Grower input needed for Project Horizon
Zespri is currently on a mission to put your needs at the heart of our Horizon programme.
Horizon is the name given to a multi-year programme that will overhaul the foundations of Zespri’s business processes and systems, help Zespri become more agile and efficient, and support their ability to sustain strong returns to growers. The Horizon Programme was borne out of the need to replace key internal systems for finance and the supply chain, which are critical to getting fruit to market and returns back to growers. Some of Zespri’s systems are now 20 years old and were designed to support a much smaller industry, fewer varieties and a smaller market footprint. As part of our planning for these replacement systems, Zespri also know there are other digital platforms we use such as Canopy and Spray Diary that are also overdue for investment to make them fit for purpose, easier for you to use and ensure they can continue delivering value.
The scope of the programme will address global finance, grower enablement, supply chain, sales processes and systems and digitise the sales and operations planning processes and systems.
The research Zespri are currently undertaking is to inform the design for the grower enablement stream, but will also contribute to the other streams. In order to ensure Zespri is delivering the best value for growers, Zespri need to hear first-hand your experiences with regards to Zespri’s current systems – both good and bad, and understand what works and what doesn’t and how Zespri can design systems to meet your expectations and hopes for the future. Zespri’s ambition is that their transformation programme will make your life easier and your input is critical to making this a success.
Zespri will be engaging a number of growers from across the regions. In order for this research to be successful, Zespri need to engage with orchard owners, managers and advisors from a range of different backgrounds, with different experiences and types of orchards to ensure we have feedback from as wide a range of users as possible.
Our ask from you…
Over the next few months, Zespri will be conducting their research. Zespri’s hope is that we can visit a number of orchards to gain insight into ‘a day in the life’ on an orchard, and also conducting a number of 1:1 interviews virtually over Zoom. Zespri expect the orchard visits to last for approximately 2 hours and the 1:1 interviews to take about 1 hour.
If you are happy to offer your expertise and feed into the design process, please register your interest by emailing info@nzkgi.org.nz by Friday 27 November. In your email please include: your name, contact details, orchard location and research preference (on-orchard visit or 1:1 interview).
If you know of someone in the industry you feel we should be talking to, please encourage them to contact us to register their interest.
The research session will be confidential and we encourage you to be as open and honest as you feel comfortable doing so. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard and to play a part in charting the course forward for Kiwifruit growers and the industry.