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At Dbvisit, Collaborate is more than just an annual event. It is a chance for our global team to come together, reflect, learn, and invest in how we grow as a company.
This year’s event started with a bit more excitement than planned. A large part of the team was flying down from Auckland just as Cyclone Vaianu was getting a lot of attention. Flight notifications, a few nervous moments, some last-minute flight changes, and more than one person refreshing weather apps like it was their full-time job. 
In the end, everyone made it safely to Queenstown, and thankfully, the cyclone turned out to be far less dramatic than expected. So while it did not quite live up to the hype, it did give us an early team bonding experience before we had even arrived.
Once everyone was on the ground, we settled into a week that balanced professional development and team connection, with a bit of adventure and lots of fun!
Coming together as a company
To kick off the conference, we covered a lot of ground, including our year-to-date results, our three-year strategy, product roadmap, and an AI session. We also shared CliftonStrengths survey results, a framework that helps identify individual strengths and natural working styles, which gave great insight into how we work as individuals and as a team.
However, the standout part of the day was the Craftly sessions. These sessions are an important part of how we introduce people at Dbvisit. Each person shares their story in a personal way, covering where they come from, key moments in their life and career, what has shaped their thinking, and what matters most to them both professionally and personally. It goes well beyond job titles and responsibilities and gives the team a genuine understanding of the individual behind the role.
This year did not disappoint! We learned that Luis goes by “Lougie” (yes, like Mario’s brother), Charanya has a seriously impressive Harley Davidson, and Luke comes from elite sporting stock with his father being an All Black, while clearly holding his own athletically as well. Elias set a high bar for global experience, having lived in more countries and speaking more languages than most of us could keep track of, and Rado brought a touch of theatre and family, with a video from her daughter ‘spilling the tea’ on her mum's true personality – very revealing.
It was a genuine, fun, insightful session. A great way to properly welcome our newest team members. And with five new team members joining last year, we’re growing faster than ever!
The new faces of Dbvisit:
Kaizen: Investing in continuous improvement
A key highlight of the week was our two days of Kaizen training, hosted by the Kaizen Institute.
Kaizen is all about continuous improvement. It focuses on making small, meaningful changes that build over time. For us, this was not just theory. It was a practical opportunity to challenge how we better think, collaborate, and deliver value back to our Customers and Partners by removing Muda, Mura and Muri (waste, unevenness, and overburden).
Throughout the sessions, we looked closely at how we work across teams, where we can simplify processes. Just as importantly, it helped create a shared mindset that we can work towards implementing across the business.
Kaizen is not a one-off initiative. It is something we are embedding into how we operate every day, from Daily-Kaizen activities, through to specific/structured Kaizen events/projects. This commitment will have a direct and positive impact on our partners and customers. It means more efficient delivery, better training and enablement, and a stronger focus on practical outcomes that matter. 
A walk to remember, rain and all
Of course, Collaborate is not just about workshops. On Monday, we took on part of the Routeburn Track, hiking up to Waterfall Hut and back. The forecast warned us, and for once it was absolutely correct. It rained all day. Not a light drizzle either, but proper, consistent Fiordland rain that soaks through everything and makes you question your life choices about halfway up the track.
But that is where it got interesting. Somewhere between the steady climb, wet boots, and the occasional “how much further?” question, the whole thing turned into a lot of fun. There is something about being completely soaked that removes any pretence. Everyone is in the same situation, and it quickly becomes less about the weather and more about the shared experience. 
There were plenty of laughs along the way, a few creative attempts at staying dry, and a growing sense that this was exactly the kind of day we would be talking about years later.
And even with the rain, the views still delivered. In fact, it amplified the drama. Looking up toward the saddle above the waterfall, with low mist rolling through and water rushing down around us, was genuinely impressive. It felt raw and real. It brought everyone together and made the whole hike more memorable than a perfect sunny day probably would have.
Making the most of Queenstown
Outside of the main agenda, the team made the most of everything Queenstown has to offer. Some took on the Ben Lomond Track, others explored Arrowtown, a few went further with hikes like Roy’s Peak, and several had to be reluctantly pried away from the luxury of the new Ayrburn development. There were also quieter moments spent enjoying the scenery, local food, and time together after a busy day.
These moments are an important part of Collaborate. They help strengthen relationships, build trust, and create the kind of connection that carries back into our day-to-day work. 
Looking ahead
Collaborate 2026 was a strong reminder of what makes Dbvisit work as a team. We are committed to improving, supporting each other through adversity, and delivering real value to our Partners and Customers.
The Kaizen training has given us a clear direction for how we continue to evolve. The conversations we started in Queenstown will carry forward, and the improvements we make will be reflected in how we work with you.
We have a lot of exciting announcements coming later this year and are looking forward to what comes next.
