Computer programing and sheep combined

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 322, 6 February 1990, Page 3

Computer programing and sheep combined

A city style high tech business and a country life style have been blended together by David Waldron who operates Rivendell Computer Consulting.

David has been operating his computer business since 1988, but has kept quiet about it until now because of the demand for his services. He says work has not been hard to find, despite the rural nature of the area. "People say 'surely there's no work here for you', but there is a great deal," says David. His clients to date include a ski hire business, transport companies, market gardeners, farmers, accountancy firms, local bodies, and timber companies. Much of the work involves providing business analysis systems, which in many cases are run on programs Rivendell has developed. David says not long ago the work involved in developing specific software was massive and therefore expensive,

but now the software used to develop new programs is more powerful so it is possible, and common, to develop software for specific needs where no 'off-the-shelf product is available. Many businesses use computers merely as accounting machines, says David, but there is huge potential for using them to develop efficiency through analysis of a business. With a market gardener, for example, all the variables such as planting times and sprays and harvesting times etc., can be easily monitored over time and a picture of causes and effects can be built up. In the case of a ski hire the frequency of hireage of each type of equipment can be tracked which helps with maintenance and

in business stock replacement decisions. David and his wife Jenny Hare decided to move to the Waimarino for the cleaner air and open spaces that the 'big smoke' lacks. The couple have bought a 30 acre farm which they say fits in well with running a computer business. "After hours of working at a computer screen it's hard to concentrate but after a few hours of physical farm work I'm ready to get back to it." says David. He says the two types of work balance out well and the pair often find themselves easily working 12 hour days. His aim in setting up the business was to provide a better computer consultancy, support, training and development service than those already available. David says most firms serving this area were city based, which meant difficulty in getting back-up support for customers, as well as huge travelling expenses added to the bill.

The Rivendell area

covers from Taihape to Taumarunui and across to Taupo - any further than that and you're back to the city-dis-

tance problem. David's qualifications in the business are impressive, with masters degrees from both Cam-

bridge and Vancouver and 12 years' computer experience. He says this experience has been great for setting up Rivendell but didn't help when it came to dagging his first sheep!