As the group systems administrator at Komati, Braam acknowledges that building solutions for a diversified fruit producer is no easy task. However, the true reward comes from seeing the smiles of end-users.
Braam Koekemoer is the group systems administrator at Komati Fruit Group. This title is a fairly new title to the CIO, CTO, and CDO designations the CIO South Africa community has become familiar with. In a nutshell, as Braam explains, he is responsible for all information systems (anything related to software and solutions) but isn’t accountable for any of the hardware infrastructure, except relevant mobile devices required by software solutions.
“I’m responsible for all systems and solutions related to ERP, HR, payroll, fuel management, packhouses, farm management, data analytics, complementary apps, scales, and scanners,” he adds. Anything that can provide the group with a full suite of solutions to help with day-to-day operations and mitigate risks.” He calls it the information systems (IS) department of the company rather than the IT department.
Before joining Komati, Braam spent 15 years with Datacentrix as an ERP solutions architect in their ERP business. He then joined a Spanish company Aritmos, which also had interests in agriculture,about four years prior to joining Komati.
The role kept Braam quite busy, travelling around the world from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Oman, to the US, East Africa and many other English-speaking countries. “The Spanish team would be responsible for all the Spanish, French and Portuguese-speaking countries and my team and I would handle the English-speaking ones,” he says.
“English is a huge problem in some parts of Spain, especially the Catalonia province, where Aritmos is located, so I made sure I stayed away from that region, except visiting the Aritmos head office twice a year,” Braam jokes. “Catalan is a difficult language to learn; I tried several times but finally gave up.”
According to Braam, Komati Group, his current employer, is a predominantly citrus grower and exporter on approximately 6,500 hectares with approximately 4,600 making up their citrus produce. “We also farm avocados, approximately 230 hectares, sugarcane, approximately 830 hectares, as well as game and cattle farming, mangoes and litchis.”
Nothing beats an end-user smile
Braam notes that most technologists spend time building systems and solutions to improve processes: that’s the first exciting step. However, once all the hard work has been done, seeing those solutions in action and seeing the user’s face light up is the most fulfilling part.
“One wouldn’t think that people would get excited about using data analytics tools and getting excited about what they see – the data that they always had, but never visualised, telling them a story that makes sense,” he notes. “It’s one thing to introduce a system, but seeing people use it and understand it is something else – that’s the best part of my day!
“That’s what it is all about at the end of the day: data collection, data visualisation and making informed decisions.”
Like in any job, some days are more tough than others. “Don’t let one bad meeting ruin your entire day,” is Braam’s advice for managing the unexpected, because in his world things can go from something as minor as a printer not working to a major technical glitch in the system.
For Braam, a meaningful conversation on the commute back home seems to be the perfect remedy for an arduous day, and by the time he arrives home, he is relaxed. This also helps to separate work from home and ensure that work matters don’t impact his family.
“We live about 37km away from the office (farm) and the drive from the office back home helps me wind down,” he explains. “We all live a relatively similar distance from the office so carpooling has become the norm. We talk about anything under the sun, but try not to talk shop in most cases.”
Baking bread and writing articles
Braam took an unconventional route into information systems. He started his working career in the grain and feed milling industry with NTK (now owned by VKB), NLK (now owned by Afgri), and Sasko. He also had exposure to the dairy industry through his father’s small dairy farming business.
At the time, Sasko started a SAPR/3 project and wanted to train up and use people in business roles to train and implement the system. “The logic at the time was simple: for example a grain miller can train another grain miller on how to use a system in a mill better, but a systems person can’t train a grain miller on how to use the system properly in a mill.”
If Braam had to be in a different job than he is now, “I’d probably become a journalist for an agricultural magazine,” he says. “A few years ago, I used to be a freelance contributor for an agriculture magazine. I have a lot of respect for the profession, and one needs to be committed to the writing process.”
Braam is a big rugby supporter. He will always support the sport, and if he has a chance to watch live games, he will use the opportunity. When Braam and his family lived in Gauteng, it was easier than now. Although Braam does not have specific hobbies, he will support his team members when possible.
“Some of my team members are passionate mountain bikers. I will put effort in to rock up at a race and support them. As their manager, I am of the opinion that it is fostering strong relationships at a different level,” he says.
