Waikato Business News July/August 2018

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82 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2018 BAY NEWS The Groundswell effect Enthusiastic participants at the Start-up Weekend event during last year’s inaugural Groundswell Festival of Innovation. Photo/Richard Robinson Photography. Leading technology and business experts will illuminate the key challenges of digital transition during Tauranga’s second annual week-long festival of innovation. By DAVID PORTER The inaugural Groundswell Festival of Innovation in 2017 proved there are hundreds of innovators in Tauranga and the Bay creating remarkable products and services. And that they are more than willing to share their knowledge. This year’s festival - which will run from August 27 - September 2 - is poised to build on that momentum, say the organisers and innovators taking part in what many believe will become an even bigger regular event on the city’s calendar. “What’s really special about Groundswell is the incredibly positive and collaborative atmosphere you experience at each event,” said Nigel Tutt, chief executive of Priority One, which initiated Groundswell. “Everyone who attends is genuinely interested and engaged, and it’s really encouraging to hear so many stories of innovation taking place across a diverse range of contexts. Not all businesses are innovation-led, nor do they have to be. But change is inevitable, and it never hurts to listen to others and hear thought-provoking stories of what is happening right now - and what is possible in the future.” Groundswell features a range of events from digital technology and clean tech, to fashion and textiles, to social and educational innovation, all featuring leading tech innovators. All events sold out last year, with attendance across the week reaching 5000, and the organisers are expecting an even bigger turnout this year. Jodie Tipping, the chair and founder of co-sponsor Cucumber, who is on the Groundswell organising committee, told Bay of Plenty Business News there were many exciting things happening on the innovation front. “But it was getting to a point a couple of years ago that you just weren’t hearing about them and that’s why we developed Groundswell,” she said. “My personal ultimate goal would be to see Groundswell become a movement of its own and not just a one-off festival, because innovation touches so many different organisations. “It’s not just tech or whatever, it’s very broad. The more we can create a community and awareness of things that are happening, the better it will be for our community.” Managing digital transformation One of the key challenges - especially for many of the small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) that make up the great majority of business activity in New Zealand - is the sheer pace and scale of the digital transformation that has taken place in recent years. Liz Maguire One of the big quandaries we have in our world is how do you tell if something is a trend or a fad. – Liz Maguire, ANZ Liz Maguire, head of digital transformation for ANZ, who will be speaking at Groundswell, said that companies had to be across new technologies and work out whether they were going to be valuable to them. “One of the big quandaries we have in our world is how do you tell if something is a trend or a fad,” she said. “The fundamental reality is that people do not change their behaviour and adopt new technology unless there is something better about it for them. For the vast majority of people, there has to be a reason why you are going to use it.” As Isuru Fernando, IBM Isuru Fernando, IBM NZ New Zealand analytics & AI leader, told Bay of Plenty Business News: “Disruption is all around us – with examples like Uber and Airbnb – companies that have reinvented business models.” Disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), or Blockchain were no longer the sole domain of large companies with big budgets, he added. “We are seeing many smallto-medium organisations right here in New Zealand making use of these technologies to power their ideas. They are able to start small, experiment and then build out the ideas that work, quickly and easily.” Fernando said IBM NZ was partnering with great local organisations and startups that were exporting their products and services all over the world. “And what is also interesting is that the large incumbent organisations in New Zealand are thinking like startups,” he said. “They are structuring their innovation teams to resemble those of small organisations and making a comeback by building platform business models using all of the data available to them, and turning it into insight. And they’re adopting Agile methodologies, using it as an innovation engine for business transformation and employing new ways of working to foster speed-to-market and competitive advantage.” Russell Craig, Microsoft NZ’s national technology officer, said that globally there was an incredible phenomenon of acceleration in the tech sector. “It’s very hard for everyone to keep up,” said Craig. “The challenge that people - particularly in smaller businesses - or non-commercial organisations, face at the moment is how to make the right choices. “The first challenge is trying to wrap your head as an organ- Russell Craig, Microsoft NZ isation around what’s actually happening in this area of digital transformation, because in many ways it’s quite an abstract concept. The challenge that people - particularly in smaller businesses or non-commercial organisations - face at the moment is how to make the right choices. – Russell Craig, Microsoft NZ “At the same time, most people are alert to some of the more obvious sweeping changes that are taking place. Look at the retail shelf space and the phenomenon of Amazon there.” Retailers were already facing the challenge with online shopping, and the media had been dealing with it, he said. “That’s going to extend to all our businesses in New Zealand eventually, no matter what industry they are in.” First find the relevance Craig said technology came second in terms of making the right choices. “First you need to understand how technology could be relevant to your business to help you change for the future,” he said. “It’s important to try and make things real at the local level. For example, with Airbnb, local businesses need to ask themselves what it is that consumers like about it. It’s the flexibility and convenience. If you’re a local motelier, how can you use digital to somehow match that customer experience of finding somewhere to stay? That’s all it’s really about.” Craig said one of the things he’d be talking about at Groundswell was trying to frame up the idea of digital transformation. “What does it mean from a global perspective? What’s happening in the technology sector, with particular relevance on the impact of technologies such as AI, machine learning, big data and analytics? “And obviously cloud computing, the technology platform that can enable any business from a local plumber through to Microsoft’s just- announced strategic deal with Walmart. Why did they partner with us? Because they need to compete against Amazon.” ANZ’s Liz Maguire said everybody was looking at how to handle the impact of digital transformation. She noted that the scale of change could be easily seen in the banking sector, with less than two percent of payments now happening in a bank branch these days. “There are amazing pockets of innovation in the country,” she said. “But my sense of it is that there’s a worrying amount of companies that haven’t done as much as they should have. I think there’s much more that could be done.” Maguire said there was a need to address the practical issues. We are seeing many small-to-medium organisations right here in New Zealand making use of these [disruptive new] technologies to power their ideas. – Isuru Fernando, IBM NZ “There’s lots of theory, there are lots of academic models. But the thing for many companies is, ‘where do I start? How do I get my board across this? How do I really understand whether what I’m doing is good for our customers? I’ve got 101 things to do, so how do I really know which ones are important’.” Cucumber’s Jodie Tipping said that in both larger and smaller business there were people who are scared of technology. The more we can create a community and awareness of things that are happening, the better it will be for our community. – Jodie Tipping, Cucumber Jodie Tipping “They don’t really know what to do and what not to do, and I don’t think it’s just in the small business space,” she said. “We advocate ‘little and often’ - don’t be scared to try things. We work with organisations to understand what their customers are doing, to make sure they’re applying the right technology for the business they’re in. “Groundswell is an opportunity for the community to actually create what they want Tauranga and the region to be, rather than waiting for things to happen. I really hope it gains momentum.” Priority One’s Nigel Tutt said the organisers were excited about the breadth and depth that had emerged for this year’s event. “The Tauranga Art Gallery and Toi Ohomai School of Creative Industries will be alongside the likes of PowerSmart, Cucumber and Google’s leading education expert,” he said. “Bringing people together to create unexpected connections and have meaningful conversations is a big part of the festival - it’s how ideas like Groundswell came about and who knows what will come out of this year’s festival?”
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2018 83 Gallagher Group’s international headquarters in Hamilton. Gallagher takes supreme ExportNZ award Gallagher Group has taken out the supreme award for the 2018 Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards for Auckland and Waikato regions. Judges were impressed with the way the Hamilton-based business has become the leading technology company in animal management, security and fuel system industries over the past 80 years. Founded in 1937, Gallagher was initially a 10-person business which designed and delivered New Zealand’s first electric fence solution. Today, it employs 1100 people across a global network of 10 countries through three business units. In the June 28 awards, it also won the Westpac Best Large Business (goods exports) category. The Auckland Airport Exporters Champion (for services to export) was awarded to Sir Patrick Hogan for his contribution to New Zealand’s Thoroughbred industry and influence on putting the country on the world map due to his breeding programme. He made his mark early on in his career due to his uncanny ability to take the right punt at the right time. Perhaps his best known punt was on an unfashionable stallion called Sir Tristram, who he syndicated and who went on to sire some of the best performers on the race track. We need to celebrate the success of our exporters and these awards are just one way we do this. “Our awards demonstrate the vibrancy of the export sector. The judges said the competition was intense. And while that may have made their job difficult it clearly shows the high calibre of talent and innovation that represents New Zealand on the world stage,” says Catherine Lye, regional manager - ExportNZ Auckland “We’re all about building a community of exporters to help each other to prosper through collegial support, inspiration and sound advice. We need to celebrate the success of our exporters and these awards are just one way we do this,” says Sir Ken Stevens, national chairman - ExportNZ. Seven category winners were announced from 27 finalists at the awards, along with the supreme winner and exporters champion at the event in Auckland tonight. ExportNZ Auckland and ExportNZ Waikato are divisions of the Employers and Manufacturers Association. 2018 winners for the Air New Zealand Cargo ExportNZ Awards: 1. Baldwins Intellectual Property Excellence in Innovation Endace helps its customers manage critical data networks. Via its platforms it helps its customers to accurately detect, investigate and analyse network security and performance issues. Global customers include banks, hospitals, telecommunications companies, healthcare providers, retailers, web giants and governments. (Auckland) Other finalists were: - Valocity Limited (Auckland) - Organic Initiative (Auckland) - Spring Sheep Milk Co. (Auckland) - Serko (Auckland) 2. DHL Best Emerging Business (goods exports) Auckland BioSciences is in the business of manufacturing and exporting premium New Zealand made animal derived serum and plasma. The four-year-old company exports 90 percent of its products to 14 countries around the world for use in veterinary vaccines, which are critical to the health of global livestock populations. (Auckland) Other finalists were: - Helix Flight Manufacturing Machines Limited (Waikato) - Loadscan Limited (Waikato) - Progressive Equipment Limited (Waikato) - Spring Sheep Milk Co (Auckland) - Zeffer Cider Co (Auckland) 3. EMA Best Emerging Business (services exports) Haka Educational Tours is part of the award-winning Haka Tourism Group and is a dedicated academic and sport travel company. From curriculum focused school trips, to faculty led university tours and touring school sports teams, it provides a solution for all your global domestic student travel needs. (Auckland) Other finalist: - EverEdge Global (Auckland) 4. Ports of Auckland Best Medium Business (goods exports) Ross Roof Group is a family owned roofing company celebrating 75 years in the industry. With a strong focus on exporting their stone-coated steel tiles, they now operate in all regions of the world with six offices and 17 staff located in the USA, UK, Europe, Japan, UAE and Argentina. (Auckland) Other finalists were: - Hunter Filling Systems Limited (Waikato) - MIX Limited (Auckland) - Oceanmax International Limited (Auckland) 5. BDO Best Medium Business (services exports) More4Apps creates solutions for users of the Oracle E-Business Suite. In 2000 its developers identified the need for desktop software that enables the easy upload of transactions and other information to Oracle and it has been growing since then. It specialises in providing products for both end-users and developers. (Waikato) Other finalists were: - Company-X (Waikato) - Mindfull (Auckland) - Valocity Limited (Auckland) 6. Westpac Best Large Business (goods exports) Gallagher Group is a global leader in designing ground breaking animal management, security and fuel systems solutions. As a successful private company in New Zealand, Gallagher employ more than 1000 staff worldwide throughout North America, Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. (Waikato) Other finalists were: - Invenco Group Limited (Auckland) - Milk New Zealand Dairy Limited (Auckland) - New Zealand Bloodstock (Waikato) 7. NZTE Best Large Business (services exports) Gentrack Group designs, builds, deploys and provides supporting solutions for some of the most progressive utilities and airports around the world. Pairing powerful platforms with deep market knowledge, Gentrack enables customers to lower service costs, foster innovation and confidently navigate market reform. (Auckland) Other finalist: - EROAD (Auckland) SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT? With great food and coffee and an interesting space, Hamilton Airport is a great venue for your next business meeting or event. Email venuehire@hamiltonairport.co.nz to find out more. www.hamiltonairport.co.nz
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