25 minute read
Industry Opinions
With the UK Government pledging to cut emissions by 68% by 2030, there will be increasing pressure on businesses to do more to reduce their environmental impact. While reducing and recycling waste are some of the methods that spring to mind when helping to achieve a zero-carbon future, one area that is often overlooked is a company’s online carbon footprint. Melissa Hendry, Co-founder & Managing Director of digital transformation specialists, ddroidd, discusses how a business’ website could be signi cantly increasing its carbon emissions and even costs.
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On its own, the so ware we use does not consume energy or cause environmental harm. e issue is the way so ware is developed and deployed. So ware is dependent on hardware, and as reliance on so ware increases exponentially, so too does the reliance on the machines which support it.
Currently, when a user accesses a webpage, the videos, text and images contained are requested from external servers. Each time the webpage is visited, most of this page information is served afresh and discarded once the user leaves. Constant information requests mean more servers are needed and there is more chance of overload as ‘new’ content must be retrieved every time.
It is no wonder then that data centres collectively consume around 3% of all global power generated. It’s a scary gure but one data centres are making moves to tackle. According to the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, 75% of the power supplied to data centres in Europe will be supplied through renewable or carbon-free energy by December 2025.
While moves are being made to reduce this energy consumption, more needs to be done to reduce the amount of data being unnecessarily stored. Technology has the uncanny ability to provide solutions to the very problems it creates. Using smarter code, combined with an efficient set-up of hosting architecture, some technology providers can establish optimised applications that give businesses full control over their processing power.
Rather than devices needing to continually retrieve the same data, technologies such as the ddroidd A+++ solution recycle and reuse previously processed information, eliminating the need for unnecessary information reprocessing that demands extensive resources. It’s a method that can cut information reprocessing by 90%, reduce a website’s energy consumption, improve reliability and responsibility as well as cut costs. Indeed, reducing the energy consumption of software can be 100 times more powerful than reducing the energy consumption of hardware.
The benefits of developing and deploying ‘greener’ software speak for themselves and can be achieved in only three steps.
1. Articulate a strategy that guides trade-o s and allows for exibility
IT teams must rstly calculate the right level of tolerance for their so ware’s environmental e ects. Inevitably, there will be trade-o s between business and environmental goals, and so ware engineers must determine where the go/no-go line is. For example, AI so ware requires huge amounts of energy to increase accuracy from say 96% to 98%. Whether that 2% increase in accuracy is worth the added energy consumption is a business decision that requires deliberation.
2. Review and re ne the so ware development life cycle
What is the smallest possible environmental footprint we could make with this application? e answer will guide the rst stages of the so ware development cycle. Expectations may shi as further knowledge is gained, but this starting point is an important benchmark for de ning the feasibility of objectives.
From here, recommendations can be developed for algorithms, programming languages, APIs and libraries that can be drawn on to minimise carbon emissions.
When it comes to deployment, monitoring real-time power consumption through techniques such as dynamic code analysis is essential for understanding the gaps between design choices and actual energy pro les.
3. Make the cloud green
Today’s applications are invariably deployed over the cloud, which has led to an exponential growth in cloud-based services and a rapid expansion of power-intensive data centres. ough renewable energy sources and improved cooling systems are helping to address the problem, implementing green so ware solutions creates new opportunities to save energy.
With ambitious targets to reach a zero-carbon future, businesses are at a critical point to nd achievable yet impactful solutions to reduce their carbon emissions. E cient technology can play a crucial role in a more sustainable future.
Tackling the ewaste crisis - it’s time for more IT resellers to step up
Tim Westbrook, director, Stone Group speaks out about the channel’s responsibility towards sustainability and the actions needed towards a circular economy
As a circular IT provider to organisations across the UK, Stone Group are passionate about helping our customers make the most of their technology. But we are also passionate about ensuring that the technology we sell to our customers doesn’t end up in land ll at its end of life and comes back to us for refurbishment or sustainable recycling.
Electronic waste is blighting our planet. It is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world, and in 2019 alone, 53.6 million metric tonnes was generated – the equivalent weight of 350 cruise ships. And, of this massive quantity of unwanted or broken old tech, just 17.4% was recycled responsibly, with the rest, either sent to land ll, incinerated, or shipped abroad. Worryingly, things look set to get even worse as researchers estimate that the global ewaste mountain will grow to 74.7 million metric tonnes by 2030. e UK is one of the worst o enders when it comes to generating ewaste and on average, each person created 23.9kg of it in 2019 making us the second highest per capita in the world. e UK IT industry sells over £30 billion of equipment each year, and only a small proportion of it is recycled. It’s estimated that recycling small electrical items could save the UK 2.8 million tonnes in CO2 emissions, the equivalent of taking 1.3 million cars o the road.
Sustainable choices
Our own research with senior decision makers with responsibility for green initiatives in both private and public sector organisations showed that sustainability is a priority and a third of organisations are keen to do more to sustainably manage their ageing IT assets. e research shows that only a h of organisations still send their unwanted IT hardware to land ll with two in ve organisations donating old IT hardware to charities or schools, and a third sending their redundant devices to an IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) facility.
It also revealed that an increasing number of organisations are purchasing refurbished IT hardware because, in addition to its green “While it’s good to see bene ts, it is more cost e ective too. A organisations choosing a more quarter of organisations claim to buy sustainable approach to IT hardware refurbished IT where possible; 42% purchasing and disposal, it’s time for the tech firms who sell it to stand up and take purchase a mixture of refurbished and new equipment, while only a third still insist on buying new models. responsibility for their role in the creation of While it’s good to see organisations ewaste. We want to see manufacturers and resellers choosing a more sustainable tell customers that they will take back and responsibly approach to IT hardware purchasing recycle any devices they sell to them. The and disposal, it’s time for the tech rms who sell it to stand up and responsibility should be on the reseller, and we see take responsibility for their role in many of them make claims on sustainability, the creation of ewaste. We want to but few manage the disposal of assets see manufacturers and resellers tell themselves and instead sell them on to third parties.” customers that they will take back and responsibly recycle any devices they sell to them. e responsibility should be on the reseller, and we see many of them make claims on sustainability, but few manage the disposal of assets themselves and instead sell them on to third parties. Urgent action is needed to help combat the enormous ewaste challenge we face, with real direction from the UK government to cement the vital changes needed. We’d like to see WEEE-compliance made mandatory for all equipment resellers, and if they’re not able to take ownership of the IT asset disposal process on-site, they should at least be able to demonstrate that they work with a fully accredited zero to land ll partner. In addition, IT resellers should be held accountable and made to report on the volume of equipment collected from customers and what they have done with it. Resellers should no longer be allowed to skirt around the issue and blindly outsource IT asset disposal to a third party with little or no knowledge of what is going to happen to the items. With many organisations making more sustainable choices when it comes to IT hardware, it’s time for our government to get tough with the tech rms who sell these items and make them take responsibility for their contribution to the world’s growing ewaste problem.
Shaun Lynn, CEO of Agilitas explores the current sustainability trends taking the Channel by storm
In the IT Channel, sustainability is no longer something to aspire to. It is an absolute necessity for the future of our planet. This past year has brought the issue of harmful energy consumption and its effects into sharp focus for both better and worse.
While global reductions in travel and tourism paved the way for reduced pollution and the recovery of natural life, the mass production of single use plastic products during the pandemic has led to more waste and potential for a harsh environmental impact. That said, there is hope for building a more sustainable future, and for the Channel, much of this work has already begun.
Fuelled by the Government’s targets to make the UK a net zero nation by 2050, many Channel businesses have spurred into action and committed more resources to sustainability than ever before. From internal people projects to wide scale technology-led initiatives, there has been a significant mindset shift towards greater efficiency and less waste throughout the IT Channel ecosystem.
Recent research found that almost one third of channel partners are confident in mobilising a workable sustainability strategy within 6 months to a year. While this is encouraging, there is still so much more to be done. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the essential steps in the sector’s sustainability roadmap.
According to some estimates, the carbon footprint of our devices, the Internet and the systems supporting them account for about 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions. With the European IT Channel predicted to get close to €100 billion revenue in 2021 through increased demand for IT hardware and services, we must find better ways to extend the life cycle of hardware, to minimise waste, reduce environmental impact and maximise resources. This is where the circular economy comes into its own.
Initiatives that convert inefficient, redundant stock which is often single-use into reusable technology spares inventory - either as complete systems or their associated component parts - will be crucial on the road to a more eco-friendly IT Channel sector.
Sustainability should be firmly ingrained across inventory management supply chains in order to truly support the circular economy. Wherever possible, partners should look to embrace a ‘repair, rework and reuse’ model to reduce carbon footprint and cost. Through this approach, partners can effectively extend the life of hardware beyond the typical manufacturer lifespan, whilst ensuring the necessary quality standards and warranties for peace of mind when delivering a first-class customer experience. Vendors in the Channel and beyond are going to be
“Fuelled by the Government’s under increased pressure from Government policy and customers to reduce their carbon footprint. If they need to extend the life of their products targets to make the UK and embrace a product refresh cycle, businesses a net zero nation by 2050, many Channel businesses will need to work alongside their partners to find ways to match service with sustainability to ultimately retain the customer through have spurred into action and these longer periods. This is no easy feat and committed more resources to sustainability than will require close collaboration across the ecosystem in order to make true change. We can anticipate new, eco-focused ever before.” partnerships with strategic partners who are dedicated to supporting this mission for a circular economy. In essence, it is now about working smarter together and partnerships will have an important role to play in order to significantly accelerate decarbonisation and work as one towards the nation’s crucial net zero targets. Not only are channel partners concerned with extending the lifespan of IT hardware, there is also a significant shift towards intelligent technologies that have the power to maximise resources and drive energy efficiency across the supply chain. In an effort to achieve more with less, many initiatives that remove friction, waste and laborious tasks have been fast-tracked. Channel partners must utilise technologies that can alleviate previously energy-intensive processes and replace them with automated, real-time alternatives to optimise supply chains and alleviate the strain on resources. As technology and people continue to converge, automation will be an undisputed cornerstone of any efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency and build more productive workforces across a fast-growing IT Channel for years to come. While many channel partners are already taking avid steps to make their business more eco-friendly, maximum sustainability across the whole sector cannot be achieved in silos. To truly do things differently, partners must work closer together to drive innovation through sharing ideas, tools and tactics that will build a better future. It’s only the beginning.
PCR SEPTEMBER ISSUE DIVERSITY SPECIAL
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!!
In the September issue of PCR we will be looking at DIVERSITY IN THE CHANNEL. The issue also includes our annual Top 25 WOMEN IN TECH feature. Alongside this we will be looking at TECH CHANNEL INNOVATION: It’s been a difficult couple of years following the global pandemic so we are keen to look at how the channel is bouncing back. If you are embarking on new projects or rolling out new plans to navigate the road to recovery then we are keen to hear from you about this. We will be running a Q&A session with top industry folk to find out about their future road map. Keep an eye out for our Q&A questions, which will be posted on the PCR website soon.
We will also be delving into the world of WEARABLE TECH with a focus on THE HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE: If you are involved in this sector then we are keen to hear from you: This can be anything from smart watches to AR/VR devices. Opinions: We are looking for 500-700 word opinion/ analysis pieces from the industry around diversity or wearables, the future of AR/VR and Post pandemic recovery.
Top 25 Women in Tech – PCR’s Top 25 Women in Tech returns in our September print edition, where we’ll be highlighting the most influential women in the UK PC and tech channel. Nominations are now open for this year’s list.
Diversity in the channel – We are looking for commentary on issues around diversity in the tech and IT channel. Please get in touch via the email below to find out how to contribute.
In the September issue sector guides we will be covering: PCs, laptops, peripherals and tablets designed specifically for creative professionals, we will also cover creative software, wearable devices, AR-VR tech. If you are a vendor or distributor who works with retailers and resellers, get in touch with specs, 100 word product description and hi res images.
If you would like to be considered for any of these features and guides, email Michelle Winny at michelle.winny@biz-media.co.uk
With 5% of all global carbon emissions derived from IT and levels of e-waste continuing to increase signi cantly, the importance of sustainability within the channel is undeniable. Here, Simon Yates, COO at Consenna, argues that sustainability is not only vital in driving sales through the channel, but in moving the channel forward.
Barely an aspect of modern life remains un-touched by the need to be environmentally aware. Amongst large IT vendors, the main players have recognised the need to jump aboard the sustainability train and they cite such actions as vital to commercial success – whether they truly embrace the rationale behind this, however, is a debate for another day. At the other end of the sales spectrum, customers increasingly demand their purchases meet certain sustainable criteria – indeed, they’re not only prepared to pay more when they do, but they are under pressure to make such choices so that their own sustainability metrics are met. In the middle, at the heart of the channel, sit the resellers for whom the need to secure a sale is now balanced against a need to address sustainability demands. How do they achieve this in an authentic and meaningful way that instead of simply adding to sustainability noise, actually drives tangible change – and with it, those all-important sales?
Resellers command a unique position within the channel; they are the only players with a direct relationship with all other parties and they consequently have the ability to drive conversations in the direction of greater sustainable action. e reality is, however, that too many have been too complacent for too long, focused almost entirely on securing a sale.
With that sale increasingly hinged on the need to be laden with certain sustainability criteria, however, has come a greater need for resellers to view sustainability as a tool to be used to their advantage.
We work with partners throughout the channel on programmes and initiatives that provide exactly this competitive advantage. Whether it’s delivering recycling schemes partnering with fully accredited WEEE providers, to manage the responsible re-use or remanufacturing of old devices; the provision of scienti cally backed, real-world data that makes not only purchasing decisions, but also recycling choices, mean something in tangible, comparable terms; or simply providing compelling marketing collateral that makes the sustainable purchasing choice clear and convincing, there are a myriad of means through which resellers are equipped to help customers make the right choice. And when resellers emphatically and authentically embrace these tools, they’re not only supporting their customers to make the right choice, they’re also making their own journey to securing a sale more likely to succeed. In that respect, yes, sustainability certainly does have a role to play in driving IT sales through the channel. But a competitive advantage is only such for a nite amount of time. For sustainability to not only drive sales, but continue to drive sales and, importantly, create new opportunities, the channel needs to push harder to identify new opportunities which ensure sustainability’s unquestionable place in the channel. As a rst step, channel programmes that o er
“ e channel customers choice of ‘claiming’ an o setting needs to push option or a green energy selection, must be switched to automatically ‘opt-in’ – if they harder to identify new exist as part of the programme, it makes it nonsense to introduce an element of choice. opportunities which It’s bold steps that drive signi cant change ensure sustainability’s and that’s exactly what the channel must take. Comfort zones are out; challenging unquestionable place in conversations are in. Resellers need to question a customer’s purchasing desire: the channel.” is printing really a requirement? Would a document management solution make more sense? With an abundance of green cloud-based computing options, are physical servers still needed? Even models of ownership should be challenged with both DaaS and IaaS shi ing responsibility to the provider to meet sustainability obligations at scale. Indeed, many are already entrenched with strong eco-credentials. e reality remains, however, that a continued lack of understanding of all these factors, means it’s only the largest partners pushing these messages to customers. To address this, Consenna is providing its market leading communications platform ‘Carbon’ to any UK reseller, free of charge. We will promote sustainable IT messaging, use cutting-edge digital marketing automation to generate leads, and help resellers size the potential in their own customer base before making signi cant investments. It’s a bold move. It’s what’s needed to drive change.
Innovations in solar energy: Accelerating the journey toward a carbon-neutral future
Michael Rae, Channel Director at Huawei Enterprise discuses building an intelligent Internet of Energy for the generation, storage, and consumption of greener electricity
Demand for green energy is on the rise in the UK among both domestic and commercial customers. According to research from Imperial College London, last year the UK generated more power from renewable sources than fossil fuels for the first time. This heightened demand carves out an opportunity for the tech sector to innovate in green technology and, at Huawei UK, we’re focusing on the development of cutting edge solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Why solar technology and why now?
While there are many sources of renewable energy available to us – such as wind and hydro – solar is predicted to become a main source of renewable energy. Solar energy is a reliable choice thanks to the constant energy generation from the sun and the sophistication of the smart solar inverters developed. As solar PV technology has advanced in recent years, the cost of installing the technology has drastically decreased, making it an affordable and dependable choice for customers, on top of all the green benefits it offers.
As businesses and the wider public become increasingly conscious of their carbon footprints, we’re seeing a huge uptake in solar PV technology with the country shifting from finite energy to selfgenerated green energy consumption. An analysis from Solar Media Ltd. and Solar Energy UK revealed that last year 545 megawatts of new solar PV capacity was deployed in the UK, a 27 per cent yearon-year increase compared with 2019.
That’s why our commercial and residential customer base has grown so broad; the solar PV team at Huawei are working with clients from logistics companies and warehouses to educational institutions like schools and universities to install this technology.
As a crucial enabler on the UK’s path to net zero, it’s easy to make a business case for the prioritisation of solar PV technology. In comparison with bulkier renewable energy technologies like wind turbines or hydropower dams, solar PV solutions take up much less space. This massively opens up the market of potential customers available to us.
How can ICT companies help the UK reach its net zero target?
Tech companies by nature are constantly thinking ahead and anticipating the future needs and wants of their customers. That’s why the tech sector should play to their strengths and draw on their expertise to innovate in green technologies by making them more efficient, cost effective, and to improve safety.
We have drawn on our ICT expertise at Huawei UK to provide enhanced intelligence for PV systems through inverters and management systems, and have made the technology much safer. For instance, we have developed a residential solution that monitors and detects ‘arc faults’ to protect against sparks that could cause a fire: In less than 0.5 seconds, the system is shut down to protect the PV system from fire hazard – this makes our arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) more than 2 seconds faster than the industry standard.
We also offer an end-to-end integrated energy storage system for residential customers, that allows the solar energy to be used, stored, or fed back to the grid. Huawei’s launch of the smart PV solution in 2014 was a defining step for making PV more intelligent. This technology is now widely used, making the maintenance and management of solar panels easier for households.
What does the future hold for solar PV technology?
As a relatively new yet fast-growing industry, there’s potential for boundless innovation in solar PV technology. The green agenda isn’t going away and the UK tech sector has a real opportunity to help the nation reach its net zero target by supplying the right technology.
Developing battery storage for solar energy, for both residential and commercial purposes, is a huge untapped market that we’re researching. Lots of buildings have installed solar panels but few have storage capacity, which would allow them to store any excess energy for a later date, increasing efficiency.
We’ve also spotted an opportunity for innovation in the electric vehicles market. The UK government’s target to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 is ambitious; we need innovations in tech, to supply the infrastructure for practical charging stations across the country, to make this a reality.
The tech sector has a huge role to play in the UK’s transition to net zero; the country needs innovation and strong infrastructure to reduce its carbon footprint and advances in solar PV technology is just the start.
The importance of leading with sustainability
Justin Marcucci, Chief Digital Officer at Endava explores the role of digital acceleration in driving more sustainable tech practices.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting challenges in 2020 forced all kinds of well-documented shiftchanges, with businesses across sectors having to fundamentally rethink operations to meet the demands of an entirely digital customer interaction model. For the most part, these short-term changes addressed the strains IT teams faced, but as we continue to move away from a state of crisis, businesses are turning focus to the next challenge: climate change, sustainability, and how they can drive more responsible technology without accruing added cost or resource.
Tackling this requires me to address the bigger picture – the cause rather than the symptom – of these ongoing internal battles; organisations seeking to move from ‘surviving’ to ‘thriving’. Because in order for companies to succeed in today’s economy, they need to focus more intently on leading with sustainability, not just for employee and shareholder satisfaction, but to maximise continued digital acceleration and business outcomes.
We as technology leaders need to stop viewing technology as the beall-end-all – the goal of any business effort - and start seeing it for what it really is: a catalyst and a vehicle for what we can achieve. As people begin to focus more acutely on the climate crisis, sustainability will become a non-negotiable focal point within business as employees, partners, and consumers look to work with or buy from brands that make efforts to give back in some way. Sustainability as a driver of talent acquisition and retention is hugely overlooked, but so unbelievably critical.
It’s no secret that end consumers are more often looking for brands that align with their values, but now that same mentality is extending to employees, whether they’re already with a company or looking to make a change. Younger generations are particularly vocal about their preference for working for more environmentally friendly businesses, even if it means earning less. As companies recognise the importance of these values, they’re stepping up to the plate to put their money where their mouth is.
Microsoft recently started holding their internal departments responsible for emissions, while other global brands like Unilever have implemented a network of global partnerships to address environmental impacts across a number of key issues, from deforestation to ocean conservation, and the elimination of food waste. Whether investing into sustainability initiatives or giving employees more flexible options to work and give back as they want, what’s clear from these changes is that it’s an employee’s market. As they look for companies, which showcase moral values and ways of working, and as more businesses catch onto this growing trend, sustainability will become a key recruitment tool for tech talent in short supply globally.
Self-funding sustainability
It is my firm belief that technology has no agenda – it is simply an enabler of human drivers. Therefore, my goal - and the goal of everyone at Endava - is to drive sustainable technology across our customers’ business lines. Now, we are realists – this doesn’t mean that every program we undertake is based on a sustainability goal – but it does mean that we can go the extra mile when possible, and drive positive sustainability outcomes with our solution and product design. Taking a thoughtful approach to technology development and implementation is key to delivering solutions that yield positive business outcomes. For a lot of companies, it’s not necessarily a lack of desire for more sustainable projects that’s holding them back, but rather concerns over where the budget will come from, or what the end result will be on the wider business. There’s certainly a notable trend toward sustainability-driven projects that boost both cost savings, drive operational efficiencies, and give back in some way, whether that’s costcutting, CO2 emissions, reduction of paper usage and waste through digitisation, etc. We’ve actually started to see investment into these types of projects, as customers are coming to us asking how they can leverage technology as that enabler, while also driving results. In fact, we’ve even seen a number of projects go on to be fully self-funded. In conclusion, while sustainability initiatives may seem daunting to take on from an outside perspective, the benefits they create for businesses are well worth the investment. Attracting forward-thinking, ethically minded talent, who will in turn continue actioning projects around the responsible use and application of technology, is enough for many businesses to seriously conserving leading with a sustainability mindset. When you combine that with the reality that many of these projects pay for themselves, as illustrated above, there’s little reason not to invest company time and resource.
