Because 'gone away' mail matters
Mobile computing, phones, Internet access, text messaging, instant messaging and email
Collaboration software products such as Microsoft SharePoint and Exchange/Outlook
Home office programs
By deploying the types of technology-enabled solutions discussed above, businesses and governments are able to implement a broad range of scheduling and work location options for employees. Popular programs that take people off the roads and reduce commuting and related auto maintenance costs include:
Telecommuting from home one or more days per week
Full-time home-based employees who share temporary offices at the corporate site when required for meetings, eliminating the need for a permanently assigned corporate workspace
Working from remote or decentralized office facilities that are closer to the employees’ homes to reduce commute times and distances
The Canadian Teleworker Association (CTA) estimates that organizations can save, on average, one office per three teleworkers, at an average real estate cost of $2,000 per teleworker per year. As discussed in the power management cost reduction examples above, these numbers only become compelling when viewed in the context of their cumulative effect. From the larger perspective, real estate savings can rapidly add up. Sun Microsystems, for example, has recently estimated that their telecommuting programs have reduced their requirement for office space by about 6,000 office seats. Based on the CTA numbers, this would represent a real estate expense offset of $12 million annually.
By aggressively pursuing telecommuting, home office and other employee-focused programs, Sun estimates an overall cost reduction of approximately $63 million annually. Sun also reports through their website that employees are saving an average of 108 hours of commuting time per person annually and that these programs have cut employee gas and car repair costs significantly.
www.cgi.com Emerging Trends in Green IT