The past 12 months have proved just how essential it is for businesses to prepare for disruption. One term you might have encountered recently is ‘circular economy’ - and it’s considered one of the core ways in which companies can build resilience while enhancing their environmental credentials.
But what exactly is a circular economy? And how can ERP software help businesses like yours prepare for a more sustainable future?
What is a circular economy?
A circular economy is designed to offer an alternative to a traditional, linear model that typically follows a three-stage process: make, use, and dispose.
Circular economies focus on reusing and recycling resources, therefore keeping parts, products, equipment, and infrastructure in use for longer. Building equipment that’s built to last will benefit the environment in the long run, not to mention your business’s bottom line.
At a time when businesses are under growing pressure to commit to a greener future, the circular economy is becoming more important than ever.
Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) believes a circular economy creates an opportunity for businesses to think about their environmental impact — including our own. KCS has a clearly defined pathway to ensure sustainability, and we continue to offer solutions that will empower our customers to do the same.
Improve your sustainability with ERP software
Sustainability is far from just a buzzword for businesses, it’s a necessity.
Those with ERP software in place already have the tools at their disposal to take those all-important first steps toward sustainability.
There has been a noticeable shift towards digital solutions over recent years, particularly so during the pandemic. In many cases, COVID-19 has hastened the pace of technological change, as companies recognize the need to adopt digital and eCommerce tools to stay relevant and better serve their customers’ needs.
With a solid, future-proof ERP system in place, you can position your business for success while boosting its environmental credentials and contributing towards a circular economy.
Use cloud software to reduce your hardware
Choosing a cloud-based ERP has many business and environmental benefits. Moving to the cloud eliminates the need for on-site hardware. Studies have shown that cloud-based software saves up to 84% of energy compared to maintaining and hosting your own servers.
This is because the cloud eliminates the need for hardware, as well as the air-conditioned rooms in which it needs to be stored. By freeing up valuable space, you can help your business reduce its carbon footprint and reliance on physical goods.
Optimize space with warehouse management software (WMS)
WMS is another tool that can help businesses like yours maximize available space. Increasing the capacity of your warehouse will lead to a more streamlined operation, reducing the amount of time pickers spend searching for items while enhancing the lifecycle of any equipment you use for warehouse management.
Go green with delivery management
Keeping vehicles off the road is a major contributor to a greener future. Delivery management can go some way towards achieving this; optimizing delivery schedules and better planning routes means your drivers can spend less time traveling between locations. What is the benefit to your business? Reduced fuel costs and consumption, less wear and tear on your vehicles – and, of course, a shift towards a circular economy.
There’s also the added bonus of being able to cut down on paperwork. Additional delivery management modules such as K8 ePOD enable details to be stored digitally - no more printing physical documents and the paper waste this creates!
Find out more
All these principles remain key to the success of the circular economy, and the small steps your business takes toward achieving it can make a big difference.
Start your move to a more sustainable, resilient business with K8, your strong digital platform for the future.
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