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IT LEADERS URGED TO OPTIMISE TECH REFRESH CYCLES FOR A GREENER IMPACT
As organisations increasingly prioritise sustainability , there ’ s a growing need to rethink how technology refresh cycles are managed . New insights from 400 US and UK IT decision-makers ( ITDMs ) published on World Sustainability Day 2024 by Scalable Software reveal that many businesses replace hardware based solely on age . More than three-quarters ( 77 %) of ITDMs report that their organisation has a fixed timeframe for replacements : 14 % replace hardware every year , 30 % every two years , 33 % every three years .
However , this tech-centric approach to IT refresh cycles not only results in unnecessary upgrades and increased costs but can have a negative environmental impact . This data comes at a time when the 2024 UN Global E-Waste Monitor finds that the generation of e-waste worldwide is rising by 2.6 million tonnes annually and is predicted to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030 . corporate IT devices , including performance , application usage and employees ’ digital experiences , organisations can make technology refresh cycles far smarter . For instance , DEX data can identify employees who need more powerful devices earlier , such as those transitioning to roles involving Business Intelligence or AI , while delaying upgrades for employees with less demanding digital workloads .
“ While timely hardware replacement can ensure employees have access to the latest tech , it can contribute to a growing electronic waste problem when devices are replaced unnecessarily ,” added Cresswell . “ By applying Digital Employee Experience data , ITDMs can implement sustainable practices – ensuring technology refresh cycles are efficient and sustainable , and most importantly , are aligned with employees ’ needs .”
World Sustainability Day is celebrated annually on the last Wednesday of October . This global initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about sustainability and the importance of adopting practices that protect the environment for future generations . x
“ There ’ s no reason to send perfectly functional devices to landfill based solely on their age . There are quick and easy steps organisations can take to make a sustainable difference to the planet . By using data , IT leaders can move away from a blanket replacement policy – creating tailored tech refresh cycles that are both employee-centric and reduce electronic waste ,” said Mark Cresswell , Co-founder , Scalable Software . “ Many organisations now have policies on sustainability . An important step towards meeting these goals is being smarter about innovation .”
Digital Employee Experience ( DEX ) analytics enables an employee-centric approach that aligns tech refresh cycles to the needs of the employee rather than arbitrary timeframes . By delivering granular data on
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