Too many apps make work more difficult in horticulture

During my previous job at Wageningen Economic Research, I worked enthusiastically on programmes for digital innovation in agriculture and horticulture. It was inspiring to see how creative developers developed the most beautiful apps in a short period of time. However, many of these apps were isolated solutions that were hardly integrated with other applications within a company.

This gave me a feeling of déjà vu. I started my career at an ERP service provider. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software supports the planning, monitoring and administrative processing of (virtually) all business processes in one integrated system. ERP offers a solution for so-called island automation: a patchwork of different software applications that hardly talk to each other. The result is that data has to be retyped over and over again, many errors are made and no timely and reliable management information is available. I was afraid that an explosion of apps would lead to a new wave of island automation. See the Twitter post below from 2012.

And now in 2021, that anxiety seems to have been valid. In his Mansholt lecture, WUR researcher and (former) colleague Sjaak Wolfert raises the alarm about the proliferation of apps that are impeding the digitalisation of the agricultural and food sector. He underlines the following:

Businesses need integrated management support. Thus, an app may be useful, but only if it is compatible with other apps and the underlying larger information systems the company already uses. If this is not the case, advantages quickly give way to disadvantages of, for example, increased administrative burdens. - Sjaak Wolfert, Wageningen University & Research

At Mprise Agriware, the focus is on simplifying horticultural operations through integrated business software, specifically with their Agriware apps. By seamlessly connecting shop floor (Agriware 365 Operations) and office functions (Agriware 365 Business Central) into a unified data model, they ensure smooth and efficient workflows.

Key features include:

• Unified Data Platform: Both apps run on a single platform, reducing errors and improving data consistency. Standardized APIs enable seamless communication between Agriware apps and other software tools.
• Agriware Analytics: This feature pulls data from various sources, enhances it with smart algorithms, and presents it through easy-to-understand dashboards. It promotes a data-driven approach, improving collaboration across greenhouses, fields, and offices.
• Real-time Data for Better Planning:
  • Business Central sends work orders to the Work App, allowing real-time production planning updates.
  • The Inspect App syncs with Business Central, providing real-time inspection data for immediate action.
  • Production managers can access real-time dashboards for critical insights and informed decision-making.

This integrated approach helps horticulture businesses operate more efficiently and make better decisions based on real-time data.

The idea is that while single apps might be fast, apps that work together, like those in Agriware, make things more efficient and help you improve your work.

This integration ensures data is recorded once and instantly available organization-wide, enhancing efficiency, reducing errors, and providing reliable management information for on-the-spot adjustments in the field and office.