In the dynamic landscape of sustainable banking, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank is a trailblazer in green IT practices. Under the visionary guidance of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mangesh Mahale, the bank has undertaken strategic initiatives to enhance energy efficiency, responsibly manage electronic waste, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
Eco-Friendly Tech
Over the past 2 years, Ujjivan Bank has implemented several measures to enhance energy efficiency within its IT infrastructure. The bank invested in virtualization technologies to consolidate its server infrastructure, significantly reducing energy consumption by running multiple virtual machines on fewer physical servers. This approach enhances efficiency and streamlines management, optimizing resource utilization.
The bank actively replaces older, less energy-efficient hardware components with newer alternatives, upgrading servers, storage devices, and networking equipment designed to consume less power without compromising performance. This transition aligns seamlessly with its commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management.
Mangesh Mangale highlights: “We’ve ensured the usage of intelligent and efficient devices, including power distribution units (PDUs), UPSs, network devices, desktops, and monitors. These devices optimize energy usage collectively, contributing to overall efficiency gains and reinforcing Ujjivan’s commitment to green practices.”
Ujjivan Bank also promotes paperless workflows through electronic document management systems, digital signatures, as well as online collaboration tools. It encourages all employees to embrace these technology platforms for document sharing, communication, and collaboration, thereby reducing paper usage and minimizing impact on the environment.
Regular training sessions are held to educate employees and onsite technology partners about energy-saving practices, emphasizing desktop shutdowns during idle periods and optimized power management settings. The bank recognizes that employee awareness plays an important role in sustaining green practices, ensuring that every individual contributes to the collective impact.
Managing E-Waste
Ujjivan Bank has implemented proactive measures to address electronic waste management. It collaborates with multiple certified and approved e-waste recycling firms to ensure the responsible disposal of obsolete electronic equipment, including computers, printers, and servers. By recycling these items through established partnerships, the bank minimizes the environmental impact.
Regular awareness programs and training sessions educate bank employees about the importance of proper e-waste disposal. Employees are encouraged to use designated channels for recycling electronic devices, fostering a culture of responsible waste management throughout the organization.
To uphold its commitment to sustainability, the bank actively monitors and evaluates its e-waste management practices. Internal audits and assessments ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standards, emphasizing the bank’s dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint.
Renewable Energy Ujjivan Bank has implemented several measures to access renewable energy for its IT operations, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. The bank has partnered with a reputable technology firm to host its data centers and is actively seeking collaborations with renewable energy providers.
This partnership extends beyond mere hosting. It focuses on outsourcing a significant portion of its electricity needs from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. By transitioning to renewable energy, the bank significantly reduces its reliance on fossil fuels, thereby lowering its overall environmental impact.
The technology partner’s dedication has yielded impressive results, achieving a remarkable 58% increase in renewable energy use in FY23 compared to the previous fiscal year. Additionally, it has secured ISO 50001:2018 (Energy Management System) certificates for all core data centers, underscoring their commitment to sustainability and efficient energy management.
Moreover, the bank’s technology partner has pioneered the adoption of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).
Mangesh adds: “Our technology partner informed us they are early adopters of installing solid oxide fuel cells. These cells have high efficiency, low emissions, and fuel flexibility. They generate electricity with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants and can utilize renewable fuels like hydrogen and biogas.”
In addition to renewable energy initiatives, the bank actively pursues environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within its facilities. This includes promoting solar panel installations and optimizing resource usage to minimize GHG emissions associated with conventional power generation.
Employee Engagement
Ujjivan Bank has actively engaged its employees in green IT practices through various initiatives. Regular training sessions and awareness programs are conducted to educate employees on energy-efficient computing, paperless operations, and responsible waste management. These efforts aim to foster a collective commitment to environmental responsibility by empowering employees with knowledge and actionable insights.
The bank has also established robust green IT policies and guidelines. These documents outline best practices for reducing energy consumption, minimizing electronic waste, and optimizing resource usage within the organization. Regular communication ensures that employees are well-informed and aligned with the bank’s sustainability goals.
Awards & Recognition
In the last 2 years, Ujjivan Bank has implemented several green IT initiatives, with one notable project being the introduction of the smart statement for bank customers. This initiative offers an interactive statement enriched with business simulators and investment advice.
It consolidates all products and services into a single, comprehensive statement, enhancing customer convenience and enabling personalized upselling to strengthen customer relationships. Customers can conveniently pay utility bills and repay loan EMIs through this platform, which supports multilingual capabilities and smart filtering based on transaction modes.
Mangesh Mahale shares: “Many customers have given the bank positive feedback on implementing a smart statement. The bank has also received awards for its digital initiatives and robotic process automation, which contributed to its green IT initiatives.”
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