Sibusiso Dantjie | Senior Manager | Public Service | Accenture Africa | mail me |
Sustainability will permeate everything we do, driving new value and growth along the way. But most South African companies have been slow to adopt sustainability. So how can companies extend the capabilities of key technologies to enable sustainable practices?
And importantly, how can they leverage these technologies they are already using, including cloud, data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning.
Cloud is the most progressive of the technologies available to support sustainability. Not only does it allow firms to reduce capital and operational costs, but it also presents an opportunity to shift the focus from daily IT tasks and issues to revenue-generating projects. We help companies achieve this in several ways.
We have developed a comprehensive sustainable-technology strategy through design approaches and sustainability services that can help drive impact.
Technologies driving sustainability
The Smart 2020 report[1] estimates that IT-enabled energy efficiency will translate into approximately $950 billion in savings within five years.
Cloud data centres use less equipment to monitor systems and manage workflows, freeing up energy and reducing the server footprint. Migrating to the cloud means less hardware, which cuts cooling and space requirements. As a result, energy costs are lower, and capital is released for other projects. Cloud computing, therefore, enables agility while taking care of the environment. It offers a platform for sustainable business with maximised profits, cost savings and streamlined management by facilitating access and improving efficiencies and computing capabilities.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT technologies can transform traditional agricultural practices with new methods for monitoring crops and soil to maximise production and reduce environmental impact.
IoT and AI can also help monitor air pollution in real-time. The sources of pollution can be quickly and accurately identified using smart sensors, allowing remedial measures to be applied rapidly and effectively. Government and commercial organisations can benefit hugely by using these technologies to monitor air purity and alert employees if air quality falls below a certain level. They can be utilised to reduce the harmful emissions released into our surroundings with further advancements.
More effective use of data allows us to discover patterns and relationships that previously would have eluded us. One area that is being reshaped by big data is environmental protection.
New approaches give researchers, businesses, and governments the information for more informed decisions and optimised resource use and conservation. For example, the journey of migrating birds is fraught with human-made danger – like hunting, fishing operations and navigation-disrupting light pollution.
A multi-dimensional approach
Scientists can mitigate some of these dangers with advance notice, pushing for moratoriums on hunting and fishing and requesting that people turn their lights out whenever possible[2].
Because we believe technology can drive both business value and positive ESG outcomes, we has developed a comprehensive sustainable technology strategy built on three pillars:
- Core IT and Cloud operations: This includes defining and integrating the sustainable IT & Cloud mission with corporate commitments and equipping business functions to improve sustainability performance through policies and digital tools.
- Tech Products and Services: The sustainable deployment of technology and its use to enable responsible business and better customer outcomes includes setting strategic objectives, embedding sustainability into key business processes and systems, and assessing and managing the impact beyond the operational and financial focus of traditional technology-led transformations.
- Partnership and Market Influence: Driving sustainability at scale by collaborating with strategic partners to raise the bar and support market demand for a responsible, sustainable economy. It includes aligning partners on the vision for sustainable technology, identifying industry opportunities and investing in pre-competitive partnerships, building on the company’s core competencies, and scaling the impact beyond the financials.
The most significant expected benefits from technology related to corporate sustainability are increased innovation, internal efficiencies and revenue growth. All three have a bottom-line impact.
In conclusion
We have sustainable IT and cloud programs for clients across multiple industries to stimulate ambitions and enable pragmatic innovation.
We have done a lot of work with the most innovative tech users and providers. It has given us insight into the leading and emerging sustainable IT and cloud practices. From developing new ideas to deploying and scaling impactful, sustainable IT and cloud solutions, we have managed to help our clients align their core goals with their corporate sustainability commitments.
Sustainable business is the future of business. Understanding the value it offers – to business and society alike – is essential. With the right strategies and technologies, companies can build the foundations and culture needed to drive growth and longevity.
[1] GeSI. (2020). SMART 2020 enabling the low-carbon economy in the information age. United States: GeSI.
[2] Tsui, J. (2020, March 25). Using Big Data Technology for Environmental Protection. Environmental protection
