Unlocking digital sustainability: The power of ITAM and procurement in IT operations

Did you know that digital technologies currently contribute to approximately 3.7 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, and a significant portion of this comes from the rapid adoption of digital transformation???

In this edition of The SoftwareOne Scoop, we explore the role of IT Asset Management (ITAM) in simplifying the complexities of IT operations and evaluating the environmental impact of your vendors. Additionally, we provide seven steps to enhance your decision-making process in IT, thereby reducing environmental risks. This will enable you to actively monitor how sustainability initiatives are continuously reducing carbon emissions.?

ITAM can manage more than your assets

If you don’t know how much energy consumption is associated with your IT operations, you’re not alone. Many businesses require help and careful planning when it comes to unraveling the complexity of IT operations. We recommend:??

Getting to know your energy usage.?

To grasp the total environmental impact of your organization, it's crucial to first understand the energy usage attributed to servers, data centers, and devices. Additionally, recognizing how activities like cloud computing and video streaming contribute to increased energy consumption is essential.?

You can also start removing complexities by developing an ITAM strategy. ?

At its core, ITAM embodies guiding principles that provide businesses with comprehensive insight into their IT landscapes from all angles. This aids IT departments in identifying existing technologies, whether on-prem or in the cloud, that require replacement or upgrading, as well as those that have become outdated and can be phased out. Additionally, ITAM aids IT departments in monitoring the unauthorized implementation of software and systems by other departments, a concerning and increasingly prevalent issue. Further, ITAM assessments assist businesses in initiating their sustainability efforts by empowering them to make more informed IT choices. This, in turn, enables them to reduce environmental risks and continually monitor how sustainability initiatives effectively reduce carbon emissions.?

SoftwareOne has a wealth of experience in advocating for sustainable IT practices, and our ITAM division plays a pivotal role in establishing a starting point and diligently strives to reduce carbon emissions. We adopt a method that involves comprehending the requirements of your procurement department and any other significant stakeholders. This approach allows us to create a comprehensive understanding of your precise technology needs, ultimately supporting the optimization of IT utilization and the continuous reduction of energy consumption.

On the road to holding IT vendors accountable for sustainable product and service delivery

As previously mentioned, the environmental impact of digital technology use has become a global concern, contributing to 3.7% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Organizations increasingly recognize the need to measure and reduce their digital carbon footprint, driven by the growing importance of sustainability and ESG reporting.?

Moreover, businesses should ensure that IT vendors align with their sustainability objectives. The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will mandate disclosure of sustainability practices and performance, making vendor accountability more crucial.??

With the need to start reducing carbon emissions and support carbon reduction targets, one option is to turn your focus to the following areas: IT Asset Management (ITAM) and Procurement. With the combined forces of ITAM and Procurement, businesses can better examine all angles and create the most effective foundation for sustainable IT operations. If you want to maximize your efforts, look to work with an IT vendor who has years of experience in supporting sustainable practices in IT.?

By optimizing technology utilization and minimizing energy consumption with ITAM and Procurement strategies, you can establish a foundation for sustainable IT operations, ultimately contributing to a greener digital future.

Seven steps to enhance your decision-making process in IT

If your ITAM practice is already well established and you feel ready to begin reducing your carbon footprint ASAP, check out the 7 steps below to get started:?

1. Develop a Clear Sustainability Policy: Establish a policy with specific sustainability goals, including IT equipment energy efficiency and end-of-life disposal strategies.?

1. Measure Energy Consumption: Calculate the energy usage of IT assets and cloud services to create an emissions baseline for tracking progress and compliance.?

1. Implement Optimization Tools: Utilize tools and practices to optimize IT asset and cloud resource usage, reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency.?

1. Enhance Infrastructure Efficiency: Improve data center operations and consider cloud migration to boost energy efficiency. Extend the lifespan of hardware.?

1. Continue...?

Looking for additional ways to establish technically effective, cost-efficient strategies in your business transformation? Be sure to register for our upcoming Digital Modernization Summit, taking place on November 2nd. Hear from industry experts like Apptio, an IBM Company , Arctic Wolf , IBM , 微软 , Amazon Web Services (AWS) , CrowdStrike , and 红帽 - all dedicated to helping you succeed.??

?And that’s the scoop! We’d love to hear from you. What did you like? What do you want to see more of? Leave us a comment below????so we can make sure we’re serving up the best content for you. And don't forget to subscribe????so you don’t miss our next edition!?