Summerfruit NZ is leading a project to improve or replace the current Summerfruit NZ secure portal. This project will benefit our growers, packhouses and exporters, and the Summerfruit NZ team, through:
- Improved knowledge base with how to guides, research projects and technical information
- Modified user interface to allow viewing and make the updating of members data easier and more efficient
- Improved and streamlined export registration and levy collection processes including Xero integration
- Better data capture including property/planting and labour/workforce data to support ongoing advocacy and minimise grower surveys
- Integration with GIS and a mapping system as part of our ongoing biosecurity readiness and response activities
- Streamlined and targeted communications with our members
- Better reporting and analysis for efficient support of grower advocacy activities.
We have engaged the services of Mark Weston, a business analyst, to help us with documenting our business processes, data needs and possible IT solutions.
Mark has been an interface between business needs and IT for 25 years in many industries and 10 countries. Mark is based in Christchurch. His role is primarily on the Portal Project as well as auditing and improving our organisation’s IT systems.
In the past few weeks, we have documented our processes and requirements and are now in the process of comparing these to what software platforms are on the market.
Once the evaluation is complete, we will seek Summerfruit NZ Board approval of the direction and begin work to identify our exact data needs and project timelines, including consultation with our members and other important stakeholders such as other product groups.