HomeEducational ResourcesPurchasing AgTech? Ask yourself these five questions first.

Purchasing AgTech? Ask yourself these five questions first.

May 20 2025

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AgTech adoption can often seem a daunting process. There’s a range of factors you will need to consider before you begin looking for the right solution.

Andrew Barton, Chief Executive Officer of OPS Australia, outlines the five key questions you should answer before considering what AgTech is right for you.

AGTECH EXISTS TO HELP

We have been using technology to help us manage agriculture since people first moved to the Australian bush. The transition from the kerosene lamp to electrical power is a fundamental example of AgTech. As is the adoption of UHF radio communications and NBN satellite data communications. Farmers living in the Australian bush have been adopting technology with great success for many years.

Properties used to have large workforces, but they were different times. Today it is increasingly harder to find good resources that can assist your work in regional and rural areas. This challenge is not specific to agriculture, but all industries within Australia.

So how do we maintain our output with fewer resources? Furthermore, how can we improve our productivity while maximising our rural agricultural businesses? The answer is technology.

Technology has always been a core enabler allowing the Australian bush to develop and progress. A greater understanding and focus on technology have always provided strong benefits.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

When identifying your objectives, clarify what is important to you and your property. The top five questions you should ask are:

• Do we have a good understanding of what AgTech can offer our business?
• What are our core business activities? (e.g. breeding cattle for sale)
• What can impact our core business activities? (e.g. your risks, such as a lack of water)
• What are our other requirements? (e.g. remote operability)
• How can we recover if something does go wrong?

It is helpful to the overall planning process if you can write your objectives down and discuss these with whoever else is involved with management of your property. 

THE NEXT STEPS

With your objectives known, documented, and agreed, it is then time to identify your ‘AgTech Plan’ which will help you achieve your objectives. 

AgTech Finder is a fantastic resource if you know what you’re looking for and are a confident decision maker. Most, if not all, AgTech companies will talk you through their solutions and compatibility to your operations. Otherwise, you can add products to the Comparison Tool to see the details side by side. Find the products you’re interested in using the ‘Find a Solution’ page and click the star to add each of the products you want to compare. You can even download a .pdf document of your comparison tool results!

At the end of the day, an AgTech solution should work for you, across your full property. It should be your second set of eyes to continually watch over your property to keep you informed and one that can automatically act in an integrated manner.