We Help Businesses Make Budgeting Work
Started in 2018 when we couldn't find decent departmental budgeting tools that didn't require an accounting degree to understand. So we built something that actually makes sense for everyday business managers.
How Rophelovae Actually Started
Back in late 2017, I was managing a mid-sized logistics company in Brisbane. Every quarter, we'd sit down with department heads trying to figure out where money was going. Spreadsheets everywhere. Numbers that didn't match. Arguments about who spent what.
The software we tried either cost a fortune or required a three-week training course. I remember thinking there had to be a better way—something straightforward that didn't make you feel like you needed an MBA just to track spending.
So we started sketching out what would become Rophelovae. Not revolutionary stuff, just practical tools that answer the questions department managers actually ask. By mid-2018, we had something working. By 2019, a few other companies in Rockhampton were using it too.
What Keeps Us Going
Keep It Simple
If it takes more than five minutes to explain, we've probably made it too complicated. Good budgeting shouldn't feel like solving a puzzle.
Listen First
Most of our better features came from clients saying "wouldn't it be nice if..." We build what people actually need, not what looks impressive in demos.
Fix What Breaks
When something goes wrong, we say so. Then we fix it properly instead of slapping on temporary patches. Honesty saves everyone time in the long run.
How We Handle Budget Projects
Understanding Your Setup
First thing we do is sit down and map out how your departments currently manage money. Some have formal processes, others run on handshake agreements. Both work fine—we just need to know what we're working with before suggesting changes.
Building the Framework
Once we know your structure, we configure Rophelovae to match. This usually takes about two weeks, though it depends on how many departments you're running and what level of detail you need. We can start simple and add complexity later if needed.
Getting Everyone On Board
The technical side is honestly the easy part. Getting department managers comfortable with new tools takes longer. We run a few training sessions, answer questions, and make adjustments based on what people find confusing.
Ongoing Adjustments
Businesses change. New departments appear, old ones merge, priorities shift. We check in quarterly to see what's working and what needs tweaking. Most clients end up customizing their setup over the first year as they figure out what matters most.
Who Runs This Thing
Gerard Whitlock
Director of Budget Strategy
Been handling business budgets since 2009, mostly for manufacturing and logistics companies in Queensland. Started Rophelovae because the existing options either cost too much or made simple tasks unnecessarily complex.
These days I spend most of my time working with new clients during setup and training their teams. Still surprised when people say our software is "easy to use"—that was kind of the whole point from the start.
Where We Work
Our office is on East Street in Rockhampton, right near the river. Most of our Queensland clients prefer meeting in person during initial setup, which works well since we're fairly central to the region.
We also work with businesses across Australia remotely. Video calls handle most of the training and support needs, though some folks still prefer the occasional face-to-face session when budgets allow.