NZ agri: there’s an app for that

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At ANZ research we’ve taken a look at some of the apps being used by various businesses. While not an exhaustive list they cover a range of core functions.

Finance/accounting

In the accounting and finance space there are a range of software applications to help budget, analyse cashflows and compile financial accounts for tax and benchmark purposes.

These help businesses to track financial performance, improve tactical and strategic decision making and meet regulatory requirements (specifically tax and payroll).

Cashmanager Rural

Has functions related to cashflow budgeting (review and forecasting); financial reporting (benchmarking, balance sheet configuration etc); physical performance tracking and reconciliation for milk and livestock; automation of data collection and compliance tasks (such as GST and PAYE); multi-farm reporting and consolidation; invoicing; and wagebook (leave entitlements, holidays, deductions, PAYE etc)..

Redsky

Has functions related to cashflow budgeting (review and forecasting); financial reporting (benchmarking, balance sheet configuration, accounts etc); detailed physical performance tracking for milk, livestock, crops; and an information-sharing network with key advisors and others, including benchmarking comparisons across specific groups.

Enterprise management

Many of the apps have been designed to help provide analysis and answers for what a change in a particular management practice might mean for the physical and financial performance of a business or particular practice/activity.

This helps guide day-to-day and strategic decision making to increase business efficiencies, optimise performance, and increase profitability.

Farmax

Has functions related to detailed feed budgeting (forecast pasture cover and feed requirements based on livestock policies, live weight, livestock movements etc); what-if analysis to determine biological and financial feasibility of short and long-term farm system changes; multi-farm reporting; financial and physical performance benchmarking for sheep, beef and deer farms; and a pasture growth forecaster.

PasturePro

A tool designed to assist on-farm monitoring and support a structured decision-making process to improve the timing and accuracy of decisions. Provides regular, standardised recording of physical farm data. This is then used to identify strategies to manage feed-supply variability and address feed deficits and surpluses at certain times of the year. It can also be used to complete accurate cost-benefit analysis for various stock policies and feed-supply options.

Planning/recording

Planning and recording of activities in many businesses has become more important for two main reasons. Firstly, compliance requirements, both market and regulator-driven, have increased, meaning there is a need for more advanced recordkeeping to track and monitor these.

Secondly, many businesses have become larger, often with multiple properties and more staff than the traditional owner-operator model. This has added more complexity and increased management requirements.

AgRecord

Allows farmers to collect, store and share their day-to-day and operational information in one central place. This information can be shared with stakeholders, management and staff. It is designed to mimic the way farmers have traditionally managed their information. Data can be collected offline with the ability to take a photograph and then load it against an entry (i.e. job list or a hazard).

Sheep and beef farmers are the main users, but dairy, mixed cropping and agricultural contractors are also using it. The main areas of focus are general records (stock treatments, livestock movements, chemical applications and paddock information); planning (diary, calendar, weekly planner, farm notices); human resources (time sheets, forms, recording leave); health & safety records; and information storage (farm maps, key phone numbers, copies of meeting notes etc).

Agrismart

Its main functions relate to the recording and monitoring of information on dairy farms related to health and safety (identifying and recording risks, emergency plan, notification of incidents, management of tasks arising from risks and incidents etc); staff and general farm tasks; and time management of staff (allocation of tasks, roster builder, timesheets to monitor hours).

It acts as a central information registry for these functions over multiple farms and individuals involved in day-to-day activities. Future developments include looking to incorporate budgeting and cashflow tools, broadening functionality.

Regulatory/compliance

The benefits of these apps are fairly obvious, such as reducing costs (direct, fines and management time) with meeting regulatory and compliance requirements and avoiding any potential risks (business, legal etc) associated with not fulfilling obligations.

Safely

Used to monitor, report and manage a range of health and safety risks. Specifically records and monitors meeting details; company information and key documents (insurance details, consents, permits, staff details etc); hazards and their management requirements; incidents that occur and their investigation, as well as future mitigation strategies; staff training requirements; and equipment maintenance and quarantine obligations.

Onside

Used to monitor, report and manage a range of health and safety risks on farms and orchards. Specifically records and monitors hazards and their management requirements; incidents that occur; movements of staff, contractors and other service providers; and an emergency plan, procedures and contacts. Includes a mapping function of business to identify and manage specific health and safety risks. All staff can use and update information in real time.

Supply chain partners

A range of businesses have specific apps to transfer information to and from suppliers, as well as conduct transactions. Many of them allow for the seamless transfer of digital information (eg. transactional data, audit information and general news) between parties. This increases transparency, replaces paper-based information, and improves the speed of information transfer.

The next step for many of the enterprise management, recording and compliance apps is the integration of this information with other supply chain partners  to offer consumers verification and traceability of a product’s quality, safety and social responsibility standards.

StockX

Online platform setup to specifically buy and sell livestock. Stock are listed with automated alerts sent to interested buyers. Buyers then place bids. Once accepted, StockX facilitates the payment between the parties and the buyer usually organises transport. StockX manages any disputes which arise from a transaction.

Farm Alliance

Livestock producers can see real-time processing results; access their latest detailed processing information for the last six months; keeps a record of annual processing information; make booking requests; check statistics and schedules; and receive industry updates.

Apps profiled are a selection of total apps studied. You can see the full list in ANZ NZ's latest Agri Focus report.