Mobile phones have evolved in leaps and bounds over the past decade. While once used as a convenient way to keep in touch with friends and family, these days mobiles can be used in a huge variety of ways. For example, they’ve really helped to transform the way businesses operate; particularly within the agricultural sector.
Here, we’ll look at how the agriculture industry is capitalising on the evolution of the mobile phone.
Utilising sensors to determine environmental factors
One of the main ways the agricultural sector has benefitted from mobile phones is through the use of sensors. There are numerous sensors which can be used via smartphones today, such as weather sensors and crop sensors.
As the weather continues to become more extreme, there has never been a greater need for farmers to plan ahead and predict changing weather patterns. Technology, specifically mobile phones, have really helped them to do this, helping to protect their crops and livestock.
Helping to manage the status of machinery
Another way the agricultural sector is making use of smartphones, is through Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS). These enable you to track and optimise the performance of machinery. The right CMMS can help to reduce the risk of breakdowns, improve response times, reduce the amount of stock held and significantly reduce admin.
There’s also less chance of errors when you’re using technology rather than relying upon human judgement. If anything were to go wrong with the machinery, it could have a devastating impact on your livelihood. So, anything that helps, such as CMMS can only be a positive thing.
Helping to boost efficiency
There are a lot of smartphone apps which can be used to improve efficiency in farming and agriculture. Time Master is a great example. The app allows you to track which employees are working on which areas, and how much time is typically spent on each job. There are also apps that can help to determine where to place pest control plots.
Overall, mobile phones have played a crucial role in improving the agricultural sector. As technology continues to advance, it’s likely farms and other agricultural businesses will start to become even more reliant upon their mobiles. Those working within the sector who don’t currently utilise the benefits of smartphones, should definitely consider utilising them now.
Image Credits: Agriculture Industry Capitalised from LALS STOCK/Shutterstock