Breaking with tradition: Will Wilson

Fourth generation Central Queensland cattle producer, Will Wilson, is a powerful voice for digital transformation and is urging industry to embrace the new eNVD Livestock Consignments mobile app to strengthen traceability and integrity in the red meat industry.

Will, who is widely recognised as an early adopter of technology in the beef industry, has been using the app to send consignments since November last year and acknowledges its benefit for on-farm assurance, traceability and integrity.

“Our business creates around 30 to 50 NVDs a year, so moving our information into a digital form is essential for businesses and industry and needs to happen soon so we can add layers of integrity faster and with accuracy,” Will said.

The swap to digital

As the owner of ‘Calliope Station’, running breeders and backgrounding feeders, Will ditched paper NVD forms and shifted to the web-based eNVD system as soon as he could. Now, he is using the app which interfaces seamlessly with the web-based system so consignments can be started in the office and finished in the yards on a mobile phone or tablet.

Will says the app has increased workflow efficiencies on-farm as it makes it possible to first load up his cattle and then use the app to finalise the consignment details – a process which ensures the correct details are logged in real time.

“If the NVD is completed after loading, we know the number onboard is accurate and times for loading can be done better. This has eased the problem of having to fill out documents at the start of week or before a work cycle begins,” Will said.

To further save time, Will has created consignment templates for his regular destinations – removing repetitive forms entirely.

“As we develop templates in the app, it is really easy to use as long as I take the time to check the dates and numbers for the transactions are updated,” Will said.

“The app is self-explanatory for first-time users. It leads you through the process to be set up and ready to go so long as you have logins and reception. We are also quite lucky as we have good internet reception at most of our depots,” Will said.

Offline functionality

Internet connectivity, or the lack of it, has been the key block preventing many producers from capitalising on the web-based system’s benefits. The eNVD app has removed these connectivity issues, using QR codes to transfer consignment details from producer to transporter, from feedlot to processor – with reception only needed when logging in for the first time and submitting a finalised consignment.

This offline functionality is a game-changer and Will sees enormous potential as technological advancements continue to streamline industry processes.

“From when I started in the digital space to now, digital transformation is a must to break the mold of tradition. Digital transformation has taken too long, and we need to get on with what needs to happen.”

Industry-wide solution

The app was developed after extensive supply chain consultation and its success hinges off it being adopted by each part of the value chain – including transporters, feedlots and processors.

While Will’s experience with the app is positive, he acknowledges that like with any new product, there is always room for fine-tuning in future releases. He suggests simplifying the user experience for PIC searches but acknowledges that as more users get onboard and future refinements are made, this will also improve.

“We need to be patient with this new system, especially breeders and backgrounders. Our current transactions aren’t really recorded anywhere, and we need to change that. This system works and can improve for industry, so we need to work with what we have so it can evolve over time and add real benefit for what we are trying to achieve,” Will said.  

The app is available for download for free through the Apple Store and Google Play Store.