A Sustainable IT Strategy, a Lifesaver for Digital Transformation?

The Information System (IS), consisting among other things of computers, software, and servers, has become the heart of businesses. Finance, industry, and education rely on an increasingly large and complex IS.

Today, 71% of businesses are struggling with the growing volume of internal information to manage. Moreover, every 18 months, the volume of data generated worldwide doubles, thus raising issues of data storage and protection.

On the other hand, digital transformation also has another downside: the increase in the desire for a second screen. Thus, uncontrolled digital transformation leads to economic overruns and a larger environmental footprint. For example:

25% of purchased software and applications are never used, and 10 to 50% of software could be removed without harming the business. This is a waste of 16 billion francs per year in Europe.
15% of servers in data centers are not used.
The frequency of equipment renewal increases in businesses: 36 months for a smartphone and 6 years for a computer, despite their very good condition.

The obesity of the IS translates as follows:

The digital footprint per employee per day is equivalent to a 1000W radiator turned on for 8 hours, 6 km by car, 27 liters of water, and 197 kg of natural resources.
Manufacturing a desktop computer requires 2,800 kg of raw materials and 1,500 liters of water.
The IS would represent up to 30% of the environmental footprint and 60% of the energy consumption of the company. However, more than 80% of organizations have not yet measured the environmental impact of their IS.

« Every 18 months, the volume of data generated worldwide doubles, thus raising issues of data storage and protection. »

So, what should be done? I propose to implement a Sustainable IT approach, a vector for reducing costs and environmental footprint. In practice, it translates into:

Optimizing your IS, that is, doing better with less.
Implementing a responsible IT purchasing policy.
Ecodesigning your digital products or services.

n a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, implementing a responsible digital strategy is no longer a choice. Businesses are suffering but are ready to take on this ecological and economic challenge. Through my conferences and training for organizations, I find that SMEs and large groups are ready to deploy a responsible digital approach. For a more responsible future. More sober. More economical.

Now that you know the challenges of digital in businesses, will you take the leap?

Text originally published on Arc Info