The role of IT in shaping sustainable business practices

Businesses are under increasing pressure to improve their sustainability.

According to EY, 84% of consumers say sustainability is important when making purchase decisions. On top of that, governments are cracking down with stricter environmental regulations.

In response, business leaders are ramping up their efforts. According to Deloitte’s 2024 CxO Sustainability Report, 85% of executives have increased sustainability investments in the past year.

Investing in technology is a key strategy for driving sustainability. The same Deloitte report found that half of executives have already implemented sustainable IT solutions, while another 42% plan to do so in the next two years.

This article looks at IT’s role in sustainability, key technologies making a difference, common challenges, and what the future holds.

In this article:

• Understanding the role of IT in sustainability
• Key IT strategies for sustainable business practices
• Overcoming challenges in IT sustainability
• Real-world examples of IT-driven sustainability
• Future trends in IT and sustainability
• Summary

Understanding the role of IT in sustainability

Across industries and around the world, businesses are using IT to help them become more sustainable.

Digital transformation—the process of integrating technology into all areas of a business—is a key driver of sustainability. From digitizing paper-based processes to optimizing production efficiency, IT tools help streamline operations, use fewer resources, and lower environmental impact.

By improving sustainability outcomes, IT helps businesses meet their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets. As ESG goals become more important to investors, regulators, and customers, businesses need to show they’re making progress. IT solutions also help companies collect, track, and report their ESG data.

As technology continues to improve and expectations to act sustainably grow, IT’s role in driving sustainability will only become more important. Businesses that prioritize sustainable tech today will be better positioned to thrive in what will likely be a greener, more responsible future.

Key IT strategies for sustainable business practices

Adopting green IT solutions

Switching to green IT helps businesses reduce their environmental impact. Energy-efficient hardware and cloud computing are two ways businesses can reduce energy consumption and cut emissions.

Energy-efficient hardware

Purchasing energy-efficient devices is a simple way for businesses to make a positive impact. Options exist for everything, from employee laptops to servers. Look out for Energy Star-certified equipment or the availability of energy-saving features like power capping, throttling, and sleep mode.

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is a smarter, greener way to store and manage data. Rather than running their own energy-intensive data centers, businesses can share the infrastructure cloud providers offer. Sharing greatly lowers energy consumption and helps businesses reduce their carbon emissions.

Many major cloud providers also invest in energy-efficient technology and renewable energy to power their data centers. For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) actively promote their sustainability efforts.

Driving operational efficiency with technology

IT-driven solutions can help businesses improve efficiency while making meaningful progress toward sustainability goals.

Data-driven decision making

IT tools help businesses efficiently collect and process data that can be used to drive sustainability. For example, predictive analytics software interprets historical data to forecast demand more accurately. This prevents overproduction and minimizes waste.

Similarly, predictive maintenance technology detects patterns and anomalies in machine data to predict equipment failures before they happen. This eliminates insufficient and excessive maintenance, optimizing time and resources. It also helps avoid environmentally harmful incidents such as water leaks or machinery breakdowns that generate excessive waste.

IT automation

Automation technology interprets real-time data and uses it to help businesses automate their sustainability efforts. For example, automated energy management systems analyze live power usage data and make real-time adjustments to reduce energy consumption. Automation isn’t just for managing energy, it can make businesses more sustainable in all kinds of ways.

TeamViewer remote access helps farmers automate irrigation across large agricultural areas. The system uses real-time data to adjust water distribution automatically, making sure crops get the right amount of water without any waste.

Hardware asset management

Proper management of IT assets allows businesses to extend the lifespan of their equipment.

Hardware asset management tracks IT assets across their lifecycle, helping businesses determine exactly when to upgrade or replace a device. This maximizes the use of each and every device, improving employee experience, lowering expenses, and cutting down on unnecessary waste.

Supporting remote work and virtual collaboration

Remote and hybrid work arrangements contribute to sustainability by lowering carbon emissions from commuting and reducing the need for energy consumption in office spaces. Adopting the right tech is crucial to supporting remote work. Luckily, there’s a ton of great software out there to help remote employees work at their best.

TeamViewer helps by allowing IT teams to remotely manage and troubleshoot devices, ensuring employees to stay productive from anywhere.

Overcoming challenges in IT sustainability

Addressing cybersecurity risks in eco-friendly IT implementations

As businesses adopt digital tools to improve sustainability, they potentially increase the risk of falling victim to a cyberattack. Adding new technology creates more entry points for hackers to access company systems and data. Companies also need to share data to track and report their sustainability progress. But if data isn’t properly protected, it can expose sensitive information to cybercriminals.

According to KPMG, companies can balance security with meeting their sustainability goals. To do this effectively, businesses should manage cyber risks as part of their ESG strategy. This includes securing systems, protecting data, and preparing for cyber threats.

Balancing costs while investing in green technology

While sustainable IT solutions lead to long-term cost savings, the initial investment can be high. Fortunately, there are ways to invest without overspending.

Invest for impact

Companies on a budget should identify where technology will have the most impact relative to cost. Making a plan and setting clear short- and long-term goals will also help balance sustainability with budget needs.

Take advantage of government incentives

Many governments provide subsidies and tax credits for businesses investing in green technology. For example, Germany’s CCfD program and the US Inflation Reduction Act offer financial support for sustainable energy initiatives.

Real-world examples of IT-driven sustainability

Cutting carbon with remote support

Cimbali Group, one of the world’s largest professional coffee machine manufacturers, uses TeamViewer Tensor to reduce technician workload and travel costs by enabling remote diagnostics and troubleshooting for its machines worldwide.

With real-time remote support, Cimbali reduces machine downtime for its customers, decreases onsite travel by up to 15% and improves technician efficiency by as much as 20%. This helps them cut emissions while improving productivity.

Read the full success story →

Minimizing e-waste with inventory insights

Arup, a multinational professional services firm, uses Inventory Insights from 1E, a TeamViewer company, to optimize its device management process.

Previously, Arup replaced devices every three to four years, regardless of their condition. Now, they monitor device performance and replace hardware only when necessary, reducing waste and saving money.

Read the full success story →

Future trends in IT sustainability