GreenOps and IT asset management : how are they related?
Traditional IT asset management: features and benefits
Outsourcing ITAM features
Managed services, i.e. the outsourcing of mobile inventory management to external managers, offers numerous financial and operational advantages. Thanks to outsourcing professionals who take care of the maintenance, monitoring, security and optimization of the telecom inventory, the company can free itself from a complex, time-consuming and tedious task that is not at the heart of its business.
This service is highly customizable, and is flexible enough to adapt at any time to internal company changes. However, common functionalities are present among the different service providers, notably :
Tracking of telecom expenses, usage and licenses
IT assets and order management
Inventory management (directory, analytical breakdown, professional organization, etc.)
IT asset management outsourcing benefits management
The benefits generated by outsourcing IT Asset Management bring a significant return on investment. Said advantages are :
- Free yourself from non-essential tasks
- Organize and control a major cost center
- Optimize costs
- Improve quality of service to users
- Benefit from expert advice and best practices
- Streamline troubleshooting and helpdesk operations
- Back-office support for placing and tracking orders
- A single point of contact for customers/operators/manufacturers/integrators
The growing importance of sustainable digital technology
GreenOps definition
According to the definition proposed by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Greenops, also known as Green IT, is “a continuous improvement approach that seeks to reduce the ecological, economic and social footprint of information and communication technologies”.
It involves implementing solutions that enable technology to be used more consciously and with less energy.
Technology’s environmental impact and its repercussions
There is growing concern about the increasing ecological impact of Internet use, which is responsible for 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, exceeding those of the global aviation industry by an astonishing 50%.
However, these alarming statistics represent only the tip of the iceberg. According to ADEME, a French advocate for a more eco-friendly approach to technology, there are some 9 billion electronic devices worldwide: computers, smartphones and interconnected objects.
Unfortunately, managing the waste associated with these devices presents a major problem, as450,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) escapes controlled recycling channels (Environnement Magazine). The creation of a single computer requires a substantial amount of natural resources, including 22 kilograms of chemicals, 240 kilograms of fuel and 1.5 tons of water. Manufacturing alone costs 169kg in carbon, according to this ADEME review.
What’s more, it’s worth noting that the typical lifespan of a computer has declined significantly over time. Between 1985 and 2015, computers typically lasted around 11 years. Today, however, this has dropped to just 4 years. Such an accelerated rate of obsolescence plays a central role in the widespread proliferation of e-waste. Despite these poor figures, it is still possible to reverse the trend by making lasting changes.
The correlation between outsourcing IT asset management and GreenOps
IT asset outsourcing and GreenOps are closely linked, especially when it comes to using communication technologies in a more sustainable way.
The concerns that these two fields have in common are the optimization of resources and energy consumption, as well as the training of users in eco-responsible practices.
Resource optimization
Green IT aims to use resources as efficiently as possible, to avoid unnecessary waste as much as possible. Through its centralized management of mobile devices, outsourcing provides complete visibility of the global IT assets and all its details, making it possible to distinguish between active and inactive lines and equipment, and thus get rid of obsolete equipment.
Energy consumption
The two fields also share a common approach to energy consumption: IT asset management policies can be designed to optimize the energy consumption of mobile devices, for example by implementing automatic standby, or enforcing equipment purchases, or setting end-of-life targets for equipment, choosing devices designed with energy-efficient materials. These policies, increasingly present within ITAM providers, align with the principles of GreenOps focused on reducing energy footprints, fighting against conscientious obsolescence and promoting the use of sustainable materials in the manufacture of electronic equipment, which accounts for 30% of CO2 emissions (EcoInfo).
To promote responsible behavior in the use of mobile and digital technologies, IT asset outsourcing providers need to provide comprehensive training to their employees on sustainable practices to be respected within the company.
Saaswedo offers a carbon assessment of IT equipment, followed by advice on the implementation of end-of-life strategies. To find out more about Saaswedo’s carbon offering, click here.
Mobile inventory outsourcing means to subcontract a third party to manage IT assets.
Importance of responsible digital technology
- Greenhouse gas emissions from Internet use account for 4% of global emissions.
- Up to 90% of electronic waste is not recycled.
- The production of a single computer requires 22 kg of chemicals, 240 kg of fuel and 1.5 tonnes of water.
- Between 1985 and 2015, the typical lifespan of a computer fell from 11 years to just 4
IT asset management and sustainable digital technology aim to optimize resources, reduce energy consumption and raise awareness of eco-responsibility. Centralized management of mobile devices provides complete inventory visibility, facilitating the elimination of obsolete equipment and optimizing energy consumption.