“Smarter Data for a Greener Future”

Tag: Analytics

  • Tech stack optimization: When tools become the problem

    There was a moment during a client meeting when I looked at their tech stack and thought, “This isn’t a tech stack. It’s a tech Jenga tower. And it’s about to fall over.” My client was in desperate need of tech stack optimization.

    They were using ten different pieces of software, all proudly listed out like badges of honor. CRMs, analytics dashboards, visualization tools, marketing platforms, data pipelines, and some random custom-built app no one really understood anymore. Each one was doing something, but together? It was chaos. Multiple logins, constant context switching, overlapping features, and worst of all, data that didn’t line up. The team was exhausted. Not from the work itself, but from wrangling the tools that were supposed to make the work easier.

    This isn’t just a niche issue. According to Forrester, tech stack optimization is now a strategic priority for companies trying to align tools with outcomes instead of just collecting software.

    Tech stack optimization. Clutter leads to chaos.

    Reframe your approach to your tech stack

    This is what happens when software becomes the goal instead of the means. Somewhere along the way, this client had stopped asking, “What do we need to know?” and started asking, “What else can we buy?”

    Don’t get me wrong, the right tools matter. But tools are only helpful when they serve clear questions. When they support smart decisions. Not when they multiply like kudzu vines, choking the clarity out of your data environment. You have to focus on tech stack optimization.

    Asking the right questions

    We had to start over. Not with the software, but with the questions. What do you actually need to know to make good decisions? What insights matter most for your team, your customers, your growth?

    Once we got those answers, trimming the stack was easy. We found redundancies. We ditched tools that looked cool but didn’t deliver. We unified the core platforms and built lightweight ways to extract the right data quickly.

    How does a cleaner tech stack improve the work?

    The result wasn’t just cleaner data. It was a calmer team. People stopped feeling like they were drowning in dashboards. They started focusing on insights instead of integrations. That shift, from tech obsession to data clarity, made all the difference.

    So if your stack feels bloated, your team feels burned out, or your data never quite lines up, maybe it’s time to stop shopping and start asking.

    Start with one question: What do you really need to know?

    Everything else should serve that.

    Need help optimizing your tech stack?

    Streamlining your tech stack isn’t about using less; it’s about using what matters. When your tools align with your questions, clarity follows. If your team is feeling the weight of too many platforms or misaligned data, it might be time for a reset. At Evergreen Analytics Partners, we help businesses cut through the noise and build lean, focused systems that actually work. Let’s talk if you’re ready to make your tech stack a strength, not a struggle.

  • Carbon cloud footprint: The hidden cost of cloud data

    Have you ever thought about your cloud storage’s impact on the environment? Like most people, I never considered the storage of my data or the negative consequences thereof. The cloud was an ephemeral entity that absorbed my data into lightweight nothingness. It turns out I was very wrong. As my tech prowess grew, so did my awareness of the true weight of the cloud. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to reduce your monthly costs and the carbon cloud footprint all at the same time.

    Carbon cloud footprint hidden costs

    How data inefficiency can quickly impact your bottom line and your carbon cloud footprint

    Let me give you a common example I see. You have a company with 100 employees and use Google Drive for file sharing. You deal with a lot of marketing, which means you have video files averaging 200mb. Employees worry about causing harm to the original file, so they make a copy. This copy is only used for small edits or formatting. Now you have the same file on 10 drives. That means the weight of just one file has ballooned to consume 2 gigabytes of space! Play this out over 100s of files, over multiple months, and pretty soon your company has terabytes of redundant storage.

    This small inefficiency might seem trivial at first glance, but consider this:

    Cloud data storage costs

    The Google Cloud platform cost of 1TB of data is $20 per month. As your redundant storage expands, so does the cost. This can translate to 100s or 1000s of dollars every year, unnecessarily.

    Electricity usage and environmental impact of cloud storage

    Cloud storage isn’t environmentally free. Data centers consume vast amounts of energy. One gigabyte of data produces approximately 3 kg of CO₂ and 5-7 kWh of electricity per year. That’s like fully charging your cell phone 600 times! This significant carbon cloud footprint contributes to global warming and environmental degradation. Digital storage isn’t going anywhere. Now is the time to focus on minimizing the impact.

    AI and processing impact on your carbon footprint

    The scanning of entire storage sets with AI is happening daily. Every redundancy adds computational time. The increased processing contributes to energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and monthly costs. With the rise of AI, there’s never been a more important time to have lean data practices.

    To put this even more in perspective, most SMBs store thousands of gigabytes of data without realizing the energy and financial cost. 10 TB of redundant data is equivalent to powering 5 average US homes for a year all while emitting ~20 metric tons of CO2! Increasing your data efficiency means reducing costs and lowering your carbon cloud footprint.

    What can you do about your inefficient cloud storage?

    Most small and medium-sized businesses don’t realize their storage impact. The overlooked redundancies cost you time and resources. They can even go against your core values. These unnoticed issues can hinder growth, productivity, and competitiveness in the market.

    Evergreen Analytics Partners offers solutions and insights geared toward SMBs. Our bespoke systems focus on your objectives and goals. We want to help you cut expenses, use less electricity, and reduce your carbon footprint. Our methods are realistic, immediate, actionable, and designed for efficiency.

    More ways to reduce your cloud carbon footprint

    For a deeper look at practical enterprise strategies, this guide from TechAhead outlines actionable ways to cut cloud-related emissions, ranging from workload optimization to architecture redesign.

    Additionally, our ground-breaking technology, Petrichor, is in its second beta phase. Designed to identify and manage data inefficiencies, it’s one way we can combat the rise of heavy data. We’re looking for SMBs that want to be proactive with their storage. While in beta, you can try this novel software for free. Early users can impact Petrichor’s development and gain from its potent insights.

    Ready to improve your data efficiency?

    Evergreen Analytics Partners is here to assist SMBs. We will be your partner in sustainability initiatives. At the same time, we can cut expenses and streamline your data management procedures. Arrange your customized data audit or find out more about our consulting services. Get in touch with us today.

    Your data doesn’t have to cost the Earth, or your bottom line.