Last year, my friend Lisa was dealt a poor set of cards. Recently single and laid off from her 4th grade teaching job due to budget cuts, she was forced to forfeit her apartment. In the midst of being distraught and unsure what to do, she had an epiphany. “I’m buying a one way ticket to New Zealand, and I’m not sure when I’ll come back to the States,” she told me. Sure enough, Lisa arrived in New Zealand about a month ago and for weeks now I’ve drooled over the pictures she posts on social media of the natural wildlife and scenery. It’s like something out of a dream.
Each new picture makes me extremely jealous. Lisa’s hiking mountains, kayaking the seas, diving in the ocean, climbing rocky cliffs, and eating the most amazing seafood. She’s spotted whales while lounging on the beach, seals in Milford Sound, and penguins and sea lions in the Catlins National Park.
Preserving the Land
However, protecting New Zealand’s natural heritage is no easy task. The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) works around the clock to ensure that the country’s natural culture is preserved so that people like Lisa can easily find serenity in the beauty and calm of these islands. DOC’s mission is to provide leadership for a prosperous New Zealand, a country that flourishes socially, economically, and environmentally.
The organization also provides tourists and locals access to New Zealand’s parks and recreation. It works to build health and well-being through the maintenance of species of trees which purify the air, wetlands which filter impurities from the water, insects which pollinate the foods produced, rivers which turn the turbines of hydroelectricity stations to provide power, and trees with roots to hold soils that prevent erosion and landslides. In addition, DOC protects the endangered species and sea mammals in New Zealand, as well as keeps all marine environments clean and healthy so that locals can harvest fish and shellfish, bringing revenue into the country.
Data Overload
Behind the scenes, DOC manages twenty thousand inspections and one hundred thousand work orders for preventative maintenance a year. Prior to their SAP Work Manager implementation, dissecting such huge amounts of data took hours and wasted time. Now, DOC manages their data in seconds by using SAP Work Manager as its infield data collection tool to provide its employees with a simple and reliable mobile asset management solution. Employees are now working more efficiently and making better-informed decisions because they have access to the relevant information they need on the move. “SAP Work Manager has transformed the way I do my job. It’s intuitive to use and takes the frustration out of data management so I can focus on the job that I love doing,” said Emma Dunning, services ranger at New Zealand Department of Conservation.
Since go live, DOC is better protecting the stunning natural environment and special places that are part of New Zealand’s history and culture, drawing thousands of overseas tourists, like Lisa, to their country. With streamlined processes to increase workforce productivity and allow its task-force to deliver quality care for the biodiversity, DOC is now responsible for the creation of 1 in 10 jobs and the generation of $20 billion for New Zealand’s economy.
Experience of a Lifetime
Take a look at some of the amazing pictures Lisa captured thus far on her trip. Because of SAP's partnership with the New Zealand Department of Conservation, Lisa is able to travel around this gorgeous country snapping photos everywhere her sneakers touch ground (or not when she is zip lining through the air). Her year of what seemed like misfortune actually led her to this exciting adventure and trip of a lifetime. And who knows, maybe she will eventually return to Philadelphia with a Kiwi boyfriend…
Learn more about this story by watching our video on YouTube or reading our customer journey.
Check out more adventures with me on Twitter at @CMDonato and connect with me on LinkedIn.
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