Western Digital has significantly accelerated its supply chain emissions tracking by deploying an AI-powered email workflow, according to company data. By automating communication with suppliers, the company increased its collection of primary carbon data from 30% to 90% in a pilot program. The process reduced data gathering timelines from up to six months to just four weeks, as reported by Mrinalini Iyer, Western Digital’s program manager for sustainability operations, at the recent Trellis Impact 26 event.
Automating Supplier Data Collection
Large-scale sustainability reporting often stalls at the email stage. Sustainability teams frequently spend months manually chasing information from suppliers who are tasked with navigating complex forms or proprietary platforms. To break this cycle, Western Digital partnered with Sluicebox, a startup specializing in electronics industry carbon data.
The resulting AI agent acts as a digital liaison. Instead of forcing suppliers into a new software login, the agent engages them directly via email. It handles inquiries, tracks responses, and converts raw data into product carbon footprints that adhere to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) requirements. The pilot program targeted critical components, including motor assemblies, baseplates, and device housing.
Did you know?
Western Digital’s shift from manual data wrangling to AI-assisted workflows reduced the time required to collect supplier carbon data from approximately 24 weeks down to just 4 weeks.
Redefining the Sustainability Team Role
The introduction of AI agents into corporate workflows often triggers concerns regarding workforce reduction. However, Iyer emphasized that the goal at Western Digital is to redistribute labor rather than replace staff. By offloading the repetitive task of “data chasing” to an AI, the sustainability team shifts its focus toward higher-value activities.
According to Iyer, these teams now prioritize quality review, methodology validation, and complex decision-making. Keeping humans “in the loop” remains a core tenet of the company’s AI strategy, ensuring that data remains not only fast to collect but also traceable and defensible for regulatory purposes.
Evolution Toward Exception Management
Western Digital’s roadmap involves moving beyond simple data collection toward a comprehensive “system of engagement.” The company is already implementing strategies to handle non-responders, such as estimating emissions gaps using bills of materials and cross-referencing supplier disclosures against industry baselines.
This system flags outliers, allowing human analysts to intervene only when specific assumptions require manual review. This transition from manual input to exception management is expected to scale as the company integrates more of its supply chain into the automated workflow.
Pro Tips for Sustainable Data Collection
- Prioritize usability: Minimize friction by meeting suppliers in their existing communication channels, such as email, rather than requiring new software training.
- Maintain human oversight: Use AI to handle volume and synthesis, but retain human experts to validate the accuracy and methodology of the final output.
- Leverage existing data: Use bills of materials to estimate gaps when primary data is unavailable, ensuring a more complete view of your footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the AI agent interact with suppliers?
- The agent communicates via email to request data, answer supplier questions, and synthesize the information into ISO-aligned carbon footprint reports.
- Does this mean sustainability teams will be smaller?
- According to Western Digital’s Mrinalini Iyer, the technology is designed to redistribute work, allowing teams to focus on quality review and decision-making rather than manual data entry.
- How does the company handle suppliers that do not respond?
- Western Digital uses available inputs like bills of materials to estimate emissions gaps and cross-checks data against industry baselines to ensure accuracy.
Are you interested in learning more about how AI is reshaping corporate sustainability? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on supply chain transparency and tech innovation.
