January 2022 – Shields has been providing telecom network operators with innovative solutions for over 40 years. The company is now helping the industry take leaps towards its net-zero targets.
Shields cloud-based inventory management platform, MarketPlace, is revolutionising the telecommunication sector’s procurement process. At present, the standard practice sees procurement teams revert to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) when assets are required. However, MarketPlace offers a real-time global view of the available assets already in stock and then chooses the most efficient source for that product. MarketPlace automatically identifies premanufactured equipment, matching it with demand to avoid new equipment being mined, manufactured and shipped.
As well as offering significant financial benefits, this reuse and refurbishment of assets give network operators the chance to reduce their carbon emissions dramatically. Reusing inventory mitigates the need for further raw material extraction and manufacturing. It eliminates the need for assets to be shipped great distances from OEM suppliers, which may carry a heavy carbon cost.
A study by Zevero showed that purchasing assets through MarketPlace instead of placing orders with the OEM results in an average carbon saving of 89% per asset. Further research by Shields shows that the current annual global spend for telecom network operators is $92.5 billion.
Shields commissioned a survey by Zevero which calculated that 20% of this spend could be facilitated through MarketPlace, meaning that 117,834,395 assets could be purchased from existing stock rather than being manufactured and shipped by the OEM on a recurring annual basis.
Therefore, if all network operators sourced 20% of the addressable market from MarketPlace, this would equate to a 13,684,108 MT reduction in the industry’s Scope 3 emissions. This reduction would significantly contribute to the sector’s net-zero targets by 2030 to 2040.
In addition to facilitating this substantial saving, the MarketPlace platform can also provide regular reports on the CO2 and cost reductions that have occurred because of the updates to the procurement process. This allows MarketPlace to become an integral, verifiable component of a network’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and underlines the business’s commitment to sustainability to stakeholders and customers.
Daniel Jones, CEO of Shields, says, “MarketPlace represents a golden opportunity for telecom network operators to overhaul their procurement processes. As well as offering the ultimate pricing efficiency, the reuse and refurb of assets is an essential step in the reduction of carbon emissions. By implementing this change, network operators can also ensure they are ahead of the curve and that they are prepared for any potential legislative changes that are designed to advance the creation of a sustainable circular economy.”
About Shields
Focusing specifically on the requirements of the telecommunication network operators across EMEA regions and the Americas, Shields has been developing and implementing solutions that reduce costs, improve returns, develop more efficient processes and ensure the highest standards of environmental care for over 40 years.
MarketPlace is bringing structural change to the way our customers source and maintain their networks by revolutionising processes, resulting in substantial efficiencies and cost savings. Supporting telecom operators with their equipment infrastructure and technical service’s needs.