Bloomz, a go ahead floriculture company that breeds and exports flowers (including Zantedeschia, or calla lillies), bulbs, tubers and high health tissue culture to Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and 30 other countries. The company also regularly shows their new varieties of flowers and pot plants at international trade shows and overseas nurseries.
Think growing Calla Lillies is a low tech, laid back, lifestyle kind of thing?
Try telling that to Andrew Warren, Managing Director of Bloomz. It’s a fast moving, highly competitive field where a poor decision can cost you dearly. Not just in lost sales, but also in terms of your international reputation.
And that’s where Vodafone plays a key role.
Vodafone provided Andy with a Sharp mobile so that he can take pictures of his own varieties or competitors' product, zap the picture back to his Tauranga office, get their opinion and make a decision - all while remaining on site.
As a result, Andy can be more confident of his sales decisions. Often he sends a picture to get scientific advice on a sample – to check for the presence of a particular disease or growing problem.
Because he can get opinions quickly, Andy’s also in a position to make decisions faster. That’s an advantage. Growers are constantly striving to be first to market with new species, so fast, accurate sales decisions are one important way to stay ahead.
As a global roamer, Andy also appreciates Vodafone’s wide global coverage. “I travel overseas about eight times a year, and am regularly off-shore,” he says. Vodafone keeps him in touch with both work and family.
“I use Vodafone’s global network for international travel,” he notes. “This will allow me to access emails faster and more easily, wherever I am. That means I’m more accessible to our grower clients and staff and can respond faster to any issues or queries that arise.
“In effect, Vodafone allows me to always be in the office, no matter where in the world I happen to be.”
Using picture messaging, Andy can show his new varieties to the right people, wherever in the world they might be. That helps Bloomz to stay ahead of the competition.
Andy can access his emails from almost anywhere, making him more accessible to others, and helping him keep his finger on the pulse even when he’s out of the country.
Growers and other people can send Andy data, such as information on particular flower specimens, and images for discussion.
Global roaming allows Andy to stay in touch in every country that he travels to. Only the Vodafone network offers such wide global coverage.
It’s not just the business that benefits. Andy and his family can also keep in touch much more easily, exchanging emails, pictures and family photos.
