Smart CT pilots drone deliveries at Berkshire HQ to cut emissions

IT maintenance business Smart CT is looking into delivering equipment to customers by drone as part of its drive towards net zero emissions.

CEO Andy Morgan said the successful pilot, which saw devices delivered to a nearby consumer from a drone, could be followed by further trials.

The Berkshire company provides parts and engineers to maintain, install, replace and repair business-critical IT infrastructure on behalf of IT suppliers.

“From day one we’ve been trying to identify ways we can become more sustainable”, said Andy.

“The drone delivery is just one of those ways because it’s not only a more direct means of getting parts to our customers quickly, but it also reduces emissions, fuel consumption and pressure on our road network.

“We learned some important lessons from the trial, and we’ll be looking more closely at how we can take this to the next level.”

Smart CT, a Reading firm which underwent a management buyout in early 2022, is aiming to achieve net zero by 2045 – five years ahead of the government’s target.

During the buyout, Andy commissioned an independent ESG report to rate the company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.

A follow-up report was carried out last year, which saw Smart CT’s score rise from 34 to 63 per cent, with a further boost expected this year to 71 per cent.

Among the measures adopted by the company was the appointment of an ESG manager and environmental manager.

They began tracking waste reduction, energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as training staff to encourage sustainable practices.

Andy added: “We decided to take more action two years ago to make ESG a big part of our culture.

“We asked our staff what they felt, and one of the areas they came up with was around our sustainability.

“That showed me that we’ve got the appetite for change among our staff and management, so we’re able to make it a central part of our culture and part of our business.

“We’re in the early stages, but the latest ESG report shows we’ve doubled our score, which is just fantastic – and all credit to the team for doing that.

“We’ve got some way to go, but we’ve still got the appetite with people who are very passionate about enhancing our business.”

The company has also been asking customers about their attitudes towards sustainability through its satisfaction surveys.

“We want to get their feedback, because ultimately, the customer is why we operate and what they think is very important.

“That’s opened up new dialogues about how they’re doing with regard to sustainability, and it’s a cross exchange of ideas.

“It's great feedback for us as we evolve our business.”