Agriculture has entered a period of rapid digital transformation, a journey for which the fresh produce chain has no better partner than First Technology, the company maintains; it is South Africa's largest privately owned IT company. "We offer clients the best of both worlds: national strength with local agility. Our decentralised model empowers regional teams to move fast, tailor solutions, and take full ownership, while leveraging the deep resources and skills of the broader group. What sets us apart is our depth of technical skill across the board," says Candice Landsberg, executive head of solutions.
"There's growing demand for real-time tracking and traceability - not just for compliance, but to meet buyer expectations around transparency, sustainability, and food safety. There's also a shift toward analytics and forecasting, using real-time data to improve yield management, cold chain performance, market timing, and risk mitigation."
© First Technology
"We provide robust IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and cloud services"
As systems become more connected, Landsberg remarks that companies are moving away from siloed, on-premise setups toward hybrid cloud environments that offer better scalability, uptime, and remote access, especially useful for multi-site operations.
However, she notes, as more agricultural systems go digital, they also become more vulnerable. "Cybersecurity is no longer optional - especially when export systems and compliance platforms are involved. We're seeing increased investment in zero-trust security models plus disaster recovery and backup solutions."
The company has recently launched AIDOTCOM, a dedicated division focused exclusively on AI and emerging technologies.
Data continuity during high-pressure seasons
First Technology complements agri-tech vendors by delivering secure, scalable, and intelligent IT environments that allow these traceability systems to operate efficiently across complex agricultural operations. "We play a key role in ensuring that the underlying IT infrastructure in agricultural businesses is secure, scalable, and fully integrated so that all the various systems and databases - from ERP to packhouse and logistics platforms - communicate effectively with one another. Increasingly, automation and Internet of Things (IoT) data are generated to improve efficiency, quality control, and energy use. This generates valuable data — but also demands a reliable, well-integrated IT backbone."
A common digital challenge with which First Technology assists fresh produce exporters is disconnected systems between packhouse operations, logistics platforms, and ERP systems. "For instance, a fruit exporter may struggle with delays or errors in data syncing when harvest volumes recorded at the packhouse don't immediately reflect in stock availability reports or shipment planning tools, leading to inefficiencies, missed dispatch windows, or compliance risks."
© First Technology
"We have a significant presence in the agricultural sector, particularly among fruit exporters and other major agri-businesses. A considerable portion of our client base operates within this space, and we support them with robust IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud services, and business continuity solutions that are tailored to their operational needs and seasonal demands."
They believe that fresh produce companies should invest in future-ready infrastructure, which implies strengthened system integration across the supply chain. "This is where First Technology plays a strategic role: helping agri-businesses build the digital foundations needed for long-term competitiveness."
For more information:
Candice Landsberg
First Technology
Tel: +27 21 525 7000
Email: [email protected]
https://www.firsttech.co.za/