OpenEco Roadmap

This roadmap outlines the development priorities and timeline for OpenEco, organized by enterprise credibility requirements and strategic differentiation.

See also: ARCHITECTURE.md for technical details, COMPETITIVE_ANALYSIS.md for market context.

🎯 Current Status (Q4 2024)

✅ Completed:

Core Next.js application with App Router
EcoKit design system
Prisma data model (basic)
Basic authentication (NextAuth.js)
Basic API routes
Dashboard with charts (pie, bar, line)
Basic activity data entry
Organization and facility management
Comprehensive documentation (ARCHITECTURE.md, SECURITY_AND_GOVERNANCE.md, AI Assistant spec)

🚧 In Progress:

Contributor onboarding automation
Setup scripts (Windows complete, macOS/Linux in progress)

🔴 Tier 1: Credibility Spine (Critical)

Timeline: Q1 2025
Goal: Build enterprise trust through transparent, auditable calculations and governance.

Features

Feature	Description	Status
Calculation Details Drawer	Show factor source, version, GWP set, and methodology for every emission value	📅 Planned
Factor Library MVP	`/factors` module with DEFRA, IPCC, EPA datasets, search/filter	📅 Planned
Factor Versioning	Pin factor versions per reporting period, immutable historical factors	📅 Planned
Evidence Attachments	Upload invoices, receipts, scale tickets per activity record	📅 Planned
Approval Workflow	Draft → Submitted → Approved → Locked states with role-based permissions	📅 Planned
Locked Periods	Prevent edits to approved reporting periods	📅 Planned
Audit Log	Track all state changes, factor updates, calculation runs	📅 Planned
Export Audit Pack	ZIP export with CSV, JSON, methodology documentation	📅 Planned

Success Criteria

✅ Every emission value can be traced to source data + factor version
✅ All data changes are logged and auditable
✅ Reports include factor citations and methodology footnotes
✅ Organizations can trust OpenEco for audit-grade emissions accounting

🟠 Tier 2: Platform Differentiation (High Priority)

Timeline: Q2-Q3 2025
Goal: Differentiate OpenEco as the “system of proof” through transparency and interoperability.

Features

Feature	Description	Status
Public Verification Artifacts	QR codes and shareable links for frozen reports	📅 Planned
Scope 2 Dual Reporting	Location-based + market-based calculations side-by-side	📅 Planned
Data Quality Scoring	Coverage % indicators, anomaly detection, completeness tracking	📅 Planned
Interoperability-First API	Full REST API with authentication, webhooks, bulk operations	📅 Planned
Completeness Tracking UI	Month-by-month data coverage visualization	📅 Planned
Status Badges	Draft/Pending/OK/Error/Approved indicators throughout UI	📅 Planned
Hierarchy Table	Expandable category → subcategory → activity drilldown	📅 Planned

Success Criteria

✅ Reports can be publicly verified without login
✅ API enables full platform integration
✅ Data quality issues are automatically flagged
✅ OpenEco differentiates through transparency and interoperability

🟡 Tier 3: Big Value Features (Medium Priority)

Timeline: Q4 2025 - Q2 2026
Goal: Enable advanced analytics, forecasting, and collaboration.

3.1. Reporting Engine (Full Implementation)

Feature	Description	Status
Framework Mapping Layer	Map internal data to TCFD, CSRD, CDP, GRI disclosure requirements	📅 Planned
Report Template Library	Pre-built templates for major frameworks	📅 Planned
PDF Generation	HTML-to-PDF pipeline with Playwright	📅 Planned
Async Job Queue	Background report generation with BullMQ + Redis	📅 Planned
S3-Compatible Storage	Store generated reports in MinIO/S3	📅 Planned

3.2. Forecasting & Analytics Engine

Feature	Description	Status
Statistical Models	Linear Trend, ARIMA, Seasonal forecasting	📅 Planned
Scenario Analysis	SBTi-aligned scenarios (1.5°C, Well-Below 2°C, Net Zero 2050)	📅 Planned
Reduction Initiative Modeling	Project impact of specific reduction initiatives	📅 Planned
Gap Analysis	Compare projections vs. targets, identify gaps	📅 Planned

3.3. AI Assistant (MVP)

Feature	Description	Status
Self-Hosted Model Integration	LLaMA/Mistral inference (no external APIs)	📅 Planned
Context Builder	Aggregate emission summaries, factors, audit logs, docs	📅 Planned
Prompt Template	Single, well-tested prompt structure	📅 Planned
UI Panel	“OpenEco Assistant” chat interface	📅 Planned
Audit Logging	Log all AI interactions for transparency	📅 Planned

Capabilities:

✅ Explain reports and calculations
✅ Summarize emissions changes
✅ Draft ESG narratives (requires human review)
✅ Flag data quality issues
✅ Answer methodology questions

Hard Boundaries:

❌ Never generates emissions values
❌ Never modifies data directly
❌ Never changes factor versions
❌ Never makes compliance claims
❌ Always requires human confirmation

3.4. Supplier Collaboration

Feature	Description	Status
Supplier Portal	Self-service data entry for suppliers	📅 Planned
Survey Workflows	Questionnaire builder for Scope 3 data collection	📅 Planned
Supply Chain Mapping	Visualize supplier network and emissions	📅 Planned
Cross-Instance Data Sharing	Secure data exchange between OpenEco instances	📅 Planned

🛠️ Infrastructure & DevOps

Timeline: Ongoing

Feature	Description	Status
OCI Containerization	Single OCI image for all deployments	📅 Planned
Podman/Docker Compose	Single-host deployment configuration	📅 Planned
Helm Charts	Kubernetes/OKD/OpenShift package	📅 Planned
Installation Documentation	End-user deployment guides	✅ In Progress
Demo Site	Public demo on Vercel	📅 Planned
High Availability Setup	Multi-node, load-balanced deployment	📅 Future
SBOM + Signed Releases	Software Bill of Materials for security	📅 Q1 2025

👨‍💻 Developer Experience

Timeline: Q2-Q3 2025

Feature	Description	Status
Setup Scripts	Automated dev environment setup	✅ Windows done
`openeco` CLI	Command-line wrapper for common operations	📅 Planned
Local Dev with Podman	Containerized local development	📅 Planned
Test Suite	Comprehensive unit and integration tests	📅 Planned
API Documentation	OpenAPI/Swagger documentation	📅 Planned

🎯 Key Milestones

Milestone 1: Credibility MVP (Q1 2025)

Goal: Enterprise-ready calculation transparency

Deliverables:

Factor library with versioning
Calculation details drawer
Approval workflow
Audit log
Export audit pack

Outcome: Organizations can trust OpenEco for audit-grade emissions accounting.

Milestone 2: Platform Differentiation (Q2-Q3 2025)

Goal: “System of proof” capabilities

Deliverables:

Public verification artifacts
Scope 2 dual reporting
Data quality scoring
Full REST API

Outcome: OpenEco differentiates through transparency and interoperability.

Milestone 3: Advanced Analytics (Q4 2025 - Q1 2026)

Goal: Forecasting and framework reporting

Deliverables:

Reporting Engine (full implementation)
Forecasting & Analytics Engine
Framework-mapped reports (CSRD, TCFD)
AI Assistant MVP

Outcome: OpenEco enables strategic planning and regulatory compliance.

Milestone 4: Ecosystem (Q2-Q3 2026)

Goal: Collaboration and extensibility

Deliverables:

Supplier portal
Cross-instance data sharing
Plugin system
Sector-specific modules

Outcome: OpenEco becomes the platform for supply chain transparency.

📊 Priority Rationale

Tier 1 (Critical): Without calculation transparency, factor management, and audit trails, OpenEco cannot compete with enterprise platforms. These features are table stakes for credibility.

Tier 2 (High): Public verification and interoperability differentiate OpenEco as the “system of proof” rather than just another carbon accounting tool.

Tier 3 (Medium): Advanced features (forecasting, AI, supplier collaboration) provide long-term value but are not required for initial enterprise adoption.

⚠️ Risk Mitigation

Risk	Mitigation
Factor data quality	Start with authoritative sources (DEFRA, IPCC, EPA), version everything
Calculation accuracy	Publish test vectors, enable external validation
Performance at scale	Async job queues, caching, database optimization
Security vulnerabilities	Security-first architecture, regular audits, SBOM
Adoption barriers	Clear documentation, easy setup, demo site

📅 Timeline Summary

Q4 2024 ────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  ✅ Foundation (Core app, design system, docs)         │
                                                         │
Q1 2025 ────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  🔴 Tier 1: Credibility Spine                          │
  • Factor library + versioning                         │
  • Calculation details drawer                           │
  • Approval workflow                                    │
  • Audit log                                           │
                                                         │
Q2-Q3 2025 ─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  🟠 Tier 2: Platform Differentiation                   │
  • Public verification                                  │
  • Scope 2 dual reporting                              │
  • Data quality scoring                                │
  • Full REST API                                       │
                                                         │
Q4 2025 - Q1 2026 ─────────────────────────────────────┤
  🟡 Tier 3: Big Value Features                        │
  • Reporting Engine (full)                              │
  • Forecasting & Analytics                             │
  • AI Assistant MVP                                    │
                                                         │
Q2-Q3 2026 ─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  🟡 Tier 3: Ecosystem                                  │
  • Supplier portal                                     │
  • Cross-instance sharing                              │
  • Plugin system                                       │

🤝 Contributing

Want to help build OpenEco? See CONTRIBUTING.md for:

How to get started
Development environment setup
Contribution guidelines
Community Discord: discord.gg/3MgJ8vXW

Last Updated: December 2024
Next Review: Quarterly
Status: 🚧 In Active Development