Why is environmental sustainability important for IT leaders and digital experts driving digital transformation?
Sort By:
Oldest
Principal Digital Architect in IT Services8 months ago
I second what Farhan lists and I only have 2 additional angles you could bring in to your digital transformation: Sustainability efforts are very had to quantify, and it requires deep insights into how things are done within your business and what data you have to support these insights. Similar data and insights are needed to do a successful transformation. If an As-Is analysis is too big an effort you can at least take sustainability into account when designing the To-Be scenarios. I compare this to the situation we had around GDPR. We could just see that as a compliance exercise, but it creates an opportunity to get greater insight into your own business processes and data, which is valuable in so many other ways.
The last angle would be to support your products with sustainability data as part of the product. Compliance will require the ability to report the impact of full value chains which means you need the data from your suppliers and partners, and your customers need your consolidated data in their reporting. Companies able to pass along this information with their products will have an advantage in the market, and as Farhan also writes it will be demanded from the consumers, employees, and investors sides as well.
I recommend putting sustainability in as a business outcome in your digital transformation and supporting it by some hard metrics
IT Manager in Construction8 months ago
I believe it is a domain managed by other stakeholders with vertical skills and competencies.Nobody will say you no to your question but the right answer is, the IT is at support of these needs.
Ethical Imperative: The IT industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, with data centers accounting for 2% of global electricity consumption. As digital transformation accelerates, this impact will only grow. Therefore,embracing sustainability is an ethical obligation for leaders who want to contribute positively to the planet's future.
Business and Cost Optimization: Sustainable practices often translate to cost savings. Reducing energy consumption in data centers, leveraging cloud computing efficiently, and adopting green hardware can significantly reduce operational expenses. Additionally, integrating sustainability into products and services can attract environmentally conscious consumers and investors, boosting brand reputation and market share.
Resilience and Risk Mitigation: Climate change poses significant risks to IT infrastructure, disrupting operations and impacting data security. By implementing sustainable practices, IT leaders can build more resilient systems that are less vulnerable to extreme weather events and resource scarcity.
Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Demand: Increasingly, governments are enacting stricter regulations on energy consumption and waste management for businesses, including the IT sector. Consumers are also demanding more sustainable products and services, pushing companies to adapt to remain competitive.
Innovation and Differentiation: Embracing sustainability presents opportunities for innovation. IT leaders can explore greener technologies, develop solutions for environmental challenges, and drive new business models based on circular economy principles. This can be a powerful differentiator in a competitive market.
Attracting and Retaining Talent: Millennial and Gen Z, who are deeply concerned about the environment, increasingly consider sustainability when choosing employers. IT leaders who prioritize sustainability can attract and retain top talent,creating a more diverse and engaged workforce.
By embracing environmental sustainability, IT leaders and digital experts can drive positive change while ensuring the long-term success of their businesses. It's a win-win for the environment, the economy, and the future of our planet.