Report:

A: This research evaluates 11 IT sustainability service providers across 28 criteria, focusing on their capabilities to help organizations decarbonize the IT stack and manage IT's environmental impact. It covers services related to environmental sustainability and carbon footprint reduction exclusively in the enterprise IT stack, including IT in the workplace, IT development, and IT infrastructure. The evaluation assesses current offerings (tools and specialization, data center/cloud sustainability, carbon footprint mapping, lifecycle emissions reduction, application development sustainability, and circular economy), strategy (vision, innovation, partner ecosystem, community, talent, and global delivery), and market presence.

A: Technology leaders should use this research to select the right IT sustainability service provider for their organization's needs and maturity level. It helps buyers understand which providers have the required specialization, strongest partnerships and in-house tools, and most focused approach to IT environmental sustainability. The research is particularly valuable for organizations evaluating providers based on their specific requirements such as data center expertise, green software capabilities, regulatory compliance needs, or industry-specific solutions. Buyers can use the Excel-based vendor comparison tool to adapt criteria weightings to their individual needs.

A: Vendors must generate approximately $50 million in annual revenue exclusively from dedicated IT sustainability services engagements (not as components of broader digital transformation projects). They must have an exclusive IT sustainability service focus or service line that is separate from other sustainability services, with a substantial client base within IT infrastructure decarbonization across multiple industries. Providers must offer either comprehensive capabilities or exceptional specialization in areas including data center water and energy management, IT infrastructure sustainability, cloud sustainability, end-user device decarbonization, IT asset management, e-waste management, renewable energy procurement, sustainability in application development and data management, and IT supply chain decarbonization. Finally, providers must demonstrate strong Forrester client interest based on inquiry logs, advisories, and consulting engagements.

A:

• Annual revenue from dedicated IT sustainability services below approximately $50 million threshold
• Lack of exclusive IT sustainability service focus or service line separate from other sustainability offerings
• Insufficient client base within IT infrastructure decarbonization across multiple industries
• Limited evidence of focused consultants, experts, projects, and published case studies in IT sustainability
• IT sustainability offered only as component of broader digital transformation services rather than dedicated offering
• Lack of comprehensive capabilities or exceptional specialization in required areas
• Insufficient Forrester client interest based on inquiry logs, advisories, and consulting engagements
• Primary focus on broader ESG services rather than IT stack decarbonization specifically

A:

• Required specialization to address organizational maturity and needs, especially for customers at higher maturity seeking specialized services for unique challenges
• Quality and robustness of partner ecosystem to address end-to-end services and complement in-house platforms, considering potential additional overhead costs
• Depth and quality of in-house tools and capabilities versus reliance on third-party partnerships
• Strong focus on IT environmental sustainability rather than sustainability as a byproduct of existing IT services or digital transformation consulting
• Ability to achieve carbon footprint reductions beyond what standard IT modernization provides
• Prevention of patchwork disjointed carbon reduction efforts and avoidance of greenwashing
• Provider's heritage and background (management consultant, IT services firm, data center infrastructure firm, or boutique specialist) and how it aligns with needs
• Participation in industry consortiums developing metrics and best practices

A:

• Metrics, best practices, and benchmarks for decarbonizing IT are still evolving
• Enterprises are at varying stages of IT environmental sustainability maturity
• Growing need for specialized services to address unique challenges such as software sustainability, data center power optimization, and circular economy concepts
• Most providers partner with third parties to address end-to-end services and complement in-house platforms
• Industry consortiums where experts develop metrics and best practices are becoming increasingly important
• Digital transformation and IT modernization efforts concurrently lower carbon and environmental footprints
• Risk of greenwashing from disjointed carbon footprint reduction efforts
• Provider capabilities vary significantly depending on their heritage (management consultants, IT services firms, data center infrastructure firms, boutique specialists)

A: Current Offering (vertical axis) evaluates the strength of vendors' existing capabilities including tools and specialization, data center and cloud sustainability, carbon footprint mapping, emissions reduction, application development sustainability, and circular economy. Strategy (horizontal axis) evaluates vendors' future-focused capabilities including vision, innovation, partner ecosystem, community involvement, talent development, and global delivery strategy. Current Offering focuses on what vendors can deliver today, while Strategy assesses their long-term market position and ability to evolve.