Mobile Communications 

Vodafone's Business Team works closely with its business customers to develop mobile communications packages that enable business owners to leverage innovation throughout their business.

As a sponsor of the Small Business Expo at the Auckland Showgrounds on July 20 - 22, Vodafone will have a strong presence with a range of innovative products and services to help businesses do business better.

New Zealand company Bloomz is just one business it has worked with to integrate innovative telecommunications technology into its day to day operations.

Bloomz is a go-ahead floricultural company that breeds and exports bulbs and tubers to Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and 30 other countries. It's a company that not only has an innovative offering, but looks for efficiency gains in all aspects of its business.

Managing director Andy Warren knows running a successful international business means making sure you are capitalising on, rather than being punished by, time zones. He's made it a priority to ensure the company's communication systems allow staff to be responsive to customer needs regardless of geographical constraints.

Specialising in Zantedeschia (coloured Calla lilies), Sandersonia and other exotic species such as Phormium, Bloomz breeds and produces high-health tissue culture, bulbs and tubers for wholesale customers and commercial growers around the world.

Its Kiwi team has built a global network in consultancy, breeding, production and marketing of exotic plantstock and operates joint production facilities in India, Africa and South America, in a continual pursuit of better quality and price competitive product to satisfy global demand.

It has used telecommunications technology to add value to its day-to-day business dealings. The Bloomz team uses PXT messaging to send photos wirelessly between team members.

"The ability to send pictures wirelessly has made a massive difference to our global dealings.

"With my Sharp GX10 mobile I can take PXT of our own flower varieties or our competitor's product, zap the picture back to our Tauranga office, get their opinion and make a decision on the spot," says Andy.

He can also send and receive emails and access the internet all from his Vodafone mobile or laptop. Growers can email Andy information and images for discussion and he is more accessible to others, even when he is out of the country.

Mobile technology has got to be 'plug-and-play', and it has got to be easy. You can't underestimate something being easy to use when you are on the other side of the world, or even in Wellington. With Vodafone the network is fast and reliable no matter where I am working.

Michelle Stanners, Business markets event manager for Vodafone, says it's just one example of how Vodafone is helping New Zealand businesses do business better.

Businesses wanting to find out more about how they can use innovation in their day-to-day business operations can check out the Small Business Expo at the Auckland Showgrounds, July 20 - 22. See www.businessexpo.co.nz for more information.