// NEWS //
Despite EU rollback, inefficient IT keeps SMEs from hitting climate and cost targets
overprovisioned cloud services, underused servers and outdated hardware is quietly inflating energy use and operational costs, making sustainability a growing commercial and regulatory concern.
The European Parliament has just announced changes to the
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive( CSDDD), raising the thresholds so that only companies with over 5,000 employees and € 1.5 billion in turnover will be directly covered.
While this means many SMEs are formally exempt, the move is increasing indirect pressure on smaller businesses to address their environmental impact. Inefficient IT infrastructure,
Analysts estimate that inefficient digital estates can increase IT energy consumption by up to 20 % in a typical SME, directly affecting both carbon footprints and the bottom line. Beyond energy costs, inefficient IT also contributes to higher maintenance requirements, more frequent hardware replacement and reduced agility in adopting modern cloudbased solutions. SMEs that proactively review and optimise their IT operations can not only reduce emissions but also lower operating costs, improve efficiency and strengthen their position with clients and partners increasingly focused on sustainability.
Mark Appleton, Group Lead Vendor Ecosystem Development at ALSO Group, said:“ Sustainability in IT is no longer just a corporate talking point. Even when SMEs are not legally obliged to report, the expectations of partners, customers and investors are rising. Inefficient infrastructure is not only a climate issue, but also a financial issue. Businesses that ignore these pressures risk higher costs and reduced competitiveness.”
Partnership to deliver smarter, safer messaging for SME and e-commerce across Asia
As online transactions continue to grow, secure communication has become essential for operators to safeguard SMEs and e-commerce businesses. To address this, PLDT Enterprise has partnered with Newbuy Group, a Hong Kong-based global cloud communications platform with operations across the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore, to introduce Smart Messaging Suite, enabling telco-grade, reliable and secure communication solutions.
Newbuy, through its aggregator brand, TelcoSMS, powers real-time communication for SMEs and e-commerce platforms such as OTPs that secure access and payments and marketing SMS for promotions and reactivation.
With PLDT Enterprise, Newbuy gains access to a streamlined, high-capacity messaging platform that ensures critical notifications reach end-users at near 100 % open rates – reducing churn, boosting trust and lowering operational costs.
Newbuy is also partnering with PLDT Enterprise to integrate Silent Authentication into its services. This advanced feature goes beyond traditional OTPs by enabling frictionless, SIMbased verification that strengthens user protection against emerging fraud schemes, while aligning with regulatory requirements set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“ This collaboration demonstrates how we work alongside industry innovators to deliver communication platforms that are not only scalable, but also secure by design,” said Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise Core Business at PLDT Enterprise.“ By enabling Newbuy’ s real-time engagement with its customers, we are helping shape a safer and more seamless digital ecosystem.”
Intelligent SME. tech
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