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NAMPO is the biggest agricultural exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing more than 80,000 visitors and over 900 exhibitors annually to Bothaville, Free State. To manage an event of this scale, Grain SA, in partnership with FarmSpace (Pty) Ltd, developed the NAMPO App — a digital tool that simplifies navigation, schedules, and communication for both visitors and exhibitors.

Key Features and Capabilities

The NAMPO App is built to help visitors make the most of their time at the show. It features a real-time interactive map, allowing users to find exhibitor stands, food stalls, restrooms, demonstration areas, and more. Visitors can search by exhibitor name, product type, or stand number and plan efficient routes through NAMPO Park.

The event scheduler and day planner enable users to bookmark machine manufactures, expert panel discussions, and other events. Reminders are sent automatically, helping visitors stay on schedule.

Detailed exhibitor profiles in the app include brochures, product information, videos, and contact details, allowing visitors to learn more before and during their visits. A notification system delivers important updates, such as traffic news, program changes, weather alerts, and exhibitor promotions directly to users' phones.

How the Farming Community Uses the App

During NAMPO 2024, users clicked the “Add to Day Planner” button more than 136,000 times, building customised schedules. The navigation function directed visitors to over 86,000 targeted exhibitor visits, proving its value in helping people efficiently move around the grounds.

Exhibitors also benefit from the app’s lead capture features. Visitors can scan QR codes at stands to save exhibitor information, while businesses collect visitor contact details for follow-ups after the event. In 2024, this system recorded over 1,200 lead scans, showing growing adoption of digital engagement tools.

Comparisons and User Experience

Compared to international agricultural expo apps, like those of the Farm Progress Show (U.S.) and AGRITECHNICA (Germany), the NAMPO App stands out with its intuitive design, bilingual interface (English and Afrikaans), and local relevance. Beyond offering schedules and maps, it also includes features like a virtual tour of NAMPO Park and the Treasure Hunt game, encouraging visitors to explore more stands.

Feedback from users has been highly positive. Reviews highlight the app’s easy navigation, offline functionality, and real-time update alerts. Improvements like dark mode and Afrikaans language support were made following user suggestions. The app is available for both Android and iPhone devices, ensuring wide accessibility.

Conclusion

The NAMPO App shows how agriculture and technology can work together to create a better event experience. It offers farmers, exhibitors, and visitors a faster, smarter, and more efficient way to explore everything NAMPO has to offer. For anyone attending NAMPO, the app is an essential tool to plan, connect, and enjoy the event to its fullest.