Reducing operational costs in greenhouses is a universal goal for all growers. Labor typically represents the largest expense in greenhouse operations, and its efficient management directly impacts profitability. While dramatically reducing labor costs isn't always feasible, there's significant room for optimization: making timely decisions about necessary farmwork, matching workers to their most efficient roles, and implementing performance incentives. However, many growers struggle with where to begin this optimization journey.
ioCrops addresses this challenge with Ation, a data-driven labor management system designed to optimize labor practices and improve productivity. "Farmers using Ation have reported up to a 10% improvement in labor efficiency by combining data monitoring with incentive programs," says JinHyung Cho, CEO of ioCrops.
Ation is a simple yet powerful solution designed for greenhouses and farm operations. It consists of a smartphone app for workers, QR codes placed on each growing gutter line, and a web dashboard for managers.
Workers scan QR codes to log their tasks, enabling managers to track real-time progress and analyze task data. By digitizing and visualizing metrics such as task volume, work hours, and work speed, Ation identifies inefficiencies, helping growers achieve more with the same workforce while reducing unnecessary labor waste. "Labor costs are a significant expense for farms, and Ation helps improve efficiency by reducing work losses and boosting productivity," adds JinHyung.
Read more at The Globe and Mail