Why Concepts Before Features

We need to build a shared understanding first. This happens before we show you where to click and what buttons to press.

Understanding core concepts makes every feature easier to learn. This is not just theory.

Think of it like learning to drive. Before you touch the steering wheel, you need to understand what a car does. It moves you from one place to another. It uses an engine, wheels, brakes, and steering.

Once you understand these basic concepts, learning the individual controls makes sense. Without that foundation, you just memorise where buttons are. You will not understand why they matter.

Kora works the same way. Understand the core concepts first. These include locations, animals, observations, traceability, biosecurity, and workflows. Individual features then become intuitive rather than arbitrary.

The Flexible Foundation

Throughout this chapter, you will notice that Kora's concepts are deliberately flexible. We do not dictate the "right" way to organise your locations. We do not prescribe the "correct" way to track animals. We do not impose the "best" workflow for observations.

Instead, we provide a universal structure that adapts to your context:

A dairy farm thinks about paddocks, milking parlours, and feeding schedules.

A zoo thinks about exhibits, enclosures, and enrichment programmes.

A wildlife reserve thinks about territories, habitats, and monitoring stations.

An aquarium thinks about tanks, zones, and life support systems.

All of these are valid. Kora provides the same underlying structure. Locations have subdivisions. Animals have observations. Events create traceability. However, the terminology, workflows, and emphasis adapt to your specific context.

This chapter presents concepts in their most general form. As you read, translate them into your own terminology and operations.

When we say "subdivision," think about your context:

• Farmers: "paddock"
• Zoo workers: "enclosure"
• Wildlife managers: "territory"
• Aquarium staff: "tank section"

What You Will Learn in This Chapter

We will explore six fundamental concepts that form the foundation of how Kora works:

2.1 The Location Hierarchy

How Kora organises physical space from large areas down to specific features. This could be a farm with paddocks, a zoo with exhibits, or a wildlife reserve with territories.

2.2 The Dual-Tier Animal Management System

Why Kora lets you track animals both as detailed individuals and as managed groups. When to use each approach.

2.3 Events, Observations & History

How Kora records what happens to animals over time. This includes daily observations, medical treatments, and geographic movements.

2.4 Traceability – The Lifetime Audit Trail

How every significant event creates a permanent, verifiable record. This supports regulatory compliance and supply chain transparency.

2.5 Biosecurity & Disease Prevention

How Kora thinks like an epidemiologist to prevent disease spread. This includes automatic contact tracing, risk assessment, and quarantine management.

2.6 Tasks & Workflows

How daily work gets organised, assigned, and tracked. This includes feeding schedules, veterinary follow-ups, and recurring maintenance.

How These Concepts Connect

These are not isolated ideas. They work together as an integrated system:

Locations provide the where. Every animal is somewhere. Every observation happens somewhere. Biosecurity zones overlay onto locations.

Animals (individual or groups) are the what. They occupy locations, receive observations, undergo treatments, and move between places.

Events and observations are the what happened. They document the animal's story over time. They create the foundation for informed decisions.

Traceability is the permanent record. Events automatically build a permanent chain that cannot be changed. This documents the animal's complete lifetime.

Biosecurity is the protective layer. When disease appears, the system uses location data, movement history, and time. It identifies exposure and contains spread.

Tasks are how work gets done. They connect to animals, locations, and observations. This ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Understanding how these concepts interrelate helps you see Kora differently. It is not a collection of separate features. It is a cohesive system that mirrors how animal stewardship actually works.

Your Mental Model Matters

Everyone brings mental models from previous experience:

Paper records

If you are coming from paper records, you might think of Kora as a digital filing cabinet. That is partially true. However, Kora does more. It connects information across time and space. It automatically identifies patterns. It helps prevent problems before they occur.

Spreadsheets

If you are coming from spreadsheets, you might think of Kora as a database with forms. Again, partially true. However, Kora understands relationships between data in ways spreadsheets do not. It knows that when an animal moves, traceability records update automatically. It knows that disease in one animal affects risk assessment for others.

Specialised software

If you are coming from specialised software (dairy management, zoo systems, conservation databases), you might expect Kora to work like that system. It might. However, it is designed to be more flexible. It works across contexts that specialised software cannot handle.

The goal of this chapter is to help you build an accurate mental model. This works regardless of your starting point.

How to Approach This Chapter

Do not memorise details

Instead, focus on understanding the underlying logic. When you understand why Kora organises information a certain way, the how becomes obvious.

Translate into your context

As you read about locations, subdivisions, and features, think about your specific operation. This could be your farm, zoo, reserve, or facility. How would your physical spaces map onto these concepts?

Connect to your work

When we explain observations and events, think about your daily routines. How would recording a health observation fit into your morning checks? How would traceability documentation support your next animal sale or export?

Ask questions

If a concept does not make sense, flag it. You might find the answer in later sections. You might need to consult the troubleshooting chapter or reach out for support.

Take your time

This chapter builds the foundation for everything else. An extra 30 minutes here will save you hours of confusion later.