Technology developed to guide fertiliser application has evolved into a connected platform for managing machinery, fieldwork and digital records.
New Zealand technology company Tabula is celebrating 20 years since its first commercial units were used in the field, marking two decades of development in GPS guidance, application records and connected field operations.
The business began in 2006 as TracMap, addressing a practical challenge for New Zealand farmers and contractors: improving the accuracy of fertiliser application while providing electronic proof of where work had been completed.
Since then, the technology has expanded into a platform connecting machinery, operators and operational information. The company, which adopted the Tabula name in 2023, now serves agriculture and horticulture alongside aerial operations, fire and emergency response, and vector control.
For farmers and contractors, the development reflects the growing role of digital systems in coordinating fieldwork. GPS guidance and application records can help operators work more accurately and provide a record of completed tasks, while connected systems can bring planning, live operational information and reporting together.
From application records to connected operations
Following its initial development in New Zealand, the technology expanded into Australia and agricultural aviation in 2010. Horticulture and viticulture were added later, followed by wildfire and emergency response in 2024.
The platform has evolved beyond recording individual applications to help coordinate wider operations involving people and machinery. This becomes increasingly relevant as farm businesses manage more equipment, contractors and operational data.
Tabula CEO Michael Whittaker says the company’s longevity reflects its ability to adapt to changing customer requirements.
“As operations have become more complex, we’ve kept connecting more of the people, machinery and information around them. That ability to evolve alongside our customers is what has kept Tabula relevant for 20 years, and it’s what will carry us into the next 20.”
Looking ahead to automation
Tabula expects artificial intelligence, automation and autonomous machinery to influence the next stage of field operations. As machinery becomes more capable of carrying out tasks independently, reliable communication between equipment, operators and management systems will be important to coordinating work and maintaining records.
Whittaker says ongoing investment and development will be needed to meet these changing requirements.
“When customers choose a technology partner, they’re backing where that company is going as much as what it can do today. That means continually investing, continually evolving and making sure Tabula remains the place where their operation comes together — whatever the next 20 years bring.”
Tabula is marking the anniversary with a series of stories from customers and people involved in the company’s development.
Read more at tabula.live/20-years.
About Tabula
Founded in New Zealand in 2006 as TracMap, Tabula develops technology for planning, coordinating and recording field operations across agriculture, horticulture, aerial operations, fire and emergency response, and vector control.
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