Genpact: Improving collaboration and the environment with video conferencing

AT&T first introduced video conferencing way back in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair, and it was quickly dismissed as a cute, expensive novelty.

Yet in today’s inter-connected global economy, it’s hard to imagine enterprises existing without it. There’s simply no other way that teams spread across the globe can communicate and collaborate instantaneously in real time, presenting charts, slide decks and having face-to-face interactions, without costly and time-consuming travel.

While convenience is most likely the first positive attribute that comes to mind, video conferencing is also making a significant contribution to the environment—and Genpact is proud to be one of the world’s leaders in that regard.

We’re proud that we’re one of Zoom’s top 10 companies that have made a significant impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions through videoconferencing. Zoom, our popular video-first, unified communications platform, has just released a rigorous study that shows that by using virtual meeting technology, in just three months we’ve avoided creating 30,000 tons of emissions by eschewing air, rail, and vehicle travel to attend meetings.

Put another way, it’s as if we’ve taken more than 7,000 cars off the road, or planted over 500,000 trees, in just a quarter of a year.

Zoom found that all 10 of Green Leaders in the 90 days ending October 31, 2019, have collectively avoided creating 685,205 metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of removing almost 150,000 cars from the road.

Zoom’s data scientists used a robust and detailed methodology to determine their rankings. For one, they discounted people who simply took part in a Zoom conference via voice, as it simply substituted for a phone connection. And Zoom based its calculations on the idea that only a reasonable amount of physical travel would have otherwise occurred; for example, an individual would not be counted as driving to more than one location per day, or flying for business more than once every two per weeks.

One more important factor: Zoom reduced the savings by the amount of carbon emissions that actually were created through the use of power needed for personal computers (PCs), internet access, and even the amount needed to eventually dispose of end-of-life PCs.

Our extensive use of video conferencing for collaboration is just one way that Genpact lives sustainability in our business operations. Among other programs, we recently launched a global campaign to eliminate single-use plastic in all of our offices. We’re also planting tens of thousands of trees every year, participating in World Cleanup Day in multiple countries, and implementing numerous other green initiatives. Genpact strives to always look for more ways where we can limit and reverse the damage to our planet.