Sustainable Digital Transformation: How Technology Is Redefining the Future of Businesses

By Paulo Secco, CEO and founder of Mignow

In my career of more than two decades in the technology sector in renowned companies collaborating with some of the main technological partners in Brazil, I have noticed a significant transformation in the way companies approach sustainability. This evolution is no longer a trend, but a necessity, especially considering the current global environmental scenario. Being sustainable is no longer an option but an essential requirement for survival and success in today's competitive market.

Organizations that ignore sustainable practices not only face a loss of monetary value through cost-saving opportunities such as energy efficiency, but they also lose market relevance. The demand for sustainability, now more than ever, is driven by consumers themselves, who measure companies by the yardstick of their practices and choose to support those that demonstrate real commitment to the environment.

Given this reality, it is crucial not only to implement more sustainable internal processes, from the production chain to office services, but also to develop business practices that promote sustainability. It is alarming to know that, in 2021, just six companies were responsible for 71.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study by the Institute of Energy and Environment (IEMA). This data emphasizes the role of organizations in reducing these emissions and combating climate change.

Reducing carbon emissions, for example, contributes to the objective set by the UN to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting the “Carbon Neutral” status goes beyond a mere symbolism of environmental commitment; It is a concrete step towards counterbalancing the negative effects of business activities on global warming.

Among efforts to promote business sustainability, the transition from fixed servers to cloud-based solutions stands out as a concrete example. By making it easier for organizations to migrate to the cloud, we see a direct impact on energy efficiency and resource management. This impact is so significant that it placed SAP among the top three on the list of 23 vendors evaluated by the IDC Sustainability Index for Software Vendors.

By migrating from a physical server to the cloud, companies ensure not only a reduction in gas emissions and energy consumption, but also an advantageous position, through the direct reduction of servers and improved energy efficiency. Furthermore, organizations that present sustainable concerns and initiatives are more prepared for the future. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, incorporated into the conversion process, can help even further, reducing migration time and leading the company to a more sustainable environment with reduced project time and cost.

Furthermore, migration to the cloud has proven to increase employee productivity, saving time and resources on activities such as cash closing or payroll processing, which used to take a long time and are now significantly faster and more efficient with the use of advanced systems. such as SAP S/4HANA.

An example of the positive impact of these technological innovations on sustainability is the case of Carrefour, which, by adopting cloud hosting, not only achieved a significant reduction of 45% in its energy consumption, but also a notable reduction of 40% in its operational costs. . This transformation also resulted in a considerable reduction in carbon emissions, highlighting the positive environmental impact of innovative technological decisions.

Based on this assumption, the migration to SAP and the adoption of cloud computing emerge as business solutions that can reduce the environmental impact of operations. As more organizations join the system, the environmental impact will be significantly lower.

When reflecting on the importance of sustainability in the business world, it becomes clear that energy consumption is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, by adopting sustainable technological practices and solutions, we are not only benefiting organizations in terms of efficiency and savings, but also contributing significantly to the preservation of the environment.

The commitment to innovation and sustainability drives digital transformation with a focus on reducing environmental impact. The integration of advanced technological solutions with sustainable business practices can not only foster business success, but also significantly contribute to a more sustainable and green future for generations to come.

*Paulo Secco is an outstanding professional with more than two decades of experience in the technology sector, having worked in renowned companies such as Xerox, Accenture, Softtek and SAP. In 2010, he founded Integre IT, an IT consultancy, and later joined Essence, an important SAP partner in Brazil, as partner and COO. Secco is a pioneer in the development of innovative software that automates the conversion from SAP ECC to S/4HANA, launched after a successful implementation case in just 18 days. In 2020, he founded Mignow, a venture that expands the focus to support all phases of SAP journeys, not limited to conversion, but also covering annual updates. Under his visionary leadership, Mignow has established itself as a benchmark in the market, providing innovative, high-quality solutions for optimization in SAP environments.

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