The future is being shaped by the choices that we make today, and businesses have a disproportionate impact on that future. Forward-thinking businesses are looking for ways to embrace new technologies while also limiting their environmental impact.
It’s impossible to deny how central the digital world has become to the functioning of society and businesses. Technology moves so quickly in the 21st century that businesses are constantly having to adapt in order to stay relevant and remain competitive.
Adapting for the future in 2024 means finding sustainable solutions. The world is rapidly changing, and in order to be ready for whatever comes next, smart businesses are finding ways to use technology and human-forward policies to progress.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways in which businesses are adapting for the better in 2024. These include investing in their local communities, hybrid and remote working, and alternative power.
Local investment
Investing in the local community is one of the best strategies a business can employ because it works on multiple fronts. It builds goodwill in the community, which can have a positive impact on business growth. It improves the quality of life for residents and employees who are likely to live in the area. Lastly, if a company is looking to expand, then it is more likely to be welcomed in other regions that have seen its commitment to its local area.
The types of local sustainability projects available vary by location. New Zealand provides a useful example. There, we see SkyCity helping the local communities that make them so successful by working with Sustainable Coastlines and Million Metres Streams, two New Zealand restoration groups.
Similarly, in the UK, Sainsbury’s has a partnership with the Woodland Trust. On a micro level, they have implemented policies for increasing the biodiversity of their sites. This includes steps like adding insect hotels and native planters to individual store locations.
Local sustainability projects are not typically as attention-grabbing as saving the tigers or protecting the rainforest, so they don’t attract as much investment from major NGOs. Businesses interested in improving the future can greatly impact these small projects.
Remote and hybrid working
Since 2020, remote and hybrid working has become a more accepted part of the work culture of most countries. While some companies have struggled with the change, especially with the increased autonomy it gives to employees, the increases in employee morale and productivity make it a smart choice for many businesses.
The sustainability benefits of hybrid and remote working are mainly tied to the reduction in commuting. The fewer people that are on the roads driving, the better for the environment, and the less stress there is on transportation infrastructure.
On the level of the individual employee, hybrid and remote working have already been shown to have health benefits. According to early research done on the subject, hybrid workers are exercising and sleeping more, and eating better. They have also seen improvements in mental health and job satisfaction.
The minor investments in technology and scheduling efforts to allow for more hybrid and remote work will be swiftly recouped by businesses that choose to adapt to this new normal in 2024.
Alternative power
When sustainability and the environmental movement are being attacked by critics, they are often presented as making our lives harder and taking things away from us. This is a ridiculous oversimplification that is, unfortunately, fairly effective messaging.
In reality, sustainability is about thinking about the things we do and what we use, and trying to make improvements. Moving towards green power sources is one of the most important ways that businesses can adapt for the future.
Another step they can take is to repurpose power that was previously wasted. This is a huge issue in any tech business – or any business that has a lot of server infrastructure. These installations give off a huge amount of heat, and businesses must then spend more money and use more power to keep these systems cool.
Repurposing that heat energy is a step that many smart businesses have already made and that more will make in 2024. The most popular strategy for repurposing heat energy is to use that energy to heat the rest of the building, a move that further cuts energy consumption. For companies looking to improve employee morale while also using waste energy, there’s also the option to use it to heat a swimming pool. Adapting to a sustainable future isn’t all doom and gloom after all.
