SCC and IBM for Sustainable IT

How smarter sustainability reporting enables better decisions, a clear commitment, and stronger business outcomes

The perception of sustainability has evolved significantly in recent times. What was once primarily viewed as a marketing tool has now become an essential aspect of company strategy and operations. Organisations are facing mounting pressure to report and reduce their emissions, and stakeholders across the board—from regulatory bodies and investors to shareholders, staff, and clients—are demanding greater transparency and action on sustainability.

According to PwC, nearly 80% of investors consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions. And IBM research suggests that sustainability is becoming more important for consumers all the time. This shift requires organisations to consolidate data from various sources, creating a unified view that drives reporting and decarbonisation efforts. 

However, the scope and complexity of sustainability reporting often catch organisations off guard. For example, did you know that your organisation should account for and report on supplier emissions relating to the products they provide? The complexity of this task far exceeds the capabilities of simple spreadsheets, and the stakes are high: publishing inaccurate data carries significant compliance risks. Consequently, organisations need consolidated, auditable data to meet ever-increasing reporting requirements such as ESRS (CSRD), CDP, TCFD and GRI. 

To truly thrive in this new reality, organisations must prioritise implementing the right technology to effectively manage, report, and act on their sustainability data.

The barriers to good-quality sustainability reporting

Sustainability is a critical issue: according to IBM, three-quarters of business executives surveyed say it drives better business results, and is central to their business strategy. But in the business world, it has to be balanced against several competing priorities to ensure operations are viable in the long term. As a result, comprehensive sustainability reporting remains out of reach for many, because of:

• Balancing cost: many decision-makers shy away from sustainability initiatives that they fear will increase costs or impact the bottom line. 

• Data complexity: pulling data together from many sources (especially for supply chain emissions reporting) can be complicated and time-consuming, leading many organisations to bypass it. At the same time, reporting often fails to communicate alignment between an organisation’s sustainability goals and those of consumers and suppliers.
  
• Greenwashing: brand reputation can be damaged if sustainability reporting is found to be inaccurate, based on limited data, unverifiable, or simply doesn’t go into enough detail.
  
• Loss of competitive advantage: all of the above can lead to negative perceptions among employees, customers, investors and suppliers; this can affect profitability, product quality, talent retention and acquisition, and a host of other areas.

Smarter sustainability reporting with SCC and IBM

SCC and IBM understand the need to balance profit with people and the planet. This has driven a collective approach to enabling smarter sustainability reporting that drives decarbonisation efforts and identifies waste in operations. We do this through a collection of advanced technologies and support services, that offer:

• New levels of reporting and insights: IBM’s cloud-based Envizi platform cuts through complexity by automating data collection and consolidation of complex ESG data. This is translated into user-friendly visualisation and customisable dashboards, which enable more detailed sustainability analysis, reporting and risk identification.
  
• Smarter asset management: IBM Maximo® Application Suite asset lifecycle management solutions enable the effective management, maintenance, and monitoring of critical assets including IT devices to extend their lifespan and improve performance.
  
• Environmental impact planning: IBM’s Environmental Intelligence supports detailed assessment and planning of the environmental impact on operations, assets and supply chains, enabling proactive decision-making and the measurement of the climate-related physical risk.

Work with sustainability and technology leaders

SCC and IBM have been working together successfully for more than 40 years, and the winning combination of IBM technology and SCC expertise is ideal for driving new levels of decarbonisation and sustainability reporting. When you work with us, you’re partnering with proven tech and sustainability leaders who take the same active approach to your sustainability as we do to our own:

• Platinum partners: SCC is proud to be IBM’s first Platinum Business Partner in the UK, collaborating to deliver world-class sustainability technology and next-level solutions.

• A full portfolio of solutions: SCC has unrivalled access to the full range of IBM solutions, which in conjunction with the Envizi platform, means we can solve your specific sustainability challenges.

• Bespoke approach: both SCC and IBM can work closely with your stakeholders to assess your current data position, and identify where and how improvements can be made to drive decarbonisation and reporting.

• Integrated sustainability: SCC and IBM are fully committed to sustainable operations (having committed to Net Zero by 2040 and 2030 respectively), including utilising cutting-edge technologies; promoting GreenOps in energy efficiency cloud architectures; aligning your sustainable practices with ESG priorities; and using SCC Recyclea to maximise the lifespan, sustainability and cost efficiency of hardware.

Responsible partners for sustainable business

At SCC, we understand that modern business is about so much more than the bottom line. And that’s why everything we do aligns with the ‘four Ps’:

• People: an inclusive, family business that champions diversity and puts people and customers first
• Planet: innovating and collaborating to reduce our environmental impact, and that of our customers
• Prosperity: giving back and supporting digital inclusion, and developing skills and opportunities
• Principles: acting with integrity, operating ethically, and partnering with suppliers who share our values, commitments and vision

Sustainability reporting fit for the modern world

Contact the SCC team today using the form below and find out how SCC and IBM can collectively help you drive meaningful sustainability, and back it up with comprehensive reporting.