Webber & Chivell

“It’s an essential tool in our lives. I don't think you can go back to operating the way we were in the old days.”

We sat down with Andrew Chivell, Managing Director and Mark Paton, General Manager / Logistics to hear how Tabula has changed the way they work.

The Business 

Based in south-west Victoria, Webber & Chivell is a long-standing fertiliser spreading business, with 80% of their business servicing the dairy market. Since 1977, the family-run operation has grown from a single spreader to a fleet of ten, plus additional vehicles, now run by the next generation of the Webber & Chivell families.

The Challenge 

Like many spreading businesses, Webber & Chivell began with simple systems, organising jobs with pen and paper and giving directions verbally or over the phone. But as the business grew, so did the risks. Drivers could end up in the wrong field, job details were miscommunicated, and admin was time-consuming.

With growing demand and looming expectations around proof of placement, the team recognised that manual processes were no longer fit for purpose.

The Solution

Webber & Chivell chose Tabula to digitise their operations, streamlining how jobs are created, shared, and completed, from the office to the field. 

“We need to be ahead of the game, not reactive at the time… we saw your product at a fertiliser conference… quickly discovered it was way more than that proof of placement.”

With Tabula’s system in place, they can now

• Digitally plan and assign jobs

• Guide drivers with on-screen, GPS-enabled maps

• Mark hazards and define no-go zones

• Record proof of application and past job history

• Provide farmers with real-time visibility of work done

“There are too many times when you could read a map upside down, end up in the wrong paddocks or a neighbor's paddock… there's none anymore. The drivers know exactly where to go.”

Results at a Glance

Results for the Webber & Chivell team have been transformative.

Major time savings

• Admin workload reduced by the equivalent of one full-time staff member.

• Driver efficiency improved, saving time equivalent to two additional spreaders.

Accuracy and reliability

• No more spreading the wrong field.

• Drivers follow clear digital maps, even when farmers aren’t on-site.

Greater trust and transparency

• Farmers can verify every job with confidence.

• No double-ups or missed areas - proof of placement is always available.


Compliance-ready and safer

• Ready to meet emerging regulations around fertiliser application.

• Hazard mapping helps keep drivers safe and reduces operational risk.

Supports a reputation for excellence

• Helps the team deliver top-quality work, so they’re the contractor farmers call first.

“On the management end, we're saving one person in the office, and in the field, saving the time equivalent of two spreaders, if not more.”

The Bottom Line 

Tabula has helped Webber & Chivell simplify job management, reduce risk, and stay ahead of compliance changes. What started as a way to track applications has become a core part of their success - unlocking efficiencies across the business and giving farmers confidence that the job’s done right, every time.