The requirements for reporting carbon emissions are getting serious.
Installed software -- think Excel spreadsheets -- has been many companies’ go-to method for years. Yet with emissions reporting requirements evolving at a rapid pace, in-house solutions simply will not cut it anymore, especially with the increasing likelihood that emissions reporting for publicly traded companies will be a criteria analyzed by the Security and Exchanges Commission (SEC).
As reporting mandates become increasingly significant to a company’s balance sheet and legal responsibilities, technology must keep pace and be continually optimized to support these requirements.
Few professionals outside the high-tech world recognize the benefits cloud computing provides over traditional software, and even fewer understand the distinct advantages cloud computing’s centralized system offers in environmental enterprise resource planning (ERP), including cost savings, convenience, improved data management and performance -- all using world-class software capabilities with no additional expense or resources required. Given these capabilities, it has become evident that the Internet-based architecture of cloud computing is uniquely positioned to meet the increasingly demanding needs of environmental, health and safety requirements.
With cloud computing, software applications are delivered as a service via the Internet versus traditional installed software. An Internet approach based on “Software as a Service” (SaaS) or “on demand” delivery marks a significant advance over client-server alternatives, especially for the many organizations that do not have the skills, experience or available capacity to manage an enterprise-wide software solution. Even organizations that do maintain IT departments consistently choose the SaaS model for managing carbon emissions due to the substantial resources an installed software system requires to ensure proper deployment, maintenance, upgrades and compatibility.
The bottom line: Cloud computing takes less resources to operate, reduces IT costs and centralizes information, all essential elements in analyzing the highly-distributed, complex nature of greenhouse gas (GHG) data to run an efficient and accurate carbon emissions reporting system.
Five Reasons Why You Should Choose Cloud Computing
1. Cloud Computing Saves Time
Unlike traditional client-server software, which often requires complicated and resource-intensive deployments lasting several months, the Web-based cloud computing online delivery model means quicker and easier deployments for companies. Given the hosted nature of cloud applications, in which all maintenance, security and upgrades are the responsibility of the provider, customer organizations can spend less time and resources dealing with software maintenance and support to keep their IT systems working, and more time on their core business.
2. Cloud Computing Cuts Costs
With cloud computing, upfront costs are dramatically reduced and implementation times are significantly shortened because the customer does not need to purchase or install hardware, operating systems, database applications, server applications and system software. Given the pricing model of most cloud technologies, in which customers typically lease the software in one-, two- or three-year increments, the upfront cost is significantly less than the purchase of a traditional software license.
3. Cloud Computing is On Demand and Up-to-Date
Since cloud computing providers are responsible for upgrading the software -- a task that often overwhelms client/server software users -- customers are always using up-to-date technology. System updates and maintenance occur automatically and invisibly, at no additional cost.
Plus, product enhancements and updates are made available to all customers instantly. Client server technology, in contrast, requires customers to repurchase system licenses, with re-implementation of the updated system being costly and time consuming.
The on-demand nature of this model makes the software programs as accessible as applications housed on-site, but relieves customers of the responsibility for the maintenance and additional resources, such as staff and operating equipment. On-demand deployment is an irreversible trend that allows a company to continually ride the crest of the technology wave without the need to maintain those specialized skills in house.
The reliability and availability of on-demand software also means that the emissions data is ready to be collected, computed and reported on whenever the company is ready.
4. Cloud Computing Offers Security and Scalability
Security is always a concern in today’s IT environment. Cloud computing customers benefit from world-class security practices, such as a secure data environment, regular data back-up, SAS 70 Type II compliance, multiple data center locations, full data encryption, and advanced virus protection, without bearing additional cost and work.
Cloud computing also provides scalability to companies when their needs evolve or expand. As new emissions reporting requirements continue to develop, cloud computing platforms can grow with a company as their needs change because the solutions are multi-tenant, making additional functionality and applications instantly available to the customer as needed. This negates the need for new or additional software purchases, hardware, installation and maintenance that often accompany traditional installed software.
5. Cloud Computing Delivers Greater Understanding of Collected Data
The unique nature of cloud technology enables greater understanding of data as part of a broader context. Cloud computing allows for peer to peer comparisons or the ability to create a carbon, energy or sustainability index for an industry or market segment and then compare performance to that index. For example, it is possible to create an energy consumption index factored by revenue, number of employees, production output, or any other operational or financial variable necessary to allow the organization to measure their performance to their peers.
The breakthroughs in today’s technology gives cloud computing customers advanced user configurability that is easy and requires no specialized IT skills, thereby enhancing bottom line performance with reduced costs, lower burden and confidently certifiable compliance.
If you are planning on reporting emissions now or in the future, the cloud is really the only viable and reliable solution for your business.
Lawrence E. Goldenhersh is president and CEO of Enviance, Inc., provider of Internet-based software solutions that help companies manage carbon and other regulatory risks.
Image CC licensed by Flickr user D Sharon Pruitt.