The Goulburn Valley is one of Australia’s most productive agricultural regions. The businesses supporting that agriculture—processors, packers, logistics providers, suppliers—are increasingly technology-driven.

I spent time with several Shepparton-area agribusinesses to understand their digital transformation.

The Fruit Packing Shed

A family-owned packing operation has invested significantly in technology over the past decade.

“We pack millions of pieces of fruit annually. Manual record-keeping wasn’t possible at that scale.”

Their systems now include:

Automated grading: Cameras and AI assess every piece of fruit for size, colour, and defects. Humans check exceptions; routine decisions are automated.

Traceability: Every carton is traceable to the orchard, row, and pick date. “When a supermarket asks about a quality issue, we can identify exactly where that fruit came from.”

Integration: Systems talk to each other—grading links to inventory, inventory links to orders, orders link to logistics.

“Ten years ago we had paper everywhere. Now everything is digital, and it’s searchable and reportable.”

The Agricultural Supplier

A business supplying inputs to farms has digitised their customer relationships.

“Our customers are spread across the region. They’re busy during season. They don’t want to drive to town to order supplies.”

Their online portal allows:

• Ordering inputs any time
• Checking product availability
• Viewing account history
• Receiving invoices electronically

“We thought farmers wouldn’t use it. Turns out they love it. Orders come in at midnight during harvest when they realise they need something tomorrow.”

The system also helps with inventory management—predicting demand based on seasonal patterns and historical data.

The Cold Storage Provider

Temperature-controlled storage requires precise monitoring. One provider has automated their cold chain management.

“Every room, every pallet position is monitored continuously. If temperature drifts, we know immediately.”

Sensors throughout the facility feed a central system that:

• Alerts staff to anomalies
• Logs temperatures for compliance records
• Optimises energy use based on load and external conditions
• Reports to customers on their inventory status

“Food safety requirements are stringent. Manual monitoring couldn’t meet the documentation standards. Automation isn’t optional; it’s required.”

The Transport Company

Moving produce from farms to markets requires logistics coordination. A Shepparton transport company has built systems for this.

“We track every truck, every load, every delivery. Customers can see where their produce is in real-time.”

Their technology includes:

GPS tracking: Real-time location of all vehicles.

Temperature monitoring: Continuous logging for cold chain compliance.

Dispatch optimisation: Software suggesting efficient routes and load combinations.

Driver apps: Mobile applications for proof of delivery and issue reporting.

“The margins in transport are thin. Efficiency from technology is often the difference between profit and loss.”

Common Challenges

Despite the progress, challenges persist:

Connectivity: Rural locations where suppliers and customers are located often have poor internet. Systems that work in town fail in the paddock.

Integration: Different systems don’t always talk to each other. A grower’s system might not integrate with a packer’s system.

Skills: Finding staff comfortable with technology remains difficult. Training is constant.

Cost: Technology investment is significant. Not all businesses can afford the latest systems.

Change management: Long-established businesses sometimes resist digital transformation. Culture matters.

The Data Opportunity

The data generated by these systems has value beyond immediate operations.

Market intelligence: Understanding what’s in storage, what’s moving, and what’s needed across the region.

Quality prediction: Using historical data to predict quality issues before they occur.

Supply chain visibility: End-to-end tracking from paddock to plate, increasingly demanded by retailers and consumers.

Benchmarking: Comparing operational metrics against industry standards.

“We’re sitting on years of data. We’re only starting to understand what it can tell us.”

For businesses looking to extract value from their data, custom AI builds can help identify opportunities appropriate for agribusiness contexts.

Collaboration Needs

Individual businesses digitising creates value. The region digitising together creates more.

“If everyone in the supply chain used compatible systems, the efficiency gains would multiply. Right now, data gets re-entered at every handoff.”

Efforts exist to create shared standards and platforms, but adoption is incomplete.

Industry associations, government programs, and technology providers are working on this. Progress is incremental.

What’s Next

Several developments will shape Shepparton agribusiness technology:

Increased automation: Labour constraints will push further automation in packing, handling, and processing.

AI applications: More sophisticated analysis of production, quality, and market data.

Connectivity improvements: Better rural internet will enable systems that currently aren’t practical.

Sustainability tracking: Carbon accounting, water use, and environmental metrics will require new measurement systems.

Export market requirements: International customers increasingly demand digital traceability.

The direction is clear. The pace depends on investment, skills, and industry coordination.

For Agribusinesses Considering Technology

If you’re running an agribusiness considering digital investment:

Start with pain points. What’s currently difficult, slow, or error-prone? Technology should solve real problems.

Talk to peers. Others in the industry have tried things. Learn from their experience.

Plan for integration. Standalone systems become problems. Consider how new technology connects to existing operations.

Budget for training. Technology without trained users delivers no value.

Think long-term. Technology investments compound over time. Short-term thinking leads to fragmented systems.

Shepparton’s agribusiness sector is transforming digitally. Individual businesses are investing. The region’s competitive position depends on continuing that momentum.