The notion that IT has a critical role to play in the development of sustainable systems has become widely accepted since its impact was quantified in the seminal
SMART 2020 report. Back in 2008, The Climate Group, along with McKinsey & Company calculated that ICT “could deliver carbon savings five times larger than the total emissions from the entire [estimated] ICT sector in 2020.” But how exactly does ICT achieve these significant reductions? The answer, according to the SMART 2020, is twofold: by increasing the efficiency of its own products and services, and more importantly, by introducing energy efficiencies in other sectors. A good example of this dual purpose agenda can be found in the process improvement solutions designed by Darmstadt, Germany-based, Software AG.
Founded on its strengths in data management over 40 years ago, Software AG now prides itself on its ability to deliver end-to-end “business process excellence” through core database products such as Adabas and the Natural programming language, ARIS, a business process analysis platform acquired through purchase of IDS Scheer, webMethods, a suite of tools for SOA enablement and a SOA registry/repository for developers and analysts (CentraSite), Entire Management Systems a solution that automates process control, as well as the recently acquired Terracotta In-memory storage solution. Taken together (or in pieces as needed), these data management, process management and software integration products aim at improving the efficiency of processes within customer enterprises. CEO Karl-Heinz Streibich described the company’s strategy at a press conference at this year’s CeBIT conference as providing support to customers that are transitioning to digital businesses to help them better negotiate the complexities posed by the dynamic global markets of today.
