Melbourne, 6th September 2010. Leading IT companies are positioning themselves to profit from the shift to sustainable business practices, in what will become a multi-billion-pound market, according to Ovum.
The independent technology analyst has reported a growing trend, especially among firms providing software and services, toward offerings that help clients to reap the business benefits of greener practices. The topic is covered in detail in a new Ovum report entitled Carbon accounting: a key step toward broad sustainability management.
Warren Wilson, Ovum senior analyst for IT and sustainability and author of the report, said: "Carbon accounting regulations are one of the early drivers of sustainable practices, forcing companies worldwide to re-examine their operations and awakening them to the role that IT can play in helping them meet carbon reporting and reduction requirements.
"Leading IT firms are looking at the problem more broadly, seizing the 'chance to do well by doing good' and helping clients to implement greener approaches that don't just help them comply with regulations but also help them save money, grow their companies and enhance their products and brands. We expect this to be a major growth area for the IT sector and over the next few years to become a multi-billion-pound market.
"There is a wealth of opportunity for IT firms in sustainability, so companies that have not yet taken advantage of it should not feel that they have missed the boat. However, those that are making the most of the shift to sustainable practices are those that take an innovative approach, often thinking outside of the standard services they offer. They see that the opportunity extends well beyond traditional 'green IT,' or energy-efficient computing, and encompasses all the ways in which IT can enable greener practices across the business - in industrial processes, building operations, fleet management, and more."
According to Wilson, SAP and a number of established niche solution providers are among the leaders in sustainable business solutions. He said: "We believe SAP is on track to claim a substantial share of what will be a huge market. This is true for two key reasons: sustainability management is a natural extension of ERP -- SAP's home turf -- and its value proposition is simple: sustainable practices are good business."
