Advantages of connected silos for feed suppliers

Feed suppliers work closely with breeders and producers. They handle the storage of cereals and feed that are produced by the manufacturers and purchased by the breeders. From working the land to feeding the animals, a whole logistics chain is set up, from purchasing to handling, not forgetting stock management.

In this chain, the silos play a key role. Indeed, the filling level of the silos will trigger sales or orders. A shortage means a break in feed and the crossing of an alert threshold leads to an order for feed products. To optimize the management of their activities, feed suppliers have at their disposal a new technology: connected silo. Find out how connected silos have quickly become essential for feed suppliers.

Connected silos and the gain in productivity for feed suppliers

Connected silos respond to an essential issue: knowing in real-time the filling level of silos. This measurement is indeed a key factor within the feed supplier’s business. Being able to control this measurement means being sure to optimize and gain in productivity.

To measure the silo filling level, various systems have been imagined, from the most manual to the most connected. For instance, the manual measurement consists in climbing to the top of the silo, which can be more than thirty meters high. This operation presents risks for the worker’s safety. This method of measurement is also very approximate, since it is done by a visual check. Therefore, it is more an estimation.

On the contrary, the connected system is an intelligent and technological measuring system.

Using the IoT (Internet of Things), this new system offers feed suppliers:

• Security,
• Accuracy,
• Simplicity,
• Efficiency.

To be more precise, the connected silo works thanks to a connected sensor installed on one of the silo feet. It is fixed outside, so there is no need to drill the silo as required by other technologies. The connected sensor and its electronic part then take care of measuring in real-time the filling level of the silo. The collected and analyzed data are then displayed to the feed suppliers via a web platform and a mobile application. Thanks to connected silos, feed suppliers are now able to optimize their stock management.

Customer satisfaction guaranteed with connected silos

Supply chain management of feed suppliers requires constant monitoring and can have significant financial consequences if it is not managed properly.

The different missions of the feed supplier in modern agriculture

Acting as a link between producers and customers, the feed supplier assumes two main functions:

• The storage of feed such as grains, herbs and pellets,
• The distribution of feed products for livestock.

Thanks to professional equipment, his role is to make orders and deliveries more efficient so as to never run out of stock.  Thus, to ensure customer satisfaction: breeders can feed their animals with quality raw materials without fear of production interruptions.

Supply management: a major element in livestock

To guarantee customer satisfaction and to optimize supply chain management, the feed supplier must be proactive and ensure continuous supply.  The visual check of the silo filling level requires a regular presence in the different areas. Furthermore, a visual wrong estimation can lead to mistakes in orders.

Connected silos represent then an optimal solution to know precisely the filling level of each silo during the week, weekends, public holidays, days and nights. The product required for feeding the animals is available at any time for the breeders.

The financial benefits of connected silos for feed suppliers

Connected silos provide four main financial advantages. Among all the existing solutions on the market, it is the only one that combines time savings, financial savings and safety at work.

Firstly, the purchase price and installation costs of this technological measurement solution range from €399 to €499. Developed in France by a company specialized in logistics optimization thanks to IoT, this technical solution allows feed suppliers:

• To provide new services to their customers
• To better manage their IBCs fleet.

Secondly, operating costs vary between €19 and €49 per year, depending on the number of sensors installed. Access to the platform software is included in the price. Companies have access to high-end hardware that informs them in real-time and remotely on their computer or smartphone, of the filling level of each of their silos.

Thirdly, the connected sensors are maintenance-free (no cleaning or other kind of maintenance). By installing these connected sensors on their silos, companies get an advanced insight into the overall budget of the technical solution. As soon as it is installed, each sensor is protected by an insulating foam and offers an autonomy of five to years.

And fourthly, feed suppliers are saving on freight costs. Indeed, by anticipating their orders, companies can fill delivery trucks.

In a nutshell, digital agriculture, through connected sensors installed by feed suppliers, represents the future of livestock farming and stock management. This technical solution invented in France meets real needs for reactivity and monitoring, both from feed suppliers and their customers.