Imagine ditching the commute and working from your favorite Starbucks coffee shop in New York, or maybe even collaborating with colleagues on a beach in Miami! That’s the power of anywhere operations. Businesses are using tech and online tools to make it a reality, but it’s not just about kicking back in comfy clothes. Anywhere operations are also good for the environment by cutting down on travel and energy use. It’s a win-win for businesses and the planet! By adopting anywhere operations, businesses can reduce their environmental impact, improve their social responsibility, and enhance their economic performance. They can cut down on emissions, energy, and waste by avoiding commuting, traveling, and maintaining physical offices.
Business owners who have enabled anywhere operation in their enterprises should refrain from trading their advantage for their traditional ways of operating where they can. There is more to it than making your staff work and interact from anywhere. Business owners who are retracting from anywhere operations may face risks such as losing their customers and employees to competitors who offer more flexibility and convenience. They may also risk losing their relevance and attractiveness in the market by sticking to outdated modes of operation. Their sustainable reputation is also at stake because they have the operation in place but are not operating sustainably. The stakes are too high, and if you return to normal, you’ll give up the benefits of anywhere operations that can make your business more sustainable, socially responsible, and economically successful. According to Gartner, emissions are the most challenging to measure, yet in some companies, they can account for over 95% of total emissions.[1] As technology business leaders, we need to prioritize sustainability and consider the impacts of our actions beyond our own industry. Our footprint may be light compared to other sectors, but we may be undermining our sustainability goals by affecting other areas negatively.
DecarboN8 is a UK-based initiative that aims to decarbonize transport by reducing travel demand and promoting low-carbon mobility options. The initiative conducted a study to examine the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns on commuter carbon emissions and the potential for home working as a long-term strategy for green recovery. Transport is one of the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, and commuting accounts for a significant share of transport-related emissions. Reducing commuter travel is therefore a key challenge for transport policymakers who want to achieve the UK’s net-zero carbon target by 2050. The study used district-level data on travel behavior, carbon emissions, industry composition, and car ownership to analyze how different job sectors and regions adapted to the lockdowns and reduced their commuting emissions. The study found that the districts with the highest levels of home working and the lowest levels of commuting emissions were those with a high proportion of jobs that could be performed remotely, such as information and communication, professional services, and education. These districts also had high car ownership rates, indicating that they had more potential to switch from driving to home working. The study revealed that during the lockdowns, the overall carbon emissions from commuting fell to about 30-38% of what they had been before. The largest reduction occurred in May 2020, when emissions dropped by 40 to 78%. The study also found that 52% of UK workers were working from home in January and February 2021, and 90% of them expressed a desire to continue doing so after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.[2]
Anywhere operations can promote diversity, inclusion, and well-being by offering opportunities and services to people who may face barriers due to location, disability, or other factors. They can improve productivity, efficiency, and innovation by using digital tools and platforms that enable faster and smarter decision-making, collaboration, and problem-solving. They can reduce costs and risks by eliminating or minimizing expenses related to real estate, travel, and infrastructure. Anywhere operations is a strategic focus for businesses that want to achieve sustainability goals while also gaining a competitive advantage in the market.
Business owners should not forget the sustainable benefits anywhere operations have in and around the IT environment. Anywhere operations are the future of technology businesses. They let you deliver IT services and solutions across different locations, devices, and networks. This can skyrocket your business success in the digital age by expanding your reach, enhancing your customer experience, and empowering your employees. As a responsible IT leader, you also need to care about the environmental and social impacts of these operations. How can you make it greener and cut down your energy use, waste, and carbon emissions? How can you create positive value for your business and society? Anywhere operations is a critical sustainability enabler that can help you achieve these goals. They can save you money, improve efficiency, and spark innovation. They can also help you comply with regulations, meet customer demands, and build trust with your stakeholders. According to Gartner, 86% of business leaders see sustainability as an investment that protects their organization from disruption. Nearly 70% of surveyed CEOs plan to invest in new sustainable products and make existing products more sustainable.[2] With such a large number seeing it that way, would they continue to invest in or partner with a business susceptible to disruption or not operating sustainably? Anywhere operations deliver outstanding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes for an enterprise. So don’t miss out on the sustainable benefits of anywhere operations for your IT environment. Keep adopting them, improving them, expanding them, and enjoy the benefits.
