A few years ago, corporate social and environmental responsibility was not such a central issue, but the current situation no longer allows us to ignore it. Nowadays, corporate commitment to CSR is an essential strategy for all organisations, whether private or public.
CSR is now a global corporate strategy that affects different departments and both internal and external aspects, and must be considered as such :
Even public markets are affected by CSR issues, since the government requires them to source at least 25% of their equipment from reconditioned sources.
And while CSR is much broader than that, IT is nonetheless an integral part of CSR today and must be seen as a genuine lever for commitment.
As a result, understanding CSR commitment in the IT context is just as essential as understanding IT in the context of a corporate CSR strategy.
In fact, the current situation no longer allows us to ignore the challenges of social and environmental responsibility, nor does it allow us to avoid thinking about IT asset management in a disengaged and unreasoned way.
At bconnex, we support private and public sector organisations to provide them with the keys and tools they need to implement a more virtuous, responsible and sustainable IT asset management policy.
Refurbished and recycled equipment is an essential part of CSR commitment through IT, but it is only a fraction of what can be put in place within our organisations.
In this article, we present 9 ways in which you can turn your IT assets into a lever for CSR commitment, as well as additional resources to help you see things more clearly and go further 👇
The environmental footprint of digital device manufacture and the rarefaction of natural resources call for immediate action.
The new challenge, and the new necessity, for businesses is therefore to demonstrate sobriety and extend the lifespan of mobile devices.
The aim of digital sobriety is to limit the use of digital technology in order to reduce its negative impact on the environment. But often, when we think of ‘digital sobriety’, we think of ‘buying less’, whereas the approach actually goes much further:
It concerns the entire life cycle of mobile devices (acquisition, use and end of life)
It concerns both the electronic equipment itself and the uses to which it is put
The first step is to make as few purchases as possible. But if you have to buy, don't buy new: buy reconditioned !
This is another way of showing digital sobriety and considerably reducing your negative environmental impact when it comes to purchasing IT terminals, and remember :
All benefits !
Another way of sourcing eco-responsible equipment is to choose equipment that can be repaired as easily as possible, with a goal of prolonging the use of the equipment as much as possible once it has been supplied to your employees.
It may seem trivial, but one of the most important ways of making your IT assets more responsible (and more frugal) is to put off buying equipment as long as possible and to make use of repairs. Extending the life of IT equipment through regular repairs reduces the production of waste (electronic, plastic, etc.).
For example, by repairing a smartphone instead of buying a new one, an average of 221kg of raw materials are protected.
So don't forget to make the most of repairs and after-sales services for your various IT devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers, accessories, etc.) !
Optimising battery life, managing the energy consumption of standby devices and using energy-saving modes are all ways of optimising the energy consumption of IT terminals. It's a simple but effective way of saving energy and promoting sustainability.
This applies to different types of IT equipment :
This complements the good basic reflex of switching off lights and power strips at the end of the working day, and allows us to act in a complementary way to make IT terminals more responsible and sustainable.
Recycling your IT equipment, whether smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers, will help to :
But recycling mobile devices should only happen as a last resort, after you've already gone through the repair and usage optimisation stages ! 💡
At bconnex, we're trying to change the situation and make it easier for you to recycle by buying back your end-of-life or simply unused devices. Contact us if you would like to have certain devices bought back !
See also : " The 5 stages of IT equipment buy-back by Betoobe "
💚 Think about it!
To complete your approach to supplying, repairing and recycling your IT equipment, you can call on local suppliers and partners (whether at local, national or European level). This contributes to greater environmental and social responsibility, and the various devices travel less.
Integrating this responsible aspect into the management of your IT assets means you can align it with strong CSR issues, accessible to all organisations (private, public, VSEs, SMEs/ETIs, large groups, associations, etc.).
💡 At bconnex, we give priority to local partners and apply these good practices in every action, service or terminal we offer our customers. It's one of our ways of aligning integrity, excellence and corporate responsibility.
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The physical security of devices extends their lifespan by making them more resistant to intense daily use and keeping them ‘in shape’ for longer.
For example, for your mobile devices :
The protection of IT terminals is also important. The influence that cyber security can have on the lifespan of IT devices is often underestimated.
Computers, for example, are generally better protected than mobile devices, which are neglected when it comes to cyber security, even though they represent the majority of the attack surface and the majority of businesses have already suffered cyber-attacks against IT systems.
We've put together a handy guide to securing your mobile fleet: find it by clicking here !
The right tools and the right partners are essential.They promote unified and transparent IT asset management, giving all stakeholders the insight they need to work effectively.
In our view, optimised and efficient management of IT equipment fleets involves :
We are also convinced that transparent relations and communication are essential, both internally (with departments and employees, etc.) and externally (with partners, suppliers, etc.).
Organisations of all types and sizes (private, public, VSEs, SMEs, large groups, associations, etc.) have every interest in working with IT partners who also advocate transparency and a strong commitment. This enables them to enhance the value of their CSR commitment while aligning it with a holistic approach.
It is just as important to involve your employees in your actions and strategy aimed at making your fleet of electronic terminals a lever for CSR commitment.
This means making them aware of cybersecurity and data protection issues, the challenges of repairing and extending the lifespan of IT devices, and so on. The aim is to encourage sustainable practices on a day-to-day basis, within the company and perhaps even outside, and to reinforce a responsible corporate culture.
Read also : " Cybersecurity culture : the central role of employees
Digital responsibility is not a subject that can be embarked upon without a guiding principle: it is essential to have a solid, long-term vision and strategy for digital responsibility.
Digital responsibility is also an extension of the CSR strategy, since it is used to apply the latter to the IT infrastructure (mobile or otherwise). It is therefore imperative to align your green IT strategy with your company's CSR strategy.
Furthermore, to ensure that the responsible digital strategy is truly solid and can be implemented under the best possible conditions, it is also important to involve the various stakeholders and departments concerned :
The more stakeholders are involved in establishing the vision and strategy, the more effective and sustainable its implementation will be. And once the strategy and specifications have been drawn up, the implementation can begin !
At bconnex, we work with our customers to help them turn their IT assets into a lever for CSR commitment.
For example, at one of our automobile customers, which operates throughout France at more than 100 sites, we have increased the rate of return of mobile devices from 10% to more than 60% today. We achieved this increase by sending out return request emails accompanied by automatic reminders so that employees no longer forget to return their devices.
And for one of our customers in the banking and insurance sector, which also operates throughout France across a large number of sites, we managed to achieve an exceptional 97% return rate thanks to a well thought-out strategy involving :
We support our customers in their strategic thinking and in the implementation of concrete actions. It is this complete approach and our commitment to excellence that enable us to achieve such outstanding results for our clients.
Navigating the CSR landscape for IT assets presents both unique challenges and opportunities for organisations of all kinds.
The main challenge lies in aligning IT practices with CSR objectives, which are often complex and evolving. In particular, this means investing time and resources to keep up to date with best practice and sustainable technological innovations.
However, doing this alignment work and making your IT assets a real lever for CSR commitment also offers major opportunities.
By focusing on CSR in IT asset management, companies can improve their brand image and reputation. But above all, integrating the responsible dimension can, in the long term, uncover ways of optimising operations and reducing costs.
In this way, adopting responsible IT practices can lead to greater efficiency and improved regulatory conformity, paving the way for a significant competitive advantage in a market that is increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
By fully embracing CSR in the management of their IT estate, organisations are no longer simply following a trend: they are adopting a fundamental business strategy for the future.
Implementing a robust CSR strategy is a strategic choice that reflects an understanding of current challenges and an anticipation of future requirements.
By aligning IT practices with CSR, companies not only enhance their attractiveness, they also and above all participate in a global movement towards a more responsible and sustainable future.
At bconnex, we are proud to support our customers in this transition towards greater digital sobriety and a more responsible digital future !
At bconnex, we work with private and public organisations to provide them with the keys and tools they need to make their IT asset management part of their overall CSR strategy.
Would you like to join us ? ✨
