E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N

Sarwar Khan , Global

Head of Digital Sustainability at BT , discusses the evolution of the CIO and the influence of Digital Transformation on the role .

“ As the world becomes increasingly digital and organisations pursuing Generative AI , a shift is taking place within boardrooms . CIOs are now fulfilling more strategic roles to drive Digital Transformation and sustainability .

Going circular

For multinational corporations , the focus has broadened from just carbon emissions to a circular economy model , encapsulating responsible resource consumption , recycling and waste management . As a result , CIOs are being tasked with more than just ensuring the smooth operation of IT systems ; they are now expected to drive sustainable digital strategies , helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint while concurrently optimising operations .

Take BT ' s initiative as an example ; it has recently launched a digital tool to help multinational customers optimise their network environmental performance and measure outcomes . This proposition gives the CIO the power to manage and measure an organisation ' s environmental impact in real-time , providing them with the much-needed information to balance performance , energy consumption , emissions and cost .

Of course , digital technologies also play a vital role in helping reduce global carbon emissions as Information and Communications Technology ( ICT ) is estimated to help reduce CO 2 emissions by as much as 20 % by 2030 . With environmental commitments transitioning from risk management pillars to operating status benchmarks , CIOs are instrumental in integrating these green technologies into their organisations ' operational fabric .

Embracing sustainability

The digitalisation of operations is not just about reducing carbon emissions anymore ; it ’ s now about incorporating sustainable practices into every aspect of the business . For instance , by migrating digital workloads and applications to data centres with lower Power Usage Effectiveness ( PUE ) factors , organisations can reduce energy and carbon usage . Even seemingly simple steps like digitising supply chains can contribute significantly to sustainability targets .

Another example includes auditing the organisation ’ s existing network and replacing copper cables with fibre connections where possible bodes impressive gains to optimising energy consumption . Such projects further underscore the expanded role of the CIO in navigating the complex terrain of Digital Transformation and sustainability .

Interestingly , organisations pursuing both Digital Transformation and sustainability simultaneously are 2.5x more likely to be among tomorrow ’ s strongest-performing businesses . For instance , the use of advanced digital technologies such as IoT , Edge , Data , AI and 5G can play a critical role in an organisation ’ s transition to net zero . The CIO ’ s expertise is crucial in evaluating and implementing these technologies to support new sustainability apps aimed at optimising energy use and reducing carbon emissions .

Business reinvention

CIOs are no longer limited to simply being ‘ pure techies ’. Today , they help lead the charge as organisations globally , and the public at large , embrace a more sustainable future .

The evolution of the CIO has been driven by the demands of Digital Transformation and sustainability . They must now not only ensure that the digital lights remain on , but that those lights shine a bit greener with every passing day .”

We speak to experts from LCL Data Centers , Leaseweb and Critical Power Supplies , to gain insight about the CIO ’ s role and how sustainability has impacted decisions at the top .

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