While sustainable credentials can prove a hit with some customers, especially those in the public sector, many organisations believe that there is little point concentrating on environmental matters when revenue is falling off a cliff. Sustainable business practices quickly moved from the next business necessity to a nice-to-have.

But it does not have to be this way; going green is by no means exclusive from economic efficiency. Implemented in the right way, sustainable business practices can help your firm to increase its effectiveness, cut costs and reduce its environmental impact.

This fact is recognised by the financial professionals who were recently surveyed by document management provider, Version One. 90% of respondents stated that going green is still a key consideration within their organisations’ current buying process. 18% actually suggest that the concern is now more important than ever.

Yet in a constrained economic environment, what will be the incentive of going green? The answers, according to the Version One survey, revolve around economics and governance.

As much as 39% of respondents believe financial incentives are most likely to persuade their organisations to become more environmentally conscious. And just under a third (32%) suggest that new environmental legislation, combined with penalties for non-conformance, would influence their organisation to become greener.

While concern for compliance is significant, going green should never be treated as a tick box. While compliance can provide a compelling reason to act, organisations must not lose sight of the important business benefits that can be garnered by pushing the green agenda.

Going green does not need to be an expensive exercise and key systems, such as document management, also make smart business sense. While helping to reduce paper consumption and carbon emissions, document management technology can cut costs and improve efficiency by giving executives automated access to key documents at the right time.

Such systems mark an important step in the right direction. However there is still much to be done with as many as 66% of senior finance professionals suggesting to Version One that they are still concerned about the negative impact of their company on the environment. The sooner that organisations recognise that going greener and operating cost-effectively should not be viewed in isolation, the better!

What will persuade your organisation to go green? is a post from Advanced Business Solutions - Supplier of accounting software, business intelligence and document managment

Now, following a couple of years of economic recession, green computing has gone off the radar somewhat. New business realities mean projects that provide sustainable benefits have been pushed from must-have to nice-to-have.

Such a strategy is misguided. The risk to the environment from errant technology and power use has not diminished.

Estimates suggest that IT accounts for between two and five per cent of total global carbon emissions, more than the airline industry. Analyst Gartner, meanwhile, estimates that data centres account for 23 per cent of IT emissions, a significant and ever-increasing figure (see further reading, below).

But it is not just the need to deal with emissions that shows businesses must think green. With new regulations and continuing pressure from customers, successful companies will make sure their IT usage is monitored and sustainable.

UK businesses are being urged to prepare for a new raft of carbon emission regulations. The result is likely to be that firms will have to produce an end-of-year report – just like in the case of financial results – that shows carbon usage (see further reading).

Customers, meanwhile, expect their suppliers to behave in an acceptable manner. Just like social media has changed how firms interact with their clients, the potential for green business means big firms must ensure sustainability is always considered.

Across all areas of your operations – from financial management to workflow and on to document imaging – look for systems that will help you reduce paper consumption.

Also look for tools that will help you monitor and report carbon emissions. Because reporting on carbon use, which was once a nice-to-have, might soon be a business necessity.

Further reading

http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=530912

http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/mandatory-carbon-reporting-could-be-brought-in-before-2012-says-miliband-1074.aspx

Make IT sustainable and win new customers is a post from Advanced Business Solutions - Supplier of accounting software, business intelligence and document managment