EvergreenConnect: Increasing efficiency across the nursery

By Christina Gnezdiloff

Running a nursery is a complicated business. In its simplest form, it begins with deciding what to grow, progresses to undertaking the production required, growing the plants until they are ready to sell, finding a buyer for the plants you have grown and then going through the sales process, with the desired outcome being money in the bank. The best way to achieve this outcome is to understand how your business is operating through all these stages and identify ways to improve your efficiencies.

In a modern world, increased efficiency is often achieved through technological additions and changes to your workflow. This can be done by using the technology of the EvergreenConnect; Inventory Management, Marketing Platform and Sales Management tools.

EvergreenConnect mission statement includes, “To improve business efficiency for nursery and associated Greenlife industries.” In striving to achieve this, we aim to improve business efficiency for our customer base across the full range of plant nursery functions. Our technology seeks to drive efficiencies via technological developments throughout our customers’ businesses.

In the potting shed:

EvergreenConnect Potting Records allow staff to use a tablet within the potting shed to instantly record batch data for potting up without the need for potting sheets to be completed manually. Whilst this is the last stage of the production planning cycle, we have seen examples of nurseries using as many as five different spreadsheets and printed reports to go from production planning to potting. Using the EvergreenConnect Inventory Management System completely removes the multiple spreadsheet chaos.

Out in the field:

Recently released for testing is the EvergreenConnect Field App, targeting a range of functions field staff would normally complete by creating paper-based forms. Utilising the app on a mobile phone, field staff can record items such as stock movements, stock deaths and batch merges directly into EvergreenConnect, resulting in greater efficiency but also minimising the chance of errors and double handling of a simple and constant task. Being a cloud-based app, means existing devices (smartphones) can be utilised, rather than requiring additional hardware to be purchased.

Digital Ordering in the office:

Listing plants for sale and enabling the distribution of live availability lists electronically to the customer base, aids the nursery to reach all their customers with one task, using EvergreenConnect as a marketing platform. Efficiency is also gained by the buyer utilising EvergreenConnect. Buyers no longer need to print out, fill in and email back order request forms, this is all done electronically through the order form provided by EvergreenConnect. Delivering the order directly into the grower’s inbox and the EvergreenConnect Sales Management tool. Growers that make the best use of this also increase efficiency by minimising their “over-sells” . Just imagine the time saved by not having to contact customers to advise on over-sells or having to help with substitutions. A more efficient office environment enables nurseries to have a higher output of work for the same energy consumption.

All these business efficiencies can be gained by implementing the EvergreenConnect technology across your nursery.