Latvian technology company SIA “JAZ” has developed the innovative digital platform “JAZNEXUS” and launched two products – one enabling companies to prepare sustainability reports and another helping them assess the sustainability performance of their business partners and suppliers. Having launched in the Latvian market, the company is now also actively looking towards export markets.
The sustainability reporting tool developed by the company is primarily designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. By answering the questions included in the platform and entering the required data, companies can prepare a sustainability report on their operations in line with European Union (EU) standards within a relatively short period of time. The platform also includes dedicated calculators, while completed reports can be downloaded and submitted to customers, banks or other business partners. The tool is particularly suitable for manufacturing and exporting companies, which are increasingly required to provide information about their sustainability performance.
The second “JAZNEXUS” tool is primarily intended for larger companies that have already implemented sustainability requirements and also need to assess their supply chains. The platform enables companies to compile information about business partners and suppliers, identify associated sustainability risks and prepare a report outlining the improvements required going forward.
The creator of the idea and CEO of SIA “JAZ”, Ella Ancāne, has extensive experience in sustainability management and risk management, having worked in both large and small companies. It was this practical experience that enabled her to identify the market need for a simple and user-friendly digital solution.
“Companies are increasingly required to provide sustainability-related information to customers, banks and other business partners, yet many small and medium-sized enterprises do not have their own sustainability manager. There are still relatively few such specialists on the market in general – universities only began training them in specialised study programmes relatively recently. As a result, sustainability issues are often assigned as an additional responsibility to quality or communications managers, who need time to understand the complex requirements. Our tool significantly simplifies this process – companies do not need to work their way through extensive regulatory documents because the platform guides them step by step in compiling the necessary information and preparing the report,” says Ella Ancāne.
SIA “JAZ” began developing the “JAZNEXUS” digital platform in 2024, when growing business interest in the forthcoming EU sustainability requirements provided a significant impetus for bringing the solution to market. As it developed the business idea, the company joined the business incubation programme of LIAA’s Sigulda Representative Office in July of the same year. Both tools developed by the company are now available on the Latvian market.
“As European Union sustainability requirements became increasingly relevant, interest among companies was particularly high. When the implementation of some of the requirements was postponed for several years, market activity declined and our growth also became more moderate. However, we know that this solution has strong potential – to a large extent, it is simply a matter of time. Moreover, sustainability issues have not become any less relevant – customers, banks and business partners also request and assess information about companies’ performance in this area. Companies therefore still need to be able to compile this data and present it clearly,” says E. Ancāne.
According to the information available to SIA “JAZ”, the company currently has no direct competitors in the Latvian market, although several providers of similar solutions operate elsewhere in Europe. The company sees the platform’s ease of use as its main competitive advantage – it has been developed based on the practical experience and needs of sustainability managers and is also available in Latvian for local businesses.
Both “JAZNEXUS” tools operate on an annual subscription basis – companies purchase access for one year and can use the platform’s features throughout that period. This model enables sustainability information to be updated regularly and reports to be prepared again whenever necessary.
SIA “JAZ” is now also actively looking towards export markets, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan identified as priority markets. Both countries have large manufacturing companies, many of which are seeking to export their products to the European Union.
“To enter the European market – whether by starting to export or establishing cooperation with European companies – manufacturers are increasingly expected to provide transparent information about their operations and supply chains, as well as meet customers’ and partners’ sustainability requirements. Experience in applying these requirements is still relatively limited in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, while preparing the necessary information requires specific knowledge of European Union regulations. We therefore see significant potential for our solutions in these markets,” explains Ella.
Ella acknowledges that entering markets of this kind takes time and requires the involvement of reliable partners, which is why the company is developing its exports gradually. For example, SIA “JAZ” plans to enter the Kazakh market in cooperation with a Latvian company that already has experience and the necessary contacts in the country.
SIA “JAZ” sees its future growth opportunities not only in expanding into international markets but also in developing new products. Alongside the continued development of the two “JAZNEXUS” tools currently available on the market, the company is already working on a third digital solution, with further details to be announced at a later stage.
This article was produced within the framework of the project “Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship for SMEs”, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Union.
