Across the globe, organizations endeavor to reduce the use of environmental pollutants through sustainability innovation. They face the complex task of reworking business models, re-training employees, renovating culture, maintaining productivity, and supporting innovation.
Dr. Michael Rivera, Thinaer’s EVP of Analytics and Innovation, and his colleagues Ricardo Estrada and Juan Carlos Rodriguez recently published a case study that explores this dynamic. In The Plastilene Group: Sustainable Innovation Strategy, Dr. Rivera and team demonstrate how The Plastilene Group led sustainability strategy.
Dr. Rivera points out opportunities to leverage IoT technology and employee feedback when designing a sustainability strategy. “Sustainability remains a critical priority for organizations to ensure competitiveness, especially in a post COVID-19 era,” says Rivera. “IoT and feedback can be effective tools in advancing a strategy aimed at moving the needle on key sustainability metrics.”
Communicate with Employees about Sustainability Innovation Strategies
A streamlined feedback process helps leadership, managers, and employees align on key goals:
- Invite employees to provide ideas for sustainability innovation
- Request feedback from employees who work with IoT-enabled machinery, getting qualitative input to accompany machine-generated data
- Provide team members with feedback on strengths and opportunities to grow, ensuring alignment with strategic change
- Monitor team performance on key competencies and goals
- Use AI techniques to evaluate feedback sentiment across a large organization, which facilitates timely adjustments to change initiatives
Identify Opportunities for Waste Reduction through Machine Data
BLE beacons detect throughput, temperature, pressure, vibration, location, and more. Organizations deploy IoT beacons to detect operating anomalies that result in wasted resources. The IoT platform prompts action by notifying key employees about assets operating at less than optimal capacity. As a result, this helps organizations better use available resources. In addition, a combination of BLE and cellular beacons monitor indoor and outdoor air quality. This helps identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate other harmful pollutants.
“By monitoring conditions with beacons and sensors, we can ensure a comprehensive understanding of what is taking place in the broader environment,” says Rivera. “Through the use of feedback we can effectively diagnose challenges as they surface and drill down into the root cause by seeking input from employees.”
Facilitate Strategic Alliances with Sustainability Organizations
IoT and feedback technology can also improve collaboration with outside partners. For instance, companies that specialize in sustainability innovation, recycling, biodegradable substances, and clean energy are valuable allies in industries impacted by governmental environmental regulations. Feedback technology keeps teams constantly connected and aligned on goals and strategies. Furthermore, they ensure stakeholders understand their roles.
Additionally, BLE beacon data provides the entire team with detailed operational insight. As a result, partners use this data to provide strategic and tactical recommendations for improved sustainability. This improves decision-making throughout the implementation.
Learn More about Using IoT in Sustainability Innovation
Learn more about Thinaer’s IoT technology and people-based feedback platform, and feel free to contact us for more information.
To read the full paper, download The Plastilene Group: Sustainable Innovation Strategy.