North Canterbury News: October 14, 2021

FARM FOCUS ADVERTORIAL
32 North Canterbury News, October 14, 2021
Putting Kiwi farmers in the driving seat
Back in 1981, three Wairarapa
farmers decided to create a
system for farmers to improve
the way they manage their
farming business.
At that time, record­keeping
was very much about looking
back, using accounting
methodology.
The company founders
wanted to be able to look ahead,
to plan for the next season.
This radical approach proved
to be highly successful.
Forty years later this
business, now known as Farm
Focus, is still going strong.
Key to the company’s success,
is that its specialised software
meets farmers’ specific
management accounting
requirements, but also makes it
easy to transfer transactions
into tax­focused accounting
systems used by accountants.
Chief executive Brian Eccles
has been involved with the
company from the early days,
and says that while software
has changed massively over the
40 years, the successful formula
established all those years ago
still holds true.
Managing cashflow through
great planning was important
then and continues to be vital.
‘‘Running afarm is full of
uncertainty,’’ says Brian. ‘‘That
can come from weather, pricing
changes or awide range of on
and off farm regulations.
‘‘Plans help you manage
adversity because you can
quickly pivot when the plan
isn’t quite working.’’
Technology is constantly
evolving and the company
continues to invest in major
upgrades to ensure the product
is relevant in the modern
world.
It is currently supporting
customers to move from its
previous application,
Cashmanager RURAL, to its
new cloud­based application,
Farm Focus.
‘‘Not everyone loves change’’
says Brian,‘‘but once customers
begin to see the value of
investing in the new they never
look back.’’
Customers moving across to
the new platform, such as
Hawkes Bay farmer Caroline
Smith, notice the
improvements.
“Cashmanager RURAL was a
great package in its day but
farming practices and
requirements have changed
greatly over the years.
‘‘Focus’s automated
technology makes budgeting
much easier which has
definitely helped cut down time
spent in the office.’’
Caroline says the ability to
Farm Focus ... Brian Eccles is keen to support kiwi farmers.
budget three or four years
ahead has been especially
helpful during Covid and
drought events.
‘‘It’s way easier to look ahead.
It has given us confidence in
our planning and shows we can
weather the storm’’
Brian says that while the
world is full of generic
accounting systems designed
for city businesses, asystem
like Farm Focus, uniquely
designed to meet the special
needs of farmers, is extremely
rare.
‘‘What might be ideal for an
accountant might be entirely
unsuitable for afarmer.
Software like ours that can
drive improved management
can increase revenue
massively. Potential savings in
accountancy costs are minor by
comparison’’ says Brian.
In addition to marking 40
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
years in business this year,
Farm Focus is also celebrating
its recent win in the Cyber Gold
category at the Wellington Gold
Awards.
‘‘This award really belongs to
our customers as we wouldn’t
be where we are without their
support. Helping New Zealand
farmers to stay at the top of
their game and retain their
number one spot in the world is
what drives us!’’ he says.
Happy
birthday
to us!
We’re celebrating that we’ve
been successfully supporting
New Zealand farmers for 40 years.
Here’s our 40th birthday gift to
new customers.
Go to farmfocus.co.nz/birthday-offer/
to redeem your goodies!
Farm Focus: Financial management
software for New Zealand Farmers.
Promo code: BIRTHDAY
Offer valid while stocks last.
Call 0800 888 080
New customers
receive FREE
3months
subscription to
award-winning
Farm Focus
+
Our first 100
new customers
receive the
Farm Focus wet
weather jacket.
RRP $450*
And
receive aFREE
$160 Allbirds
shoe voucher
*Does not apply to existing Rural or Farm Focus customers
*Terms &conditions apply