In 2009, Souza Cruz implemented Orquestra, a corporate mobility system for monitoring agricultural production developed by Teclógica.
Orquestra is a graphical tool that allows collecting and monitoring information related to tobacco producers remotely. Currently, our 250 agricultural advisors are responsible for data collection and the management of 45 thousand tobacco farmers spread throughout Brazil.
The main function of this advisor is to provide the necessary technical assistance for tobacco cultivation, promoting a profitable and high-quality harvest and ensuring the sustainability of this crop, both for the producer and for the company.
The previous system, which had been in the field for over 10 years, also operated on laptops, but had low scalability for new features, and more sophisticated visual resources were not supported due to the programming language. With the changes in the domestic market, which increased competition, it was necessary to seek a more flexible tool, with easier and faster maintenance at a lower cost.
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Implementation Process
To implement this new project, we faced some challenges:
- The system should enable the rollout of new versions gradually and transparently for the user;
- Allow the quick and secure incorporation of new business rules in a highly dynamic market;
- Have a greater managerial focus and less operational focus;
- Implement diverse communication possibilities, minimizing existing deficiencies.
Solution
Orquestra uses Java technology (SWING, Java Virtual Machine Sun 1.5, DB4O object-oriented database). Through a laptop, agricultural advisors can monitor production in the field and all phases involved in the process, from planning, contracting, and assistance to the purchase of the product from approximately 45 thousand rural producers. All information regarding the areas they cover is kept on the device and can be consulted at any time, bringing agility to the production monitoring process.
From an ergonomic standpoint, an application was developed focusing primarily on data entry and information queries, featuring menus, pop-ups, reports integrated with office tools like Excel, well-crafted charts, and shortcut keys for quick access to all features, avoiding clicks and wasted time. Overall, it is a much more visually appealing and practical tool for day-to-day work.
The application was designed to equip the agricultural advisor with the maximum possible amount of information needed to perform their duties, using features that facilitate navigation and access to information. Aiming for greater agility in data retrieval, all information originating in Orquestra can be consulted at any time, eliminating the need to transmit collected data, wait for processing, and later receive it consolidated to perform a query.
A communication module that allows the exchange of information between the remote system and the company was also provided. This module allows downloading and uploading files, sending and receiving data collected by the advisors and processed by the company, as well as executing operating system commands directly on the remote device, facilitating installation and possible configuration adjustments.
With the adoption of more robust technology, it was possible to develop more advanced features, such as charts and data export to other applications. The most recent system update was an application called Sustainability, which helps the industry’s agricultural advisors register the situation of producers’ dependents throughout Brazil. The system allows Souza Cruz to monitor and actively support the government in the eradication of child labor on properties of producers affiliated with the company.
With changes in the domestic market that increased competition, it was necessary to seek a more flexible system with easy, agile, and low-cost maintenance.
Results
The stability that the project brought to the field made the solution a huge success. We were at a critical moment in the business; increased competitiveness coupled with the insecurity of past experiences further heightened our challenges.
The project reversed this insecurity, as the new system managed to offer a very friendly and user-friendly interface. The new features helped increase productivity and user satisfaction. Planning, results, and implementation are the main points that made the system a case study for Souza Cruz. The next challenges for the IT area are to continue providing solutions that support the company’s field sustainability strategy.
