IT Matters…

Systems and Technology Update from the IT Team Infrastructure and Systems Strategy

The move from Citrix to AVD (Azure Virtual Desktop) is now the key project for 2023. We are actively working with our platform partner (Navisite) on the design and build of a new server and solution environment. We are aiming for a controlled transition by November 2023. There is still much to do, but we are confident that the chosen strategy will provide a long-term solution to support future technologies and systems. We are aiming to make the process as smooth as possible but some change is inevitable. More details will be communicated soon and the IT team will, of course, be on hand to support.

VOIP Telephones

VOIP (Voice Over IP) is the technology used for our internal and inter-site telephony. In February we were informed by our telephony supplier of an unexpected and urgent development, which meant that we had to migrate to an alternative solution very quickly, by 31 March. The new system utilises our current desk phones but the back-end infrastructure is different. A typical migration of this type would normally take a few months – we had to cram all activities into around 4 weeks, including visits to all sites. The transition is now complete and we trust that the changes did not cause any major disruption to business operations.

Teams & Collaboration

We have been working with departments across the business to get their files setup on Teams and/or SharePoint and moved away from Citrix/S:Drive. So far the Growing Team in Scotland, the Greenvale Technical Team, Group HSE and Produce Solutions have made the transition. They are all benefiting from the ease of access and the versatility of the collaboration tools.

Employee On-Boarding (Rowe Farming)

With 500+ seasonal employees arriving and requiring induction at Rowe farming ready for the daffodil harvest, the welfare team would find themselves swamped with paperwork, with employee needing to fill in and sign, up to 10 different documents before they could commence employment.

Last year the IT team worked with David and Elena in producing a digitalized system which allowed the documents to be completed and signed without the need to print them out for everyone.

Using multiple tools including Forms2Mobile and Microsoft Power Automate, the required induction documentation and checklists could be completed on a tablet, signed by the new employee. Then a copy of the completed document was emailed to the employee and filed for future reference. As the documents were finished, they were removed from the list of documents to be completed for the employee to prevent duplication and allow the progress of the induction to be monitored.

Say Hello to the newest member of the IT Team

Racheal joined the team in September 2022. She relocated to the UK in 2016 from Uganda where previously worked with the UK Department of Trade. She holds a Second Upper Hons Degree in IT and a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management. During her time at Whirlpool UK Appliances, She worked with the commercial team as a Business Analyst where she gained experience in business analysis and streamlining business processes with in the commercial department aimed at improving the overall customer journey.

Racheal enjoys being pampered and having a proper chilled-out day of doing ABSOLUTELY nothing. She is also a volunteer for the Ministry as a teacher in Sunday school.

By Nigel Holiday, Commercial Director

It’s been a very busy Winter over in Jersey with some major changes in the farming operations. Volumes of Jersey Royals in general remain reasonably strong despite changes in the economy and a very different retail marketplace, however, the business took the decision to reduce own growing and bring on additional volume from contract growers. This is to spread the risk of growing, yield and availability, whilst supporting the Jersey Government’s sustainable farming plans for the island. To enable this to happen we have had to restructure many areas, reducing farming inputs & overheads, with reductions in land, sheds, vehicles, rentals & staff requirements, just to name a few areas that have required careful planning. This has all been done successfully and in a short space of time from the end of one season to the start of the next - well done to all the teams.