E X P E R T O P I N I O N e are at a point where

Data centres are central to AI ' s growth and are evolving rapidly . The growing demand for compute power is requiring stakeholders across the business to rethink traditional approaches . Where once decisions were made within the facilities department , today ’ s landscape calls for a more integrated approach that engages the entire C-suite . Collaboration among departments – facilities , IT and executive leadership – is needed to ensure company-wide strategies align with long-term business goals and growth objectives .

The evolving role of the C-Suite in data centre strategy

The impact of AI and sustainability initiatives extends far beyond IT and offer more efficient solutions that directly affect profitability and help achieve sustainability targets . Liquid cooling reduces energy consumption , water use and operational costs while simplifying data centre design .

A 4 % performance improvement from liquid cooling can deliver tangible benefits across several business functions .

In the data centre , this boost enhances processing speeds , improves response

EXECUTIVES , PARTICULARLY THE CFO AND CTO , SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO DRIVE A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP ( TCO ) WHEN EVALUATING DATA CENTRE INVESTMENTS .

facilities , influencing strategic planning , capital allocation and corporate responsibility . Active engagement from the entire C-suite is therefore crucial in driving data centre operations toward more innovative and efficient solutions in terms of the bottom line as well the impact on the environment .

Each executive plays a distinct role in this process . The CFO ensures investments align with the company ’ s financial goals , while the CEO provides strategic oversight , keeping data centre decisions in line with the company ' s long-term objectives . The CTO focuses on integrating new technologies with operational needs , and the Chief Sustainability Officer ( CSO ) ensures environmental targets are met . This collaborative approach allows for holistic , strategic decision-making .

Why is this important now ? Air-cooled data centres , though once standard , are now becoming less viable as a cooling solution as compute demands from AI grow and sustainability becomes a priority across organisations . New technologies , like liquid cooling , can times and increases capacity , allowing for more workloads without additional hardware – delaying the need for costly capacity expansions . Financially , energy cost reductions lead to better operational efficiency and improved return on investment through more effective use of existing infrastructure .

Environmentally , this 4 % efficiency gain translates into reduced carbon emissions , supporting sustainability goals and regulatory compliance . It also aligns with broader corporate initiatives to minimise environmental impact while driving growth .

These insights underscore the need for cross-department collaboration within the C-suite . By making integrated decisions , executives can achieve greater impact across the entire business .

Innovation requires leadership from the top

One of the most significant barriers to adopting new technologies is the tendency toward incrementalism – a cautious approach to change that focuses on small , gradual improvements .

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