"Business Technology" and the Changing Role of IT

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "In the past, your business depended on technology. Now, your business is embodied in technology."

This quote is important to remember because it signifies a true changing of the guard - what we at Forrester Research like to call the IT (information technology) to BT (business technology) transformation. BT impacts everything from organizational structure, to governance, staffing skills and beyond. The result is that this “retooling” of IT will transform the role of technology into a strategic source of business value, not merely a drain on costs.

A raft of recent news stories highlight how green IT can be a stepping stone in your organization’s path toward BT - while saving the money and resources at the same time:

• Alignment: Enabling corporate carbon reduction initiatives. Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Cisco have made pledges to reduce their companywide carbon footprint. In both of these cases, IT is viewed as a critical enabler to achieve this. Cisco expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in 2012 by employing videoconferencing to computerized facility management. Enterprise is migrating to a network of 45,000 thin clients across 7,000 offices, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 6.5 million pounds and saving $500,000 in annual energy costs.
• Beyond Alignment: Assuming new responsibilities. IT has the opportunity to assume new responsibilities – such as facilities management – that can have a major impact on reducing companywide carbon emissions and expenses. According to a new report from the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and the Climate Group, the broader application of technology could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 15% and save global industry $800 billion in annual energy costs by 2020. Beyond IT-centric solutions such data center efficiency or thin clients, IT organizations can assume control over new technologies – such as building and facilities management platforms – to measure, diagnose and resolve energy consumption.

A solid green IT strategy can help IT executives further inspire the IT-to-BT transformation within their organizations. But be smart – treat green IT investments like any other IT investment by setting realistic expectations by analyzing the potential cost and carbon emission savings.

~Doug Washburn, SLM Advisor v | Sustainable Media Life