Remote operations
Marc Prempain
15 April 2024
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Can the environmental catastrophe be omitted?
Are the current measures undertaken by the governments and businesses enough?
Has the point of no return been reached?
These similar questions are the top concerns of decision-makers and executives in areas spanning from economics to politics when it comes to the discussion of CO2 emissions.
The anticipated expansion of the world economy, estimated to be four times its current size by 2050, foresees an unprecedented 80% surge in energy demand if no new policy measures are adopted, the latest studies report.
This surge in energy requirements is anticipated to propel global greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, predominantly attributed to a projected 70% increase in CO2 emissions from energy sources.
Consequently, this trajectory sets a concerning course for the planet, predicting a global average temperature rise between 3 to 6 above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.
In an era where environmental concerns have escalated to global proportions, understanding the impact of industries on our planet is an essential step toward understanding how to mitigate it. Human activities, especially those driven by industrialization and economic growth, have significantly altered natural ecosystems and led to critical environmental challenges. It has become a matter of collective responsibility to address them proactively. This article will discuss how modern digital solutions like remote visual support and field service management can help companies reduce harmful emissions.
From the extraction of natural resources to producing goods and services, each industry leaves a distinctive footprint on the environment leaving us, as humanity, past the point when these effects could have been undone.
The sectoral breakdown of 2022 CO2 emissions reveals broadly consistent patterns to previous years. The most polluting industries are the following:
Energy: 37.12 bn tonnes of emissions
Transport: 8.43 bn tonnes of emissions
Manufacturing and construction: 6.3 bn tonnes of CO2
Agriculture 5.79 bn tonnes of CO2
Food retail 3.1 bn tonnes of CO2
These assessments indicate that worldwide carbon emissions persist in their ascent, despite persistent endeavors aimed at curbing the utilization of fossil fuels. Consequently, the window of opportunity to achieve international climate objectives is diminishing rapidly, although countries proclaim their ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions.
The incessant surge in CO2 emissions poses far-reaching consequences for both the environment and human health. Power generation, predominantly reliant on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, generates a significant amount of C02 which plays a pivotal role in global warming and climate change.
Emissions from factories, refineries, and chemical plants include particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). These emissions significantly impact local air quality and environmental health.
Livestock operations, particularly cattle farming, release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Furthermore, fertilizer use in agriculture results in ammonia emissions, contributing to air quality degradation.
Poor air quality stemming from heightened CO2 emissions contributes to a host of health complications. Respiratory issues, aggravated asthma cases, and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases are among the ramifications.
Field service companies, integral to various industries, have significant influence on CO2 emissions, inadvertently contributing to the mounting environmental toll. Their operations, while crucial for customer service and support, notably impact the environment in several ways:
I. Travel-intensive operations: field service companies often need extensive travel for technicians to reach customer sites. The constant movement via vehicles, often fueled by fossil fuels, contributes substantially to CO2 emissions, thereby exacerbating environmental degradation.
II. Inefficient service routes: inefficient planning of service routes amplifies carbon footprints. Suboptimal routes result in increased mileage, fuel consumption, and emissions, underscoring the urgency for streamlined and optimized field operations.
III. Material waste and resource consumption: poor inventory management and resource allocation can lead to unnecessary material waste and resource consumption. This not only impacts operational efficiency but also contributes to environmental strain through increased production and disposal of materials.
IV. Lack of remote diagnostics and collaboration: The absence of robust remote diagnostic tools and collaboration platforms compels on-site technician dispatches, even when avoidable. This leads to redundant travel, escalating emissions, and undermines the potential for efficient remote solutions.
V. Limited adoption of sustainable technologies: the reluctance or slow adoption of sustainable technologies within field service operations hampers efforts to mitigate carbon emissions. Failure to integrate renewable energy sources, eco-friendly vehicles, and sustainable practices perpetuates environmental harm.
Adoption of innovative technologies like remote collaboration tools and field service management software that optimizes route planning software and embraces eco-friendly practices could substantially reduce emissions.
Thanks to its capacity to optimize operations, streamline processes, and facilitate more efficient use of resources, field service management (FSM) software has become a go-to solution for companies that want to kill two birds with one stone: become more efficient and not end the planet along the way.
FSM solutions effectively address the problems mentioned in the previous paragraph.
First and foremost, they made digital work order management possible. This advancement reduces reliance on paper-based processes, diminishing paper waste and promoting environmental sustainability by cutting down on the consumption of resources required for paper production. Companies do not need to worry that their data will get messed up or lost. Digital work order management is an easy and flexible way to complete maintenance tasks on time and not lose valuable information.
FSM software enables optimized route planning for technicians and service personnel helping them to choose the best route on the way to the next sight. As a result, it minimizes travel time, reduces unnecessary mileage, and consequently cuts down on fuel consumption and emissions associated with field service operations.
Efficient allocation of resources, tools, and materials through software solutions reduces waste and prevents overconsumption. This streamlined approach minimizes the need for excess inventory, mitigating the environmental impact linked to material production, usage, and disposal.
Adopting field service management software already seems like a rather efficient way to decrease CO2 emissions on its own. However, there is room for improvement and with the right add-ons, FSM solutions can become even more powerful. One of the ways to do it and address such a challenge of field service companies as the lack of remote diagnostic is to integrate remote visual support solutions.
What is remote visual support?
Remote visual support is a solution that allows real-time visual collaboration and assistance between individuals or teams located in different physical locations. It enables experts or technicians to visually diagnose, troubleshoot, guide, or support customers or on-site personnel without being physically present at the location.
The expert sends a technician/customer a link via SMS to join a video call. Thanks to an array of remote collaboration tools, technical assistance is carried out precisely and efficiently. The video recording of the session serves as proof of it and also can be consulted as supporting material by other experts in case the problem reoccurs. In this case, the need to travel on-site is unnecessary as the remote resolution of the issues cuts down on vehicle emissions and fuel consumption associated with routine service calls.
Remote visual support can be used for the qualification of the work order before the dispatch of a technician. The expert receives full visibility of the malfunction and can transfer this info to a dedicated technician ensuring that he goes on site fully prepared. Thanks to such an approach, the technician does not need to go to the customer several times. Remote qualification increases the First Time Fix rate as the technician arrives already knowing every detail about the malfunction.
The idea is to fix as much as possible remotely or ensure that the personnel makes as few as possible trips to the customer.
The adoption of sustainable policies used to be percived as a gradual practice. It was believed that the world had time to implement green initiatives step-by-step, however, global warming is already a serious isse, the CO2 emissions only keep increasing, and the climat change is no longer just a rumor. Companies have to act promptly, and modern tehcnilogy is here to help. The incorporation of remote visual support into field service management exemplifies a progressive step towards environmental responsibility. Its impact on reducing emissions, minimizing physical interventions, and aligning economic objectives with sustainability initiatives demonstrates the transformative power of technology in mitigating the environmental impact of service operations.
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