Draw up a list of your customers and ask the above question. Chances are that you will find less than 25 percent of these clients falling into the affirmative category.

Now ask yourself why?

The answer is not so difficult to fathom. The key reason why most companies, especially small and medium business houses, are not so keen on green is because of the initial acquisition and deployment cost.

Agreed that the concept is still in its infancy and expecting a full-blown acceptance of green IT is being too optimistic. This is the right time for solution providers to start educating themselves on the green concept and understand the various solutions that can be integrated to offer a truly green offering to customers.

Now let's get to the interesting bit-statistics. The global computing network, according to a survey, consumes more than 100 billion kW of electricity, which translates to a whopping $7.2 billion annually. Power consumption in most organizations has doubled and 25 percent of the total IT budget goes towards energy costs.

IDC projected that between 2000 and 2010, the installed base of servers will grow six times, while storage is expected to grow 69 times. Every piece of this equipment drives the need for more energy. IDC also estimated that unutilized server capacity equates to approximately $140 billion, or more than 20 million servers.

Vinita Bhatia

So herein lies the potential for green solutions. With such a huge IT operating expense bill staring them in the face, companies are willing to consider alternative solutions that will bring this opex down over a period of time. However, explaining the return on investment (RoI) is key to help them make this transition and this is where you would have to work hardest.

I have often heard partners grumbling that vendors are not doing enough in trying to educate them and create awareness about the green concept. But in this age where information is literally available at one's fingertips, is it fair to wait till vendors serve this to you on a platter?

If you see value in offering green IT solutions to your customers, then why wait for your principals to organize some kind of a workshop to share the greenness of their products. Just use the Internet to do that!

It sure beats waiting around and losing your customers to someone else who is more enterprising in getting the lowdown about green and aligning it to our clients' needs.

Whichever way one looks at it, there is no denying the fact that green is here to stay. Those who wish to be in the game have to gear themselves up to handle it.

vinita bhatia
vinitavs@cybermedia.co.in

Page(s)   1