AgriSmart
vs Tātou

From field work to payroll-ready data

AgriSmart and Tātou both support field work, piece rates, top-ups, overtime and PALM workforce requirements. In Australia, both work alongside a separate payroll provider.

AgriSmart brings digital hiring, workforce management, agricultural Award checks and day-to-day farm operations together. This comparison looks at how each platform supports your business, what connects directly and what relies on another system, so you can decide which fits your operation.

Seasonal vineyard workers harvesting grapes in hi-vis vests, representing horticulture labour management in NZ and AU

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Before payroll: AgriSmart vs Tātou (AU)

Before payroll, what has already been checked?

Both platforms capture horticulture field work, and both use a separate payroll system in Australia. The practical difference is where agriculture-specific pay rules are applied.

Tātou publishes configurable earning rules, with Australian Horticulture Award calculations completed by the payroll provider. AgriSmart is designed to prepare Award-checked workforce data before it reaches payroll.

Configurable field rules

Tātou + your payroll provider

Field records and configured earnings move into the payroll setup that completes Award and payroll processing.

RulesTop-ups and overtime
Xero + EHPublished integrations
PayrollAward calculations
  1. Record work in the field Hours, units, piece rate and performance work are captured on mobile or tablet, including offline.
  2. Apply configured earning rules Tātou publishes weekly top-ups, weekly, daily and shift overtime, and paid rest-break calculations based on the rules configured for each worker.
  3. Payroll connection Approved pay-period data can be sent to Xero Australia. Employee profiles and timesheet information can be exchanged with Employment Hero. Tātou also publishes custom reports, exports, API access and webhooks for other payroll arrangements.
  4. Complete Award and payroll processing Tātou states that employee tax, deductions, annual leave and industry or company-specific calculations, including Australian Horticulture Awards, are completed by the payroll provider.

A capable field workforce system, with final Award and payroll processing completed through the connected provider.

Agriculture Award checks

AgriSmart + your payroll provider

Field records and agriculture-specific Award checks are prepared together before payroll.

Built inAward checks
ReckonDirect integration
ExportsOther payroll systems
  1. Capture work in the field Hours, units and activities are recorded on iOS and Android, offline when coverage is poor, or through biometric devices.
  2. Apply agriculture-specific rules AgriSmart applies worker classifications and current Award rates, casual loading, daily piecework minimum guarantees and configured overtime thresholds before export.
  3. Review Award and PALM records Managers can review hours, units, allowances, top-ups and approvals. PALM monitoring includes the 120-hour four-week minimum and related workforce records.
  4. Payroll connection Send approved data directly to Reckon Payroll, or use payroll-ready exports for Xero and other payroll systems.
  5. Complete the pay run Your chosen payroll system completes tax, superannuation, leave and Single Touch Payroll reporting.

AgriSmart does not replace Australian payroll. It prepares agriculture and Award-ready workforce data before the pay run begins.

Both setups finish in a payroll system. AgriSmart’s advantage is the work completed before that handover: field records, Award conditions, piece-rate checks and PALM monitoring remain connected in one agriculture platform.

Why AgriSmart

One worker record from hiring to payroll-ready

From digital hiring and field work through to Award-checked payroll data, AgriSmart keeps each stage attached to the same worker before approved data is sent to payroll.

AgriSmart Hiring to payroll-ready

Before work starts

Build the worker record in AgriSmart

Digital hiring, employment agreements, signatures, TFN and superannuation details, visas, Award classifications and PALM information establish the record the rest of AgriSmart will use.

While work happens

Add the field work to the same record

Rosters, timesheets, units, piece rates, approvals, blocks, rows, harvest records, job costing and equipment information remain connected to the people doing the work.

Before payroll

Prepare Award-ready data in AgriSmart

AgriSmart checks approved worker and field records against Award classifications and rates, casual loading, daily piece-rate minimums, overtime thresholds, allowances and PALM 120-hour requirements.

That is the AgriSmart difference.

AgriSmart sends approved data directly to Reckon Payroll, or prepares payroll-ready exports for Xero and other systems. The pay run is then completed in your chosen payroll system.

Also connected in AgriSmart

More than Award checks sit on that record

AgriSmart connects the wider tools used to manage the worker, the horticulture operation and the payroll-ready labour data.

  • Award-ready workforce data with direct Reckon integration and exports for other payroll systems
  • PALM 120-hour monitoring, piece-rate minimums and workforce records
  • Digital hiring, contracts, signatures and human resources
  • Rosters, spray diary and equipment register
  • Costing by block, row, vine, task and worker
  • Harvest traceability, block and row records, barcode scanning and consignments

That becomes especially valuable when something changes. A corrected timesheet, a midweek starter or a piece-rate adjustment stays connected to the same worker record, while PALM hours and Award checks update before payroll.

Connected records in practice

Three moments when payroll-ready data matters

The difference becomes practical when field data changes, a worker starts or a PALM threshold approaches. These are the moments when worker records, Award checks and payroll-ready data need to stay aligned.

  1. A timesheet changes

    The payroll export is nearly ready

    Will the corrected hours be reflected in the Award checks and payroll data?

    With AgriSmart

    Change the approved record once. That updated field data is used to prepare the payroll-ready output.

  2. A crew starts midweek

    Their first shift is tomorrow

    How do their hiring details, Award classification and field records stay aligned?

    With AgriSmart

    Create the connected worker record once. Hiring, Award setup and timesheets begin from it.

  3. A PALM threshold approaches

    The four-week period is closing

    Can you identify a potential 120-hour shortfall before payroll is processed?

    With AgriSmart

    PALM hours stay linked to the worker, so approaching shortfalls can be identified before the pay run.

One worker record, from onboarding to payroll-ready.

That is the practical advantage of keeping horticulture operations, Award checks and PALM monitoring together before data reaches payroll.

Prepared before payroll

The decision

Which setup fits the way you want to run?

Both platforms support serious horticulture field work, including offline time, piece rates, PALM workforce rules, harvest records and labour costing. The choice is how you want Award checks, wider operations and payroll connections handled.

Side 1 of 2

Choose AgriSmart

When you want Award-ready data and wider operations connected

AgriSmart combines detailed field and harvest workflows with hiring, worker management, operational records and agriculture-specific Award checks. Approved data then moves to Reckon Payroll or your chosen payroll system.

What stays connected in AgriSmart

  • Field work and piece rates Offline time, units, piece rates, daily minimum checks, top-ups and biometric capture.
  • Awards and PALM Award classifications, casual loading, overtime thresholds, public holidays and PALM 120-hour monitoring.
  • Harvest and traceability Blocks, rows, bin ticketing, barcode scanning, picker performance and consignments.
  • Hiring and Human Resources Applications, agreements, e-signatures, onboarding, TFN and superannuation details, visas and worker documents.
  • Planning and operations Rosters, tasks, job costing, spray records and equipment servicing and maintenance.
  • Payroll connections Direct Reckon integration and payroll-ready exports for Xero and other payroll systems.

AgriSmart is shown first because it connects Award-ready workforce data with the wider operation.

Book a 15-minute demo
The practical answer

Choose AgriSmart when you want field and harvest work, digital hiring, wider operational tools and Australian agriculture Award checks connected before payroll. Choose Tātou when its field, harvest, costing and client-billing workflow is the preferred fit and you want it to feed your existing payroll stack.

Tātou and AgriSmart information reviewed from their public websites and help centres on 24 September 2026. Product features, integrations and pricing change over time.

Which system is right for your business?

If you want field work, piece rates, digital hiring, harvest traceability, Award checks and PALM monitoring connected before data reaches payroll, AgriSmart is built for your operation.

Book a 15-minute demo

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between AgriSmart and Tātou?

Both platforms support detailed horticulture field work, including offline time capture, piece rates, harvest records and labour costing.

Tātou combines field workforce management, harvest tracking, scheduled work, job costing and client invoicing with configurable earning rules and connections to payroll providers.

AgriSmart connects field and harvest work with digital hiring, Human Resources, rosters, operational registers, agriculture-specific Award checks, PALM monitoring and payroll-ready data in one platform.

Do both systems support piece rates and minimum wage top-ups?

Yes. Both platforms support hourly and piece-rate work, units completed and minimum earnings top-ups.

Tātou supports hourly, piece rate and performance work, configurable minimum earnings rules and payroll reporting.

AgriSmart checks daily piece-rate earnings against the applicable Award minimum, calculates any shortfall and includes the approved results in the payroll-ready data sent to the payroll system.

How do AgriSmart and Tātou handle the Horticulture Award?

Tātou publishes configurable weekly, daily and shift overtime rules, top-ups and payroll connections. When a pay run is finished in Employment Hero, pay earnings information is sent back to Tātou.

AgriSmart applies agriculture-specific Award checks before the payroll handover. These include Award classifications and rates, casual loading, daily piecework minimums, public holiday treatment and configured overtime thresholds.

Do both systems support PALM workers, including the short-term 120-hour requirement?

Yes. Both platforms support PALM workforce records and minimum hours or minimum earnings monitoring.

Tātou publishes configurable averaging periods, partial-period prorating, top-ups and payroll report outputs.

AgriSmart monitors the 120-hour requirement across each four-week period for short-term PALM workers. Hours, piece-rate checks, top-ups, worker details and approvals stay connected to the same worker record.

Can both systems connect with Australian payroll providers?

Yes. Neither platform replaces the Australian payroll system.

Tātou publishes integrations with Xero Australia and Employment Hero. It also supports custom payroll reports, exports, API access and webhooks.

AgriSmart provides a direct Reckon Payroll integration and payroll-ready exports for Xero and other payroll systems. Approved workforce data is prepared in AgriSmart before the pay run is completed by the chosen payroll provider.

Which system should an Australian grower choose?

Choose AgriSmart when you want field work, piece rates, digital hiring, worker records, harvest traceability, rosters, operational tools, Award checks and PALM monitoring connected before payroll.

Choose Tātou when its field workforce, harvest, job costing and client-invoicing workflows are the preferred fit for your operation, and you want those workflows to connect with an existing Xero Australia, Employment Hero or other payroll setup.

“

After trying 4 payroll systems in 6 months we found AgriSmart, that was 6 years ago and we haven’t looked back. It’s the only platform flexible enough for our horticulture enterprise, with seamless Xero integration, biometric time clocks, and a team that actually listens to our feedback. We love it!

Brendan HerriesRoper & Son
“

AgriSmart's software has cut our payroll admin by 75%!
We love the system as it is super easy to learn, very efficient, and has saved us a lot of money. Especially during harvesting season.

Matakana Berries
“

AgriSmart has been the single biggest game changer in our business. It has removed a massive admin burden and freed me up to focus on the actual work. I wouldn’t run my business without it. As someone who wears every hat, it has made life easier.

Mark GeuzeDirector, Under the Vine Limited
“

I was getting overwhelmed and the system I first tried was desktop based and was super expensive. A friend recommended AgriSmart because it's made specifically for farmers.

Eder Agriculture
“

You should see how many tasks we have in the app! They're awesome, you can flick them on to staff easily and you don't have to ring or text them on their day off to tell them what they're doing in the morning.

Emily Eder
“

I like having no paper - contracts and tax forms are managed electronically. I also like that the successful applicants information is sent directly into the payroll module so minimal data input is need!

Dale CollisHop Revolution
“

After trying 4 payroll systems in 6 months we found AgriSmart, that was 6 years ago and we haven’t looked back. It’s the only platform flexible enough for our horticulture enterprise, with seamless Xero integration, biometric time clocks, and a team that actually listens to our feedback. We love it!

Brendan HerriesRoper & Son
“

AgriSmart's software has cut our payroll admin by 75%!
We love the system as it is super easy to learn, very efficient, and has saved us a lot of money. Especially during harvesting season.

Matakana Berries
“

AgriSmart has been the single biggest game changer in our business. It has removed a massive admin burden and freed me up to focus on the actual work. I wouldn’t run my business without it. As someone who wears every hat, it has made life easier.

Mark GeuzeDirector, Under the Vine Limited
“

I was getting overwhelmed and the system I first tried was desktop based and was super expensive. A friend recommended AgriSmart because it's made specifically for farmers.

Eder Agriculture
“

You should see how many tasks we have in the app! They're awesome, you can flick them on to staff easily and you don't have to ring or text them on their day off to tell them what they're doing in the morning.

Emily Eder
“

I like having no paper - contracts and tax forms are managed electronically. I also like that the successful applicants information is sent directly into the payroll module so minimal data input is need!

Dale CollisHop Revolution