Media Release
19 March 2013
For Immediate Release
Mobile technology is a game changer for primary industries
Back in 1990 few people had personal computers, the internet was an unknown and the age of the mobile phones was just
around the corner. In a very short space of time these three technologies have fundamentally changed the face of
business around the world.
Many of today's leading global companies, Google, Apple and Microsoft, built their business around these three
technologies. The services they provided their customers had a dramatic effect on workers’ productivity and levelled the
playing field for many small businesses.
The recent release of smartphones has also been a game changer for many. Businesses now take it for granted that emails
can be checked, news read, documents signed or video streamed, all while on the morning commute to work.
It’s not just the office environment though. Mobile technologies have also had a major impact on how businesses are run
within our primary sector. For farmers, forest managers and horticultural growers, the level of innovation from mobile
technologies has been, and will continue to be, a game changer. Whether it’s satellite imagery of plantation forests,
GPS tracking and real-time scheduling of transport and logistics, or soil management through wireless sensor monitoring
and automated systems, our primary sector businesses have a lot to benefit from improved mobile communications.
The newly launched and Government-backed initiative, the Primary Innovation project, makes it clear that a key lever to
enhancing the future returns of New Zealand’s Primary Sector Industries is to adapt and grow with new technologies and
innovations. Connecting knowledge, R, science and new technology to real-world applications is critical to the food and fibre sector’s future growth.
Wellington will be hosting this year’s inaugural MobileTECH Summit 2013 in August. This new event is designed to
showcase current and upcoming mobile innovations best suited to New Zealand’s principal food and fibre sectors. The
focus is on technologies that can be adopted now, whether it’s on the farm, in the greenhouse or out in the forest. The
underlying principal is that these new technologies can now be applied across a range of industries and that those
working on the land can learn significantly from each other.
"This is an exciting time for the industry, as mobile applications are opening up a new wave of innovations and
productivity gains for businesses within the primary sector", said CONNEX Programme Director, Ken Wilson. "This event
brings together industry leaders to share and discuss how these new technologies can drive our business competitiveness,
both nationally and around the world."
If you’re keen on being involved in any aspect of the MobileTECH Summit 2013, please contact us. If you’re interested in
being updated on the programme as it unfolds, register your interest on www.mobiletechevents.com.
Media release ends
About CONNEX: Event Innovators
CONNEX a division within Innovatek Ltd, provides a full set of event management and professional conference services for
clients throughout Australia and New Zealand. The company has a strong background in designing and running innovative
technology related events for primary industries. Over the last decade it’s delivered an extensive array of premier
conferences, workshops, seminars, managed exhibitions, trade shows and other events throughout New Zealand and
Australia. For more information, visit www.connexevents.com.