Sustainable Asset Management
What is sustainable asset management?
Sustainable asset management is the process of overseeing and maintaining physical assets (such as machinery and infrastructure) in a manner that is both socially and ecologically responsible. Utilizing programs for upcycling, recycling, and disposal, cutting back on energy use, and utilizing more environmentally friendly materials throughout the production are a few examples of what this may include. It could also entail ensuring that investments reflect the values and objectives of the organization by taking into account their social and environmental effect. The objective of sustainable asset management is to maximize physical asset performance while reducing environmental effects and guaranteeing a favorable social impact.
What are the benefits of sustainable IT asset management?
For businesses wishing to improve their IT infrastructure, HPE provides sustainable IT asset management solutions that can offer a range of advantages.
One significant advantage is cost savings. Using sustainable IT asset management enables businesses to manage and get rid of their IT assets in a way that isn't damaging to the environment, which can reduce expenses tied to disposing of electronics in waste or other destructive ways. It also permits the detection and retirement of underused assets, freeing up resources for more efficient usage.
The increase in security and data protection is another advantage. By ensuring that sensitive data on retired devices are safely wiped and disposed of, sustainable IT asset management lowers the risk of data breaches and safeguards an organization's reputation.
Additionally, effective IT asset management supports enterprises in adhering to legal and regulatory obligations. Electronic equipment disposal is governed by laws and regulations in many industries, and sustainable IT asset management can assist businesses in complying with these rules and regulations while avoiding hefty fines.
Lastly, sustainable IT asset management is highly effective for the environment. By appropriately recycling or reusing retired devices rather than disposing of them in landfills, it helps to lessen the environmental effect of IT equipment. This decreases the quantity of electronic trash while simultaneously conserving resources, lowering carbon emissions, and advancing the circular economy.
In conclusion, sustainable IT asset management can help enterprises by lowering costs and enhancing security, compliance, and the environment. Organizations can improve their IT infrastructure and make future decisions that are ethical and sustainable with the help of HPE's sustainable IT asset management solutions.
Why sustainability is important in IT asset management and who needs it?
The need for sustainability in IT asset management is developing as people become more conscious of the negative effects that technology has on the environment and society, as well as the role that businesses and organizations can play in resolving these issues.
The practice of managing an organization's IT assets, such as its hardware, software, and data, is known as IT asset management. It entails optimizing the value of these assets, lowering risk and expenses, and making sure that all legal and regulatory obligations are met.
Due to its potential to reduce an organization's environmental effects and promote favorable social consequences, sustainability is crucial to IT asset management. Organizations, for example, can minimize energy consumption, and waste, and assist the development of more sustainable technologies by implementing sustainable practices in the acquisition, use, and disposal of IT assets. Sustainable IT asset management may also help enterprises in a variety of ways, including:
- Cost savings: By implementing sustainable practices, businesses can use fewer resources and less energy, which can cut costs.
- Risk management: Organizations can reduce risk and safeguard their reputation by taking into account the environmental and social effects of their IT assets.
- Efficiency gain: Organizations that practice sustainable IT asset management are better equipped to employ resources effectively and operate more profitably
- Competitive advantage: Businesses that embrace sustainable practices could be viewed as more desirable by stakeholders and customers, which might offer them an edge over rival businesses.
Sustainability is important because it can help organizations to minimize their environmental impacts, contribute to positive social outcomes, and benefit from cost savings. It is relevant to a wide range of organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations as well as individuals.
What are some of the roadblocks to sustainable asset management?
The following are some potential obstacles to sustainable asset management:
Lack of visibility: Without adequate tracking and monitoring tools in place, it can be difficult to keep track of all IT assets and their utilization, making it impossible to make choices regarding their disposal or repurposing.
End-of-life asset tracking challenges: As IT assets near the end of their useful lives, it may be challenging to monitor and appropriately dispose of them, creating security concerns and compliance problems.
The complexity of managing numerous suppliers and product lines: It can be challenging to standardize and streamline systems and procedures because IT assets may come from a range of vendors and product lines.
Data security issues: Since IT assets can also include sensitive data, they should be properly disposed of and eliminated with data security in mind.
Resistance to change: The workforce can resist changes to established IT asset management processes, making it difficult to implement sustainable practices within the organization.
How can IT asset management contribute towards sustainability?
There are several ways that IT asset management can support sustainability, including:
- Sourcing: Through sourcing and procurement policies, organizations can pick IT assets that have been made using environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing techniques, as well as ones that are built to last and be repairable. This can help in the reduction of waste and the environmental effect of technology manufacturing.
- Usage: By making the most use of current IT assets, organizations can avoid the need to buy new ones, hence lowering resource consumption and waste. This may be accomplished by updating current hardware and software, prolonging asset life through maintenance and repair, and establishing efficient IT asset management processes. Another option is to explore certified pre-owned technology where you can extend the useful life of technology before disposal.
- Disposal: By implementing sustainable disposal procedures, businesses can make sure that their IT assets are upcycled, recycled, or disposed of in a way that protects the environment. This could entail taking part in take-back initiatives, upcycling items to keep them in the circular economy longer, responsibly recycling items, or giving goods to charities to extend their effective life.
Businesses may lower their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by establishing energy-efficient IT procedures. This can involve deploying strategies like as-a-service or hybrid cloud models as well as choosing technology that is designed to save power and has responsibly sourced materials.
In conclusion, IT asset management can support sustainability by implementing energy-saving procedures and adopting sustainable procurement, usage, and disposal methods. Organizations can lessen their negative effects on the environment and help to create a more sustainable economy by doing this.
How to create financial viability with sustainable asset management?
The process of effectively and efficiently managing a technology asset's lifecycle in a way that is both economical and environmentally safe is known as sustainable IT asset management. A thorough IT asset management program can be put in place to generate it. The following components should be part of this program:
- Asset discovery and inventory: Finding all the IT assets and generating an inventory of items is the first step in developing a long-lasting IT asset management program. This covers the necessary tools, programs, and licensing.
- Asset Optimization: Once your IT assets have been accurately inventoried, it can be optimized to maximize their worth. This involves ensuring that they are utilized efficiently and effectively and that they are replaced or disposed of after their useful life is expired.
- Asset Lifecycle Management: As part of your IT asset management program, you should also implement an asset lifecycle management process. This process should include the following steps:
(a) Acquisition: When acquiring new IT assets, it is important to consider their environmental impact and ensure that they are energy-efficient.
(b) Deployment: When deploying new IT assets, it is important to ensure that they are configured and used sustainably.
(c) Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential to ensure that IT assets are operating at their optimal level and that they are being used in an environmentally friendly way.
(d) Retirement: At the end of their useful life, IT assets should be retired in an environmentally-friendly way.
- Metrics and reporting: Finally, you should also implement a metrics and reporting system to track the performance of your IT asset management program and identify opportunities for improvement.
By implementing a comprehensive IT asset management program that includes these elements, you can create financial viability while also being environmentally friendly.
What are some of the ways to successfully incorporate sustainable asset management?
Although integrating sustainable IT asset management into an organization might be difficult, doing so is necessary to reduce technology's negative effects on the environment and make long-term financial savings. Listed below are a few strategies for successfully implementing sustainable IT asset management:
Create a thorough IT asset management policy: A well-defined IT asset management policy, which includes instructions for purchasing, deploying, maintaining, and retiring IT assets, can guarantee that all IT assets are managed sustainably.
Regularly performing inventories and audits of IT assets: This can assist in identifying and tracking each asset's state for its best usage and ensuring that it is being replaced or disposed of when it has reached the end of its useful life.
Utilize automation technologies: Automation solutions can assist in streamlining and improving the IT asset management process. Automated license management technologies, for instance, can help assure compliance with software licensing agreements while also assisting in the identification and tracking of IT assets.
Adopt sustainable procurement practices: It's critical to think about the environment and energy efficiency when purchasing new IT assets. This can be done by integrating sustainability factors into the procurement procedures, for example, by adopting Energy Star ratings for computer equipment and encouraging the use of virtualization and cloud-based services.
Create a defined data destruction process: Data destruction is a key part of data security that also contributes to the environmental sustainability of IT assets. This may be accomplished by implementing a precise data destruction procedure and frequently executing data destruction on end-of-life IT equipment.
Include metrics and reporting. Metrics and reporting can be used to assess an organization's IT asset management program's effectiveness and pinpoint areas for development. This can contain information on energy use, carbon emissions, and the quantity of recycled or reused assets.
Organizations can manage their IT assets cost-effectively and sustainably by bringing these sustainable IT asset management techniques into practice.
How to create financial viability with sustainable asset management?
Although integrating sustainable IT asset management into an organization might be difficult, doing so is necessary to reduce technology's negative effects on the environment and make long-term financial savings. Listed below are a few strategies for successfully implementing sustainable IT asset management:
Create a thorough IT asset management policy: A well-defined IT asset management policy, which includes instructions for purchasing, deploying, maintaining, and retiring IT assets, can guarantee that all IT assets are managed sustainably.
Regularly performing inventories and audits of IT assets: This can assist in identifying and tracking each asset's state for its best usage and ensuring that it is being replaced or disposed of when it has reached the end of its useful life.
Utilize automation technologies: Automation solutions can assist in streamlining and improving the IT asset management process. Automated license management technologies, for instance, can help assure compliance with software licensing agreements while also assisting in the identification and tracking of IT assets.
Adopt sustainable procurement practices: It's critical to think about the environment and energy efficiency when purchasing new IT assets. This can be done by integrating sustainability factors into the procurement procedures, for example, by adopting Energy Star ratings for computer equipment and encouraging the use of virtualization and cloud-based services.
Create a defined data destruction process: Data destruction is a key part of data security that also contributes to the environmental sustainability of IT assets. This may be accomplished by implementing a precise data destruction procedure and frequently executing data destruction on end-of-life IT equipment.
Include metrics and reporting. Metrics and reporting can be used to assess an organization's IT asset management program's effectiveness and pinpoint areas for development. This can contain information on energy use, carbon emissions, and the quantity of recycled or reused assets.
Organizations can manage their IT assets cost-effectively and sustainably by bringing these sustainable IT asset management techniques into practice.
HPEFS & sustainable asset management
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Financial Services (HPEFS) is an IT asset management and financial services company that helps businesses manage their assets sustainably and cost-effectively. Through HPEFS, businesses can access a range of services and solutions designed to help them optimize their asset management practices and build financial vitality, including:
HPE Accelerated Migration Services: Helps businesses migrate their IT infrastructure to new platforms quickly and efficiently. This solution leverages automation and expertise to minimize risk and disruption to operations and ensure a seamless migration process through its flexible usage payment model during the transition to free up cash for new IT investment. HPE Accelerated Migration Services can help organizations modernize their IT infrastructure, optimize performance, and reduce costs.
HPE Asset Upcycling Services: Provides end-to-end IT asset disposition services, including secure data erasure, environmentally responsible disposal, and value recovery through resale or recycling. This solution helps organizations minimize the risk of data breaches, reduce their environmental impact, and recover value from their outdated IT assets.
HPE Certified Pre-Owned Services (CPO): Offers high-quality, refurbished IT equipment at a lower cost than new equipment. Because infrastructure needs are unique, HPEFS expert engineers work to custom-configure an HPE Pre-owned solution with reliable, fully-tested HPE data center equipment. HPE CPO equipment undergoes a rigorous refurbishment and testing process to ensure that it meets the same standards as new equipment. This solution helps businesses save money while still getting reliable, high-performance IT equipment for their operations. Additionally, HPE CPO equipment has an extensive inventory of enterprise equipment dating from 18 months to 25 years it is the same warranties and support services as new equipment, providing peace of mind to customers.
HPE Adaptable Use Models: HPE Adaptable Use Models is an IT investment solution with configurable capabilities that allowsa monthly payment plan with the option to adjust payments based on pre-planned needs or contingency plans.
- Extended Deployment: Acquire forecasted compute and storage capacity in advance of the actual need. Align payments with deployment for added flexibility and budget efficiency. Take more control over deployment, spending, and theability to deliver on contingency plans.
- Flex up and Down: Flex Down can help deploy projects with speed, flexibility, and efficient use of resources and provides greater financial ease and the ability to harness uncertainty to preserve investment power. Acquire the new tech for an affordable monthly payment with the capacity to make an adjustment later and exercise the option to return unneeded assets, up to 10%, at 12 months.
- Risk Mitigation Services: Mitigate Risk is an IT payment solution that gives the flexibility to adjust IT investments based on aproject’s changing needs. It can easily align costs with deployment.
Overall, HPE helps businesses adopt more sustainable asset management practices by providing them with the tools and resources they need to optimize, finance, and recover their assets in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner. This can help businesses reduce their environmental footprint, save money, and improve their bottom line while ensuring performance.