Ed. Note: This article was previously posted at IoP Journal.
When we look at the history of humanity, several periods stand out as times of great transformation. That has undoubtedly been the case for the last few years of our adventure on Earth. From the pandemic to the digital transformation, we live in an era of profound changes—not only to evolve, but also to preserve our world. In this context, companies of all sizes and segments are under pressure to position themselves on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda as a fundamental part of their business strategies.
So how is it possible to put this sustainable discourse into practice? The answer to this challenge certainly involves technology (for example, radio frequency identification), with the implementation of innovations and resources to facilitate everything from developing new products and services to streamlining the measurement of results for each initiative—and, ultimately, to sustaining operations by reducing more and more the consumption of natural resources such as water, light and raw materials of all kinds.
It is worth mentioning that paying attention to these points, as well as adopting sustainability and governance practices, are no longer differentials of a brand. They are a need, especially looking at the new profile of consumers and investors, who are much more interested and concerned about understanding how organizations are working to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and governance.
According to an EY survey, for example, no fewer than 99 percent of investors already consider the disclosure of results related to the ESG area as an essential part of supporting an organization. The same study indicates that 78 percent of investments are granted with the requirement that companies apply actions of this type in their businesses. Likewise, several surveys show that customers, in general, are aware of what each company does to adapt to this more conscious world.
In this scenario, it is impossible not to think of ESG demand as a pillar of business. That does not mean, however, that all brands need to be at the same levels of innovation. In fact, it is opportune to remember that we are on a journey in which each company moves at a different pace. For this reason, it is recommended that businesses seek collaborations and partnership with specialists that can effectively support the implementation of the most suitable technologies to enhance their processes, analyses and objectives.
The industry has solutions of all kinds that allow companies to enable and implement their cultures and proposals, or to manage and demonstrate the indicators obtained in their efforts to build a better world. Even traditional products and services now have options aligned with this field. If it is true that IT teams are being modified, gaining new applications and solutions to allow companies to obtain and evaluate data and parameters related to their routines, it is also a fact that this transformation needs to be conducted in an intelligent, adequate and aligned way to achieve strategic issues.
Before investing in specific resources like radio frequency identification, it is always necessary to know how to identify which are the most suitable options to optimize and facilitate the life of each operation, whether in the task of minimizing the environmental impact or in activities to support social development and positive responsibility with the environment. By creating a tailored plan, companies could have the opportunity to collect and analyze data from different sources more assertively, facilitating decision-making and enabling future strategies more accurately and intelligently. This is an advantage that leaders, even outside IT, cannot neglect.
RFID and other technologies are a vital point to enable the evolution of companies, and the same is true for the achievement of a sustainable and long-term approach capable of guaranteeing a positive impact on society and the environment—and improving the corporative result. In a scenario increasingly oriented toward sustainability and the use of data, there is no doubt that the organizations truly prepared to navigate changes in these regulatory grounds will have the best results with data and sustainability.
By investing in technologies like RFID, as well as the ESG concept, businesses can reinforce trust in their partnership relationship with stakeholders and go beyond. In practice, technology enables the achievement of investments, attracts and retains talent, and inspires customer loyalty and trust. However, it remains a challenge to see which companies will take the right steps now to build the best possible future for the planet and for their business.
Lais Silva is the head of marketing and alliance at IT-ONE.