A new digital tool developed in Southland is helping modernise New Zealand’s shearing industry by simplifying payroll, invoicing and record-keeping. Designed with the needs of shearing contractors in mind, the smartphone-based platform automates time-consuming administrative tasks while supporting workplace safety and staff wellbeing.
Southland Developers Bring Shearing Administration Into the Digital Era
ShearOps is a new app that enables shearing contractors to upload photos of traditional tally books directly from their smartphones. The software then reads the information, processes it automatically and generates payroll records and invoices through Xero, reducing the need for manual data entry.
The platform was created by Gore-based developers Anton Musalov, Luke Hillis and Ronan Avery.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, Musalov said the idea grew out of his long-standing connection with the local shearing industry. He spent much of his youth working on friend Luke Hillis’s farm and later shearing alongside the Hillis family’s shearing gangs.
While Musalov pursued engineering studies, Hillis travelled to Australia for shearing work before establishing his own shearing business.
Cutting Hours of Administrative Work
According to Musalov, Hillis regularly encountered difficulties managing payroll and invoicing using existing software.
The available systems were not only expensive and time-consuming but also depended on a single computer, making administration less flexible.
“Each week shearing contractors have to send in a bunch of tally books, manually enter numbers into Xero, and then manually create invoices,” Musalov said.
For Hillis, completing these tasks typically took an entire day every week.
Recognising the inefficiency, he approached Musalov with the idea of creating a faster and more practical solution.
How ShearOps Works
Using the app, contractors simply photograph or upload an image of a tally book.
The software automatically reads the entries, checks calculations, identifies different work types and matches them with the relevant employees.
It then produces a detailed breakdown of completed work and generates invoices as soon as a job is recorded.
Because the system integrates directly with Xero—a widely used accounting platform among New Zealand shearing contractors—it can also synchronise payroll and financial records with minimal manual input.
The app has been designed to work in rural areas where internet coverage can be limited. Contractors can continue using it offline, with data automatically syncing to Xero once a connection becomes available.
Additional Features Support Safety and Wellbeing
Beyond payroll and invoicing, ShearOps includes tools aimed at improving day-to-day operations for shearing businesses.
Workers can record health and safety incidents, document animal welfare concerns and securely store related records within the app.
Contractors also gain access to more detailed operational information about employees and clients, helping them better manage their businesses.
The platform additionally allows contractors to book shearing training courses through the app.
One of its most distinctive features has been developed in partnership with Farmstrong, the rural wellbeing initiative. As shearers begin work, the app delivers practical wellbeing tips designed to encourage positive mental health and resilience in what can be a physically demanding profession.
Industry Collaboration Shapes the Platform
Shane Ratima, president of the Shearing Association and owner of Ratima Shearing Limited, has been working alongside Musalov during the development of ShearOps.
Ratima said many contractors continue to rely on software that requires manual data entry and restricts users to working from a single computer.
By contrast, cloud-connected technology provides significantly greater flexibility.
“Anyone could be doing your payroll from all around the planet,” Ratima said.
A Practical Step Forward for New Zealand’s Shearing Sector
As New Zealand’s agricultural sector increasingly embraces digital technology, tools such as ShearOps demonstrate how innovation can reduce paperwork while improving efficiency for rural businesses. By combining automated administration with safety, training and wellbeing features, the app aims to make everyday operations easier for shearing contractors across the country.
Alexander Donovan writes for News Collective, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, reliable reporting and useful information, helping readers stay informed about current events, emerging trends, and stories that matter.