For the last decade, sustainability has gone from a buzzword to a significant driver of operational objectives for global businesses. As the impacts of climate change continue to affect the planet and more governments introduce carbon initiatives to lower greenhouse gas emissions, companies are looking for emerging tech that can help them shrink their carbon footprint and ensure governmental compliance.
Andy Horn, IntraLAN CEO, explains how technology is helping companies meet their sustainability goals and what we can expect as global businesses seek to limit their impact on the environment as much as possible.
Sustainably Transforming Business
Implementing sustainability key performance indicators into your business objectives requires planning, time and accountability. Whether working towards a net zero carbon rating or achieving goals in your environmental, societal and governance (ESG) initiatives, introducing technology can help. We are now in the age of “Ecotech”, extending far beyond renewable energy sources. Achieving sustainability goals can be advanced quicker when implementing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digitisation.
Tech That is Advancing Sustainability Initiatives
For decades, solar and wind power technology has been widely discussed, but what about technology that offers more granular solutions for businesses outside the energy sector?
Digital Transformation:
Digital transformations have been gaining momentum over the last 10 years, and they are changing the way global businesses operate. They’re sustainable for a variety of reasons, including:
- Cut down on non-renewable resources, such as paper
- Saving businesses time by making processes more efficient
- Lower operating costs of moving to the cloud, whereby energy consumption on-site lessens with the removal of on-premises servers and data storage. It can be even more sustainable with the use of:
- Climate-neutral processors, CPUs and data centres
- Environmentally enhanced software, reducing energy consumption
- Implementing a closed-loop, circular business model
Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain:
The IoT and Blockchain implementation can be part of a digital transformation but can also be implemented in a silo. The Internet of Things connects our world like never before. From mobile phones and laptops to manufacturing sensors and advanced tracking, it provides businesses with valuable usage information that will help sustainability initiatives.
You’re probably wondering why we’ve included Blockchain in our list of emerging sustainability tech. Blockchain helps make digital adoption easier by giving businesses cybersecurity peace of mind. Offering unparalleled security, Blockchain offers resilience and transparency through robust encryption and anti-tampering measures.
Data, Analytics and AI
Some of the most advanced emerging tech, data, analytics and AI are leading the charge with real-time sustainability monitoring and enhancements. Businesses who’ve already implemented AI into their operational processes can see how their business’ practices impact the environment and their efficiency in real-time.
A heavier reliance on analytics can help businesses finetune their operations and services, enhancing customer satisfaction whilst improving sustainability measures and saving money. It’s a win-win for business, customers and the environment.
Sustainability Through Collaboration
Collaboration and data sharing, whether within your industry or across industries, can help all involved find solutions to shared sustainability challenges. It provides additional benefits, such as:
- Additional shared resources
- Ability to fill gaps in capabilities through corroboration and collaboration
- Easier scalability and easier access to new or expanding markets
- Bolstered trust through partners
- Access to a wider audience for products and services
Leaders in enterprise-level IT and technology and critical network provision, IntraLAN understands the importance of embracing emerging technology and how it’s changing businesses for the better. Andy says:
“In the Channel, IT and technology are our bread and butter. Our customers rely on our knowledge of these technologies. Our customers expect us to be experts in all things technology to help take their businesses to the next level. Implementing these forward-thinking initiatives helps us better serve our customers and ensures we’re helping their business continuity plans’ success.”
If sustainability through technology is in your company’s long-term business plans, ensuring you have a partner to support you through those integral changes is vital. Contact IntraLAN to discover how we can help provide total peace of mind, improve your teams’ efficiency and help your teams embrace emerging technology to foster sustainability.