From isolated high country stations in the central South Island to remote valleys near Kamo in the North, Agriculture ITO’s Training Advisers have challenging communications requirements. The solution has been to use a range of technologies to connect to their centralised database from the office, in the field, and at home.

Agriculture ITO arranges training and education for agriculture and water industry employees, from one to three year certificates to diploma level courses. The industry training organisation’s 36 Training Advisers live and work among their client base of agriculture trainees and farmers in rural communities.

Their lifeline is their link to the powerful Training Management System (TMS), a centralised JADE application and database developed by Gen-i* for Agriculture ITO.

The TMS database has constantly updated information on past, present and potential trainees and employers, classes, results, enrolment and attendance.

“An efficient means of communication in rural areas is key to our business given the geographical spread of our people and because our Training Advisers can spend up to three days a week on the road, visiting trainees in classes or visiting farms,” says Technology Manager Michelle Dearns.

A versatile solution
Training Advisers use their laptops to access the TMS database through Telecom’s Remote Office using a range of technologies.

Each laptop has a Mobile Broadband data card and Training Advisers use Telecom’s mobile data network while in the field. This provides fast, reliable wireless access to the Internet, email and the company network (LAN) anywhere within Telecom 027 coverage.

To access the same information from their homes they use either Xtra Broadband, Xtra Wireless or Xtra dial-up, depending on their location.

“Our support from Gen-i for TMS includes a helpdesk, software support team and an on-site Engineer in Wellington. They are able to access all our services, desktops and laptops for maintenance and support through a Private Office Network.

This approach means that about 90% of all our problems and maintenance requirements are resolved quickly online” says Michelle.

Wireless access from the field
Training Adviser Danielle Donovan spends three to four days a week on the road covering her territory of Wanganui and Rangitikei.

“Between appointments I might have a spare 20 minutes so I use that time to update my records on the laptop and check my emails, which saves me having to do that when I get home,” says Danielle.

“I am constantly using the TMS database out on the farm, either entering unit standards into the system or updating trainees on their course status - how many credits they have and what they need to do next. With Mobile Broadband the information is there at my fingertips.”

“When I get back to the office I put the laptop on a docking station and use Xtra Broadband over my landline to replicate and update all my records with those in our Wellington office.”

Simple and cost-effective
The system accommodates new staff very easily because access is arranged via Telecom’s Remote Office. “It’s just a simple sign in and once we have set that up they’re away,” says Michelle.

“Our Training Advisers are downloading and uploading up to 100 MBs of data a month and we’re finding we can do that very cost effectively.”

Effective management tool
Ready access to centrally held information is also providing the company’s management team with the ability to analyse performance.

“They can check how each territory is performing against targets, the number of trainees, the credits achieved and just generally keep an overview of the business,” says Michelle.

“Our management team also have Telecom PDAs which gives them access to the Internet and emails and means they don’t necessarily have to take their laptops everywhere they go.”

The combination of technologies provided by Telecom and their simple integration is enabling Agriculture ITO to provide employees with a choice of communications they can use to keep their clients well-informed.

April 2006