Climate neutrality VS digitalisation
Today, climate neutrality is an important subject, especially when talking about digitalization because of all the electrical power needed to go digital. Of course, it can also mean boosting remote work and therefore reducing commute and pollution, but we think it should not stop here: it could also help people become aware of their carbon emission, and by helping them change their lifestyle with incentives, for example, it could make a drastic impact.
We recently had the chance to put this question to the test. One of our customers asked us to leverage both existing and new technologies to improve their carbon reduction program. As alone we go faster but together we go further, they wanted to act on their employees' behaviour to make a powerful impact on daily activities.
To achieve this, we identified many opportunities like displaying carbon footprints of the different menus in the cafeteria or giving access to bikes with a simple scan of employees' badges. But we also went further: we implemented the main component of our carbon reduction roadmap, the no-car incentive! We designed and developed a solution allowing to automatically reward employees financially for coming to the office without a car and started charging them for the usage of the corporate parking.
This solution was implemented with five major steps:
- Data collection: we built a new system on top of the existing access control system which allowed us to track parking entrance with employees' badges or license plate recognition as well as physical presence
- Data aggregation: we then applied business rules to compare the data and calculate a monthly basis employee allowance and parking fee. By transferring the calculated data to the corporate payroll system, it allows for the next paycheck to be automatically adapted
- Data display: In addition, a portal had to be implemented allowing each employee to track on a daily basis its costs or benefits
- Data administration: On top of being the central place allowing employees to manage their car license plate, it has also an administrative section allowing to manage all business rules such as price of parking
- Data compliance: All this had to be done by respecting all GDPR regulations making sure that the data collected and aggregated are not stored and accessible to any user
To accomplish this project in less than two months, we leveraged our powerful hybrid work model and our Da Nang colleagues, proving that commuting to work is not necessary, but still best done by bike or public transport if mandatory. We also were inspired by this project and are now launching a bike to work initiative, to follow in our client's footsteps and help reduce our carbon emissions! And you, when are you changing your habits?
