Case Study - Agriculture
Challenge:
Convert the farm audit process into a manageable task bearing in mind the requirement to collect complex data, varied locations for data collection and mixed technical abilities of collectors.
The form has five versions: Arable; Beef & Sheep; Arable, Beef & Sheep; Pig; Combined GQA & Freedom Food Pig. The combined GQA Audit is 25 pages long and contains over 1,500 data fields!
Result:
First deployed in pilot form in September 2004 this suite of audits has been fully commercial since 2005, today in the UK pig sector above 50% of pig production is audited using Longhand Data designed Digital Pen & Paper (DP&P) audit forms.
Benefits:
This client reports the following benefits:
• Data collection process is the same as before: pen and paper.
• With DP&P no electronic devices that can be a distraction get in the way of human interaction, so users are able to continue their data collection processes in the normal way.
• Training was simple and quick. Trainees did not need to be technically experienced in pc hardware or software.
• Do not need to re-enter data – DP&P does not waste expensive, professional time.
• The DP&P data is converted to machine readable format in near real-time and so it is not subject to mistakes.
Background information:
• What did they use before the implementation of DP&P?
A paper checklist which was afterwards re-entered into a spreadsheet application.
• Were any alternative solutions evaluated?
Previously tested a number of solutions: first laptops, then a hand-held PDA solution.
• What were the main reasons for choosing DP&P?
Both alternative solutions were found to distract auditees and the natural to and fro of human interaction. In addition, neither laptops nor PDA’s are well suited to the harsh environment of outside bright sunlight and dark interior of farm buildings. Lastly, farm assurance auditing requires auditors to have long experience of farming and agriculture – and these expert people are often not comfortable with technical solutions and resist conversion of their recording processes away from simple pen and paper.
• Number of users?
35
Future developments:
Longhand Data is currently piloting a range of agricultural projects including a quarterly veterinary report, an on-farm herd recording booklet, a one-page livestock movement recording sheet and an inputs calculator for agricultural sales staff.
