Hexagon points out how to avoid losses in logistics operations in agribusiness

Whether on or off the field, logistics is one of the biggest concerns in agribusiness. After all, agricultural operations have particularities that require a lot of attention. Almost all products in the sector present specific conditions of perishability and fragility, requiring agile action to maintain their quality. 

“In this scenario of great challenges, it is essential that producers and agricultural managers have the support of technologies to guarantee rigorous logistics in their operations”, argues Bernardo de Castro, president of Hexagon's Agriculture division, which develops digital solutions that optimize and integrate all agricultural and forestry processes. 

Faced with tight deadlines, the lack of efficient logistics can lead to harvest losses and waste during transportation. Furthermore, the lack of adequate logistical planning generates other losses, such as unproductive time for agricultural machinery and unnecessary expenditure on fuel. Not to mention that, without security, you are more susceptible to accidents and cargo theft.

To increase crop productivity and ensure harvesting and delivery of products at the right time, with less cost and better quality, the specialist gives four tips focused on logistics. Check out:

1 - Preventive maintenance in fleets

When used constantly, any vehicle suffers wear and tear. In agribusiness, this applies both to the trucks that take the raw materials to the destination industries, and to the machines that work in day-to-day operations in the field. Because of this, it is recommended to carry out an inspection before the start of each trip, checking issues such as oil and fuel levels, safety items and signaling systems.

In the case of agricultural equipment, there are already specific solutions capable of monitoring the machine's status and meeting its maintenance needs, following the recommended period for oil changes, lubrication, parts replacement and so on. “This reduces the chances of them breaking in the middle of carrying out a task, which avoids unplanned downtime that could cause losses in a given harvest”, points out Bernardo.

2 - Planning to avoid unforeseen events

As a rule, agricultural machines remain in the field throughout the harvest period, often running 24 hours a day for months. In this scenario, one of the most frequent logistical support procedures that needs to occur is fuel refueling. To carry out this task, a convoy or tank truck usually travels through rural areas, passing through different locations that require its assistance.

Aiming to optimize this process, an intelligent system can plan the best routes for these support vehicles, taking into account issues such as the projection of the machines' tank level and the mileage to be covered. This way, trucks travel more quickly and with fewer stops, saving their own fuel and avoiding interruptions to agricultural operations.

These same truck convoys can also function as mobile workshops, going to the field at times when the equipment is scheduled to stop to make the maintenance adjustments mentioned in the previous item. 

3 - Monitoring for synchronization of machines and trucks

Another essential point for agricultural logistics is the monitoring of machines and trucks in real time. With this control, it is possible to synchronize activities so that these vehicles do not have unproductive time and the flow of raw materials is not interrupted.

“Software works to ensure that the truck arrives at the work site at the ideal time. That is: not late, as this could freeze the harvest until the transshipments are emptied, and not before the raw material is available to be loaded, as this means the machine is stopped, inefficiency”, explains the president of Hexagon's Agriculture division.

This technology also has the capacity to decide the destination and route of each new trip by applying a dispatch optimization algorithm, aiming to generate savings and productivity. At the end of the day, the idea is to have managed to transport as much raw material as possible with as few movements as possible. 

4 - Tracking cargo to industry

Tracking raw materials on the way to the industry is also a way to optimize logistics and avoid losses. “In the past, this was done with manual notes and identification tags. But imagine the scenario of a giant production area, with hundreds of machines working in intense displacement and raw material transfer activities on the same day. It’s very easy to get lost in this process”, comments Bernardo.  

When automated, tracking is safer and more agile, as it is done through advanced communication resources, which take information from harvester displays to industry systems. Data such as equipment and machine operator IDs, accompanied by complete harvest telemetry details, are made available by the solution, which helps to avoid losses in the next harvest. “By knowing exactly which area of ​​the plot that product came from, it is possible to check whether the investment made and the techniques applied generated results or not, which helps management define future strategies”, he adds.