Prefix IT Calls for 'Joined-Up' Thinking in SMEs to Save Money and Energy

Following telephone research amongst UK SMEs in July, Prefix IT (http://www.prefixit.com), a leading supplier of network and asset management tools, has identified a clear opportunity for cost savings and improved energy efficient behaviour amongst UK SMEs. However, due to a lack of ‘joined-up’ thinking between IT and utility purchasing departments, few SMEs are realising these benefits.

• Silo mentality means 50% of SME departments don’t liaise over budgets
• Only 30% have a green policy to reduce carbon emissions
• Only 27% enforce automatic shut down of PCs at night
• Yet 98% believe that IT should play a role in reducing carbon emissions

Only 20% of IT professionals link power costs to IT budgets, yet electricity costs are far higher in the long run than the purchase of a PC or server. Prefix IT believes there is a clear argument for better communication between IT and the utility purchasing team to identify approaches to reducing energy consumption.

However, the research reveals that only half of IT decision-makers liaise with other departments when budgets are allocated and few consider how IT actions could improve the financial and green performance of their businesses. Prefix found that only 30% have considered offsetting software purchase costs against potential electricity cost savings. Yet for an over-whelming 80% of respondents proving ROI on IT purchases is important.

Graeme Pitts-Drake, UK managing director of Prefix IT, says: “There’s a clear case of silo-mentality in operation in UK SMEs. By viewing operational costs holistically, many organisations could not only make significant financial savings, but improve business performance and serve corporate responsibility as well.”

For instance, efficient network management is not only a business enabler but can also reduce energy costs. However, purchase is often delayed because of initial outlay, despite the potential for SMEs to save thousands on their utility bills in the short term which could also off-set other, more complex, green initiatives as these are developed in the future.

Less than a third (30%) of SMEs claim to have a Green Policy in place to reduce carbon emissions, yet 98% say that IT should play a role in reducing carbon emissions.

Despite the fact that 98% believed that IT should play a part in reducing carbon emissions, less than a third of IT decision-makers enforce an automatic shut down of network attached hardware at night or over weekends, even in companies where this is recognised policy.

“In the past IT departments have been accused of being too remote from the business, now they have a clear opportunity to lead behavioural change and put money back in the company coffers by turning good intentions into action,” said Graeme Pitts-Drake, managing director of Prefix IT.


About Prefix
Prefix IT (http://www.prefixit.com) Ltd develops and markets powerful IT management and end-point security products that address the ever-growing management, compliance and security challenges facing business and IT professionals on a daily basis. Launched in the UK in 2005, Prefix IT occupies a critical niche in the network management market providing real-time asset, compliance and security management from a single console.

The company is privately held and backed by a group of investors advised by Goldman Investments. The antecedents of Goldman Investments go back to the late David Goldman, founder and Executive Chairman of The Sage Group plc (LSE: SGE). In more recent times, Goldman Investments has been closely involved in the development and, in 2004, listing of Invu (AIM: NVUK), a leading European document management software company.

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