Although it is not possible to precisely date the start of digital transformation in Italy, we can undoubtedly accept with good approximation that it became a preponderant theme with the first industry 4.0 plan of 2017, in fact then merged into the Transition 4.0 plan more recently. If in talking about digital transformation we also discuss corporate sustainability to some extent, there are several reasons. Which undoubtedly concern the possibility of supporting greener development through digital.

Digital transformation, also serving sustainability

The link between digital transition and ecological transition has always been a double thread: since the days of the dematerialization it has always been clear that information technology first and digital later have been, and still are, solutions more environment friendly than traditional ones. A theme that also recurs in the intentions of the legislature, which has included, since the first version of the  Transition 4.0 plan, a strong Green footprint.

Imprint found in the NRP, in which one of the six missions is called, precisely, Green Revolution and Ecological Transition.

But why are digital transformation and sustainability so synergistic? Let’s look together at some of the main reasons.

Reducing waste through data

This particular area is especially critical because it involves companies on multiple levels: not only on the sustainability level, the central theme of this in-depth study, but also on the more strictly economic level. The vast amount of data that companies can collect and process today makes it possible to redesign the way decisions are made-just think of the principle of management  data driven. To give an example not related to a particular industry, but of common interest, it is estimated that  The use of artificial intelligence in reducing food waste and recovering products and raw materials could generate a value of 127 billion by 2030.

In the field of business management, equally valuable results can be obtained by applying strictly digital-related policies, for example, to inventory management based on demand forecasting.

Optimize supplies, not just to save money

Reasoning in more strictly digital terms, particularly with regard to IT infrastructure, there are choices that perfectly explain the absolute reconciliation of technology and environmental issues. The shift toward the cloud in general and toward the  product as a service, for example, allows, at a higher level, the creation of usage models that manage to optimize the exploitation of assets and resources.

Again, demonstrating that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive, economic interest is perfectly reconciled with environmental concerns. Indeed, “as a service” models have gained interest because they are cheaper for companies, which no longer have to worry about infrastructure costs. But, on the sustainability front, they have made it possible to  drastically contain the oversizing of infrastructure and the resulting movement of unnecessary apparatus, leading to a reduction in environmental impact.

Reducing scrap, defects and extending the life cycle of equipment

The issue of waste is particularly environmentally impactful, not only in macro terms, but also at the operational level, especially in the case of manufacturing where scrap and defective products are always a critical cost item.

Through digital transformation, production can be optimized both directly and indirectly. Directly by monitoring and processing the specific parameters of the production chain, for example, by establishing the optimal quantity of parts per hour to preserve the margin without introducing too many defects, or by establishing the optimal storage time for perishable products.

Indirectly, and from a certain more strategic point of view, by revising the maintenance paradigm with the new predictive criteria. There are quite frequent cases where, for example, an increase in defective parts or use of consumables is indicative of deteriorating machinery. Modern MES systems can, by linking to the company ERP in a data-driven ecosystem, exploit quality control information and readings also coming from the machine edge to predict possible criticalities and plan interventions, with a double benefit: containing waste and prolonging the life cycle of machinery, making it always work in optimal conditions.

Today, major players in the digital industry are working to make the IT sector increasingly green by offering Cloud solutions that enable companies to limit emissions.
RegestaLAB can help you on the path to transforming your IT infrastructure to a greener solution. Contact us to learn more.