{"id":32334,"date":"2021-06-29T23:00:21","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T22:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digileaders.com\/?p=32334"},"modified":"2021-07-01T12:47:14","modified_gmt":"2021-07-01T11:47:14","slug":"connecting-digital-sustainability-with-digital-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digileaders.com\/connecting-digital-sustainability-with-digital-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting digital sustainability with digital transformation"},"content":{"rendered":"

I hope you were able to join my <\/span>session<\/span><\/a> during Digital Leaders Week 2021, where I talked about how digital transformation will create a more sustainable world, and why you should care. This blog aims to look at the environmental impact to consider when undergoing a digital transformation, and how to make yours more sustainable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Businesses who were set up digitally to work remotely during the pandemic, or had already enabled remote working, were able to operate (almost) as normal throughout the lockdowns and office closures of 2020. Similarly, those who were able to replace their physical product offerings with digital counterparts were able to stay afloat, and in some cases, even flourish.<\/span><\/p>\n

If this sounds like your business, and you\u2019ve already undergone a successful \u2018digital transformation\u2019, don\u2019t feel too smug just yet as there may be an environmental cost to your transformation process that you might not have considered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re still working out how\/when\/why to undergo a digital transformation, this is a great time to factor sustainability into your plans. Digital technologies have the power to transform your business, and in turn, protect the planet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The environmental impact of digital transformation<\/h3>\n

Digital transformation can improve efficiency, reduce risk and even help companies save money and resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, imagine you\u2019re a large legal firm housing rows and rows of filing cabinets. If you were able to migrate all your files into the digital cloud, just think of the physical space you\u2019d save in the office! You could password protect your digital files so they\u2019d be safe, update them whenever necessary and access them in seconds. This particular example shows the power of digital transformation to make processes and practices simpler, better, faster and more effective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does this have to do with the environment? Well, consider the process needed to access and amend one of your digitised files at a client\u2019s request:<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1<\/b>. Switch on laptop – if it\u2019s plugged in, you\u2019re using <\/span>power <\/b>already.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2<\/b>. Connect to the Wifi – this requires a router, which is plugged into your <\/span>electricity <\/b>mains (more power) and a signal linked to a <\/span>broadband <\/b>supplier. Does your broadband supplier use <\/span>renewable <\/b>energy sources?<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 3<\/b>. Sign in to your <\/span>Cloud <\/b>provider to retrieve the files you need (more power and Wifi signal needed to access the files – also, does your Cloud provider use sustainable hosting services?)<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4<\/b>. Save the file you need, or you might even download it and save it to your laptop<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 5<\/b>. Set up a <\/span>video <\/b>call with your client to let them know you\u2019ve made the changes (video calls require a stronger <\/span>internet <\/b>connection than audio-only calls, you\u2019ll use more power and need a Wifi signal to enable the call. Which video calling service do you use? Are they an <\/span>ethical <\/b>provider? Are they aware of their digital <\/span>carbon <\/b>footprint?<\/span><\/p>\n

Even the simplest of actions, online and offline, inevitably contribute to your carbon footprint. The big question is, what can you do about it?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Digital transformation and your carbon footprint<\/h3>\n

The good news is that there are simple actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and make ethical, sustainable decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

When looking at ways to undergo a sustainable digital transformation, you\u2019ll need to consider how you:<\/span><\/p>\n