brad jackson. managing director apac - agito global
Tell us who you are.
Agito is a partner that drives progress by helping organizations move beyond today’s limitations to achieve smarter and more efficient ways of working.
Our mission is to move our customers forward to the next level of efficiency and productivity. Agito comes from Latin, meaning: “I set in motion” or “I drive forward”
What is your primary market in ANZ?
Historically, our market was driven by the development of custom customer solutions and support services within the food and beverage industry, which remains an incredibly important part of our business.
Over the past decade, we have expanded our offering into the intralogistics, post and parcel, e‑commerce, and manufacturing markets, which now collectively represent the largest share of our revenue in APAC.
What is the most significant macro-level shift or challenge (e.g., supply chain resilience, labour shortages) that is currently driving customer investment?
Historically, labour was a key driver through shortages and rising cost bases
In more recent years, safety and risk exposure is front and centre, our customers require visibility with flexible, scalable operations needing to reduce single points of failure, keeping people safe. Volatility is also a key driver, characterised by rapid fluctuations in customer demand, shorter delivery window expectations, reduced forecasting horizons, changing inventory requirements, variable service levels, and ongoing geopolitical, regulatory, and logistical shifts driven by global events that can impact our customers immediately.
How does your company help them to overcome it?
We believe we play a significant role in helping our customers reduce their exposure to uncertainty, rather than simply reacting to it. This is achieved by strengthening productivity at the core of their operations and supporting their ability to adapt by reducing complex dependencies, thereby improving overall resilience.
How is your company deploying or preparing for the integration of AI-driven solutions in industrial automation?
AI is a game changer, and we view it as an enabler that complements human experience rather than a standalone solution.
AI is still a developing area and needs the bandwidth and infrastructure speed to be optimal. We are not there yet when using AI for deep/overarching AI applications.
Beyond existing product roadmaps, what transformative technology or concept do you believe will have the greatest disruptive impact on the Australian and New Zealand industrial sector in the next five years?
AGITO is focused heavily around insights, using our smarts to support assets and people. AI enabled operations is a big part of that.
With efficient cutting edge technology already at our disposal, advanced analytics and using data at scale, resilient solutions and support along side safety become our competitive advantage.
Beyond product roadmaps, system integration will be the most disruptive force in the Australian and New Zealand industrial sector over the coming years. The real impact comes from the ability to connect and coordinate advanced technologies across complex operations. Advances in AI will further enhance this capability by improving system visibility, coordination, and decision support.
How does your company culture support innovation and adaptability in such a rapidly evolving industry?
Our culture supports innovation through an outcome‑driven approach focused on long‑term value rather than quick fixes. Adaptable teams and a strong partnership mindset enable us to deliver meaningful impact for customers, regardless of the scale or complexity of the challenge.
We do focus on providing impact to support our customers finding solutions, whatever the scale of the challenge.
What strategies have you found most effective in attracting and retaining top talent?
The world is changing and we encourage our people to solve meaningful problems, offering purposeful work. We want our people to have a clear mission and purpose tied to real impact.We have strong organisation values we celebrate often through reward programs. In terms of the doing, we offer flexible hours focused on outputs, not presence, and we respect personal boundaries. Being a smaller organisation we have the benefits of regular two‑way feedback, not just annual reviews.
What's your long-term vision for the role of automation in your sector?
Automation is central to our daily work. Our role is to identify, develop, and apply emerging technologies that enable our customers to achieve maximum value from their investments. This requires a strong understanding of system integration principles and the capability to deliver automation reliably and seamlessly. Continuously advancing and accelerating this capability is core to our long‑term vision. We want to continue to be seen as a foundational enabler of productivity, resilience, and sustainable growth. Our business is built around our people, we continue to explore new ways of working for our own people and our partners.
As a leader in a field defined by constant technological advancement, what is the most important principle or philosophy that guides your decision-making and long-term planning?
Purpose led progress would be the overarching principle. By applying the fundamentals effectively, we establish a strong foundation that enables acceleration. While automation is inherently logical and systematic, it is equally important to acknowledge and manage the human factors involved.
Using the basics well, then enables acceleration. Strong, trusted relationships with employees and customers are essential and form the foundation for successful automation outcomes.
What's one thing you know now that you wish you'd known when you first started in this field?
Technology itself is not the primary challenge. Greater focus is required on the human element, effective processes, and continuous improvement. Technology delivers the greatest value when it accelerates and strengthens what is already working well.
