Northland Embraces Digitalisation
Digital transformation may appear a complex task, but for Northland head coach Isake Katonibau, it is the way forward. The former national sevens forward confirmed yesterday that the revamped Northland website will be officially launched on Friday, January 22, 2022. “Northland is the first to go digital, we are not going to wait around and have others do things for us – I have constructed the e-commerce platform for marketing purposes, there are other big projects we intend to embark on,” Katonibau said.
“With the Achieve Your Impossible (AYI) brand, in partnership with Northland we hope to encourage local and global Northland supporters to register with us,” he said.
“We need the numbers, (traffic) we can use the number of active members and followers to engage with our partners, sponsors and business houses that trust us through their sponsorship.”
Katonibau intends to have at least 20,000 hits and or viewers.
“Our union members, families and fans will be better informed.
“You have to have the passion to engage in this. For me personally I owe where I am now to Northland.
“It was Northland that nurtured me in my teething days in rugby. I reached where I got in rugby through Northland. This is my way of paying back to Northland.”
The Marist Old Boy’s rugby career blossomed while playing for Northland under the late rugby coach and fitness guru Epeli Lagiloa. Katonibau is originally from Vesi, Mali, in the province of Macuata. Apart from the e-commerce platform the website also encourages other companies or businesses to rent space to add value to their product.
With the change in mind set, digitalisation will dress up Northland to be self-sufficient - instead of the usual knocking on doors for financial support the website will have multiple avenues to generate money, data and information.
According to Katonibau the revamped website apart from players will benefit the union, supporters, families and stakeholders.
The website will include all the team/ union activities, latest updates, players’ training programmes, e-commerce and apparel to mention a few.
“Northland has the capability to achieve new heights.
“This is a new direction for Northland; we are going to be the first to do this. We know the power of digitalisation and we are going to take advantage of it.”