The ICT sector is growing and in full swing. The prediction is that in 2030, ten percent of the working population will be ICT. On the one hand, production, use and disposal of IT equipment generate significant CO 2 emissions. On the other hand, there are plenty of opportunities for a more sustainable world.
The growth of the ICT sector
All sectors depend on IT, but every entrepreneur also uses information and communication technology. Think of computers, software, mobile phone and the internet. The ICT sector is a growing sector with a constant demand for new personnel. For example, you regularly see a vacancy for developer , web designer, engineer or scrum master.
Sustainable digital developments
Countless developments have been achieved with the help of IT that can contribute to a more sustainable world. For example, technology is involved in all saving measures, such as solar panels, heat pumps and LED lighting. But also think of practical solutions such as;
• Tools that provide insight into the level of energy consumption in the home
• Cameras that can better manage traffic flows
• Solutions for more sustainable food production
• Smart sensor solutions for more efficient waste collection
More and more technological possibilities are also emerging to make sustainable energy available and affordable. These are developments that have the potential to accelerate the energy transition. Such as ‘digital mapping’; which links data to satellite images and maps. With this technology, promising areas can be mapped out for the generation of sustainable energy or optimization of infrastructures. Or ‘smart grids’; these are technologies that intelligently manage the electricity network. In this way, energy sources, storage and consumption can be linked and coordinated. In this way, supply and demand are always seamlessly matched. And finally, of course, the facilitating role of ICT in the digital environment of energy companies and customers.
CO 2 footprint of digitization
It is clear that digitization can make an even greater contribution to sustainability with innovations, more efficient processes, better products and services. The downside is the considerable energy consumption and CO 2 emissions of data processing and storage. Because many companies are only at the beginning of digitization, it is expected that this will only increase.
Challenges
To be able to make an optimal contribution to sustainability, there are some major challenges for the ICT sector. The main challenge here is to find a balance between the necessary work processes and sustainability. Primarily, of course, it is necessary to keep the servers running and to maintain services, to ensure good data security, cost control and to attract skilled personnel.
In addition, there are other challenges that need to be addressed. For example, the IT sector has to deal with rising energy prices, rising interest rates and a shortage of personnel in the market. Other important issues also play a role, such as the after-effects of the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Another challenge is intention versus action. While the Scandinavian countries are far ahead of concrete actions.
According to research from Schneider Electric, a major player in power management and automation transformation, there is still a gap between them. For example, the minority of IT and data center companies have a sustainability plan and most are at the beginning of the development of sustainability initiatives.
Once these challenges are overcome, it is expected that innovation and implementation of sustainable initiatives will gain momentum.
As the Caribbean Blog Authority I like to see how the Caribbean Area will make a strong digital transition.
CHANGE IN CULTURE, CHANGE IN MINDSET
One of the key pillars of any digital transformation initiative that is frequently emphasized is that of organizational culture, which is seen as the most critical component of the process. Invariably, and to transition an organization not just from certain processes and the integration of digital solutions as appropriate, the attitude, mindset and behaviour of employees and customers also need to be managed. To that end, it is often recommended that change management efforts be introduced early in the digital transformation process so that internal and external clients are adequately prepared to embrace and adjust to the changes that will occur.
However, and in hindsight, it appears that many Caribbean organizations, though adopting some digital tools and processes, did not include adequate change management and culture transformation in those efforts. As was noted earlier, urgency and survival were top of mind, and so the longer-term impact, and the need to make more comprehensive plans, do not appear to have been core considerations for many organizations.
In my view of things, the Caribbean Community is moving slow. There is more action needed to go full throttle.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS STILL CRUCIAL
As much as Caribbean organisations no longer appear to be aggressively pursuing digital transformation, it is important to highlight that it is still crucial across many fronts. For example, comprehensive digital transformation is essential to improve efficiency, effectiveness and productivity, both organisations-wise and nationally, and to foster innovation, and job creation, along with increasing Caribbean countries’ global competitiveness.
At the country level, it is likely that many reports and roadmaps have been prepared to address either government-related digital transformation, such as under e-government or with a national focus on realising a digital society. However and over the years, individual initiatives in these plans have been pursued and are in various stages of completion, which has resulted in a number of gaps, and challenges in aligning those efforts into a coherent approach or strategy.
Within organisations, and in the absence of a long-term and time-bound commitment to digital transformation, as was noted earlier, there has been little emphasis on the change in corporate culture that ought to underpin such a major transition. Further, digital transformation can be costly, not just in money, but also in the commitment, time and effort needed to execute it well. And unfortunately, many of our organisations do not have the wherewithal to mindset or the resources to truly embark on such an initiative.
However, thanks to fintech and Caribbean countries’ growing focus on digital currency, in particular, the impetus may begin to emerge to more aggressively tackle the digital transformation needed to become a digital society. In seeking to fully leverage a digital currency, for example, financial inclusion, matters related to digital identity, and more seamless processes and transactions with government and across government, among other issues, will need to be addressed.
However, what might be the timeline in which more meaningful digital transformation-enabled results will be realized ? Your guess is as good as mine. Anyway let’s move with higher hopes.