Sustainable IT & Software asset management requires a mind shift

IT & Software Asset Management up til now

route naar duurzaam software asset management

route to sustainable SAM

All the experts are still quite busy with the evolution of software asset management (SAM) to ITAM. One should ask himself how the ITAM evolution compares to other current hot topics. We look at security and IoT and other hot technical topics.

The future

What about sustainability? That’s also a huge topic. If you ask my opinion I would say that software asset management is a solid base for sustainability in your organization. As you’re focussing on managing the asset’s lifecycle you’re in the best position to introduce sustainable thinking and thus change the way of thinking from financially driven to sustainable thinking.

Hardware (whether or not virtual)

When thinking of renewing your hardware you could focus on a lower energy/power usage. But instead, try to look at the full carbon footprint of your hardware. And that is something that goes a little further than your internal energy consumption (footprint). What about the footprint your asset already made before it entered your organization? Start looking at what is necessary to produce your asset and how you can influence that part of the footprint. Is the production sustainable, are components reusable or bio-degradable and how sustainable is the logistic process until you receive it? Can it be recycled? And also look at your internal cycle for renewing. Is a replacement desirable as you’re creating an extra footprint in producing and transporting quicker than normal? Although we’re reducing the amount of hardware on site and are turning more and more towards the cloud there’s actually still an increasing footprint. Our cloud service providers still have to add hardware to meet our demand. The cloud is still a datacenter, consisting of a building with computer hardware and an ever-increasing carbon footprint.

Software (whether or not virtual)

So, now it becomes easier to ask these same questions when it comes to software. How is it produced and what footprint does that produce? In other words; does my software creator have a sustainability policy and are applications produced accordingly.  How well does the app perform on my mobile device; is it energy consuming? If the app is very energy-consuming you’ll have to charge quicker and more frequent. This results in your device needing a new battery sooner or disposing of the device earlier than expected. Which will increase the size of the footprint of this device (and you too for that matter)?

Curious sheep

The paradox: sustainable vs. economic desirable

In short, responsible thinking-in-the-chain was already a necessity and will become more necessary in the near future. And that in a time where most of the companies have a big enough challenge in managing lifecycles based on financial drivers. It is logic that the current economic way of thinking, where we are pressed to think stock driven, imposes difficulties towards thinking sustainable. If we want to make our organizations successful and ready to be transferred to the next generation and the ones to come, we somehow need to find the courage to step over our own shadows and take necessary actions.

Information on software asset management

At In2SAM we build on longlasting and extensive experience on IT&SAM. We’re already aware of this topic for more than a decade and take this in consideration everytime we engage with new clients and projects. With this in mind, we work towards a sustainable future for our kids and the next generations.  In fact, we want them to think about it as early as possible and let them share their thoughts and solutions with us.

Would you like something to think beyond the financial impact of your business? Because, also with a focus on sustainability, we never forget the financial aspects. If you want to discuss this matter with me, don’t hesitate to contact me for a talk.

Nico Blokland

CEO In2SAM BV IT&SAM expert, evangelist