Connected silos: all you need to know about monitoring web platform

The web platform for automated silo management is accessible from a simple cell phone. It is a real revolution in the management of agricultural silos, both for farmers and for cooperatives or professional groups in the sector. The IoT web solution, coupled with the silo monitoring sensors, is intuitive and offers clear information to the user.

The operation of a connected silo is linked to an application available online. After the installation of sensors at the foot of each silo, the data emitted by each silo is sent to the cloud and then analyzed by a dedicated algorithm. The information thus processed is then integrated into each user’s application. It’s as simple as that!

The IoT, the Internet of Things: a revolutionary system for transferring data to a cloud platform

The IoT is the name of a proprietary system of data transferred from an object to a platform located in the cloud. As connected objects, the sensors participate in the collection of information. If this operation of the Internet of Things may seem simple, the company must equip itself, upstream, with various advanced technologies. These are the technologies that enable the data collected to be processed and analyzed.

A dedicated algorithm receives and manages the data received. Once this processing phase is completed, the results are sent to each user in an application installed in a cell phone. This data transfer uses a simple internet network. The IoT, or Internet of Things, is therefore used to manage the data collected by the sensors mounted on the silos.

Information and monitoring services for connected silos

The application for managing the collected data provides the user with a wealth of information on the entire fleet of connected silos. It is thus a permanent monitoring which takes place, with the possibility of checking at any time :

• the filling level of the silos ;
• the quantities to be ordered ;
• consumption forecasts per silo.

This information is enriched by additional functions for each silo.

What are the complementary functionalities of the web platform for monitoring connected silos?

First of all, the user has an overview of his connected silos. He can then have additional functionalities per silo, namely :

• the current level of the silo ;
• the remaining product weight in tons ;
• the drugs present in the product ;
• added food supplements ;
• the date of the last delivery ;
• the total capacity of the silo.

A function allows it to trigger a remote delivery per connected silo. It is helped in this by a forecast analysis of consumption over the next 4 days. This analysis is able to indicate the level of the silo from day to day, and the moment when the silo will be empty.

The application automatically calculates the amount of feed or product to be ordered based on the total capacity of the silo. It also has an empty silo declaration function to trigger a calibration of the sensor installed at the foot of the silo. This sensor reset allows calculating the tonnage present in the silo after its supply.

General data of the web application for monitoring connected silos

It should be noted that the level of accuracy in filling the silo is of the order of 10%. This fluctuation zone is commonly accepted by farmers, cooperatives and professional groups. An e-mail alert system has been set up for almost immediate information.

The platform offers a personalized configuration of the application by taking into account the company’s graphic charter as well as its logo, contact information, the name of the silo manager, etc. A complete integration solution in the client ERP is also available through the APIs that connect the different software of the company. The user can therefore integrate into his business management software (ERP) all the data provided by the application automatically.

This integration makes it possible to know the available stocks at any time and to find them in the accounting documents for bank reconciliation or invoicing. Each future order can therefore be anticipated in terms of cash flow and dashboards.

Another important point of the application is the indicator (KPI) for monitoring order cycles and frequencies. This indicator helps to develop the company’s strategic objectives.

How the web application works on the cell phone

Once the application is installed, access to it is secured by a login and a password. The user can therefore easily control all of his silos, and for each of them :

• control the level of the remaining product;
• check the available tonnage ;
• trigger an emergency order for a full truck.

As we have seen previously, monitoring is done on two levels of content: an overview of the silos and an individual analysis of each of them. This double reading allows rigorous management of the available stocks, and to highlight any anomaly, in real-time.

The advantages of choosing connected silo management

The installation of the sensors on the silos is simple and fast. It is carried out by a certified technician and requires no maintenance or cleaning. Each sensor communicates with the online computer platform (via the IoT) and sends an accurate analysis of the products present in the silos.

All exchanges between the sensors and the platform are done in a secure way: data hosting in Europe and compliance with RGPD regulations.

The user can therefore benefit from optimal monitoring of his stocks and take all the necessary actions for their proper functioning, from a simple cell phone.