NVT Online – Supporting the National Variety Trials

The National Variety Trials (NVT) Online platform, developed by Storyboard Multimedia, has revolutionised how Australian grain growers access critical crop performance data. Before its inception, growers relied on fragmented state-based systems, which were inconsistent, outdated, and time-consuming. Recognising these inefficiencies, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) engaged Storyboard to design and implement a unified platform.

Since 2005, NVT Online has become the largest crop trialling program of its kind globally, supporting over 74% of Australian growers in making better-informed cropping decisions.

Storyboard’s role spans more than 24 years, encompassing continuous enhancements, technological advancements, and robust stakeholder engagement.

Key achievements include transitioning from paper-based data to real-time online reporting and supporting mobile devices for field use. Storyboard rebuilt the system in 2018 to leverage modern technologies such as APIs, cross-platform capabilities, and cloud hosting, ensuring scalability and cost-efficiency. Most recently, preparations for artificial intelligence integration are underway, aligning with GRDC’s vision to utilise machine learning for improved trial analysis and predictions.

The platform’s robust functionality has been transformative and adopting a forward view of tech platforms and agile methodologies ensured responsiveness to GRDC’s evolving requirements.

In addition, Storyboard’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in their adoption of future-proof technologies and environmentally conscious hosting practices.

Central to the success of NVT Online is Storyboard’s collaborative and transparent relationship with GRDC. This strong partnership ensures the platform continuously adapts to industry changes while maintaining 100% uptime and delivering high-quality solutions.

By empowering growers with real-time, reliable data and enhancing operational efficiency, NVT Online underscores Storyboard Multimedia’s capability to deliver impactful, scalable software systems. The platform is an indispensable tool for Australian agriculture, setting a global benchmark for crop trial programs.

In 2019, Storyboard Multimedia partnered with Stuba, a global accommodation wholesaler, to modernize its ageing digital systems. Stuba’s applications , hosted on physical servers, were slow, costly, and lacked scalability. These inefficiencies limited the company’s ability to leverage over 50 suppliers and provide seamless user experiences. The project scope involved a full system redevelopment and cloud migration with 3,000 person-days of effort.

As work began, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global operations, isolating team members across 17 locations with inconsistent infrastructure. Storyboard responded by adopting agile methodologies and asynchronous collaboration to ensure project continuity under these challenging conditions.

Storyboard’s developers guided Stuba’s internal team in implementing high-quality coding practices. Git was used for code synchronization, with regular workshops fostering collaborative development and troubleshooting empowering developers to take ownership of the system post-project.

Leveraged Azure Site Recovery to ensure seamless synchronization and minimize cutover disruptions.

Multi-threading, significantly improving integration speeds and reliability.

Used Azure DevOps to streamline development with automated testing and deployments, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.

Upgraded SQL Server databases to Azure PaaS, delivering faster transactions and improved multicurrency, multi-time-zone support.

The migration was completed on time and under budget despite the pandemic’s challenges.

Through mentoring and knowledge sharing, Stuba’s internal team gained the skills to independently maintain and enhance their systems, reducing future reliance on external support.

Storyboard Multimedia’s agile approach demonstrated the power of innovative software development to drive operational efficiency and business resilience, even in the face of global challenges.

“Uber for Personal Trainers” was founded by Australian Karate coach Marco Mazzanti and BRW Top 100 entrepreneur Daniel Werzberger to address a growing gap in the fitness market. They recognized the need for a flexible, on-demand platform that allowed personal trainers to manage client bookings, cash flow, and work availability. However, the initial tech build was incomplete and required a full redevelopment to meet industry demands.

Storyboard Multimedia stepped in to take over the broken project, rewriting specifications, test plans, and marketing strategies while guiding a complete redevelopment of both the back end and front end. The team created a strategic plan that ensured the platform was scalable and market-ready for its February 2022 launch. A key focus was on improving the user experience, allowing trainers to dynamically manage their schedules while also providing financial tracking and client retention tools.

The project resulted in a fully rebuilt and scalable tech stack, an optimized front end for better user engagement, and efficient financial reporting features to support personal trainers in managing their businesses. By combining agile development with strategic oversight, Storyboard transformed “Uber for Personal Trainers” into a viable, market-ready platform designed to meet the evolving needs of the fitness industry.