INDUSTRY VIEW
ARE PARTNERS READY TO DELIVER SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS , OR IS IT STILL A VENDOR ROLE ?
There is an increasing demand from customers that vendors of choice adopt an environmentally conscious approach to management and understanding the shift for greener agendas is something partners need to be conscious of , explain Mark Appleton from ALSO Cloud UK and Ahmed El-Besary at Schneider Electric .
Ahmed El-Besary , Vice President , Channel Sales and Marketing , Anglophone Africa , MEA , Schneider Electric
2023 was marked by increased emphasis on digital tools and its impact on companies ’ sustainability goals , with the energy management and automation industry working hard to tangibly demonstrate its benefits . In fact , according to the Schneider Electric ’ s report , The Path to Net Zero Buildings , digital and electric solutions can cut carbon emissions in office buildings by up to 70 %.
With businesses under increasing pressure to pivot toward sustainability , it is no longer as simple as wanting to be green and meaningful action is needed . Digital technology has emerged as a drive towards corporate green strategies , with predictions that 2024 will mark businesses embracing a focus on sustainability alongside AI automation and Cloud ERP .
Whilst major cloud providers are making substantial commitments to sustainability and net zero already , it can be difficult for SMEs looking to monitor their impact without the budget , resources and visibility that bigger technology giants possess . Yet this visibility is necessary if every business is going to contribute to the path of a net-zero UK .
Mark Appleton , Chief Customer Officer at ALSO Cloud UK , says , “ Before businesses can lower their carbon footprints and adopt more sustainable operations , IT leaders first require greater transparency about their current environmental impact , which technology providers are equipped to help with .”
Visibility across the technology supply chain , and accountability for those missing the mark , can quickly help turn around any business not heading in the right direction . With greater demand for such environmentally friendly solutions , channel partners are in the best position to support businesses with sustainable technology options . “ You cannot manage what you cannot measure , so getting a complete picture of a product ’ s emissions during its life should be a priority . This starts with getting the product ’ s carbon footprint and tracking the emissions created from the manufacturing process to the end users . To account for the emissions caused should be a priority for all vendors to provide better , energy-saving products and solutions to their customers ,” says Appleton .
Mark Appleton , Chief Customer Officer , ALSO Cloud UK
Role of vendors and providers
There is also an increasing demand from customers that their vendor of choice adopts an environmentally conscious approach to
Visibility across the technology supply chain , and accountability for those missing the mark , can quickly help turn around any business not heading in the right direction .
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