Digitalization of the agricultural business of ‘Atameken-Agro” JSC
Seven years ago, the advanced agricultural business of Kazakhstan began its journey towards full digitalization. “Atameken-Agro” JSC became the first company in Kazakhstan that turned to international experience and decided to apply modern information technologies on Kazakhstani soil (literally and figuratively). Turning to the digital pioneers in the field of digitalization of the agricultural sector, “Agrostream” LLP, our agricultural holding began to introduce a unique analytical automated information system throughout the group of companies. As time has shown, this decision was absolutely correct, because the digitalization of processes invariably shows its effectiveness for “Atameken-Agro” JSC in many respects.
An illustrative example of a successful digitalization process in our Company was a record harvest at one of the holding's farms. In 2019, the Kazakhstani agrarians heard the news: “Shatilo and K” LLP, an agricultural enterprise in the structure of “Atameken-Agro”, set an absolute record for winter wheat yield - 71.4 c/ha. This is absolutely an outstanding indicator, although even the average yield on the fields of this company is 50 c/ha, which is already a lot in comparison with other farms. The management of the company explained its success by several factors, the main of which is the stable and efficient operation of the information system, in favor of which the management of “Atameken-Agro” JSC made its choice.
In summary, the digital approach in the agricultural business can solve a whole range of different tasks, ranging from grain logistics control, the process of loading elevators, shipment to the end client, ending with crop planning, and so on.
In particular, one of the modules of the system we have chosen allows you to control the operation of all equipment in the field: combines, seeders, grain carriers, and the amount of idle time. As a result, the time of the entire production chain is enormously optimized, since sowing, harvesting and all logistics are carried out non-stop and error-free.
Another module of the automated information system implemented by "Atameken-Agro" JSC allows you to automatically keep records of grain and see the movement of various batches of grain for operators. In addition, thanks to this module, the processes that take place inside the current (field - acceptance - placement - transfer - side work - mixing - warehouse - shipment to the client, etc.) are absolutely transparent. This is especially important for the grain supplier to control the mixing of grain of different qualities and its loss. The program also generates waybills, compares physical and test weights to identify manipulations with grain quality. Thus, the control over the process becomes maximum, and the errors associated with the human factor are minimal. This, of course, makes the Atameken-Agro holding a reliable partner for the purchase of grain, because customers can see the “transparency” of processes and be convinced of the quality of products.
Definitely, the program requires the installation of special equipment: video cameras on the fields, electronic scales, barriers, etc. But its effectiveness is confirmed by the reduction of various production losses and costs. In particular, one of the farms of “Atameken-Agro” JSC reduced such a serious expense as grain refraction already in the first season of “Agrostream” implementation by 63%.
In general, digitalized control over production processes allows the management of the agricultural holding to see online from anywhere in the world information about where, how much grain and what quality is stored. Moreover, the data is updated every five minutes. And since the movement of grain is 24/7, this entire complex technological process is almost impossible to control without a program.
In addition to control over current processes, digitalization helps our Company in competent strategic planning and project budgeting. Agronomists of "Atameken-Agro" JSC have the opportunity to plan and control the rates of seed application for each field, fertilizer application, the consumption of crop protection agents from pests and weeds, etc.
Important advantage of the introduction of an automated information system on the farms of "Atameken-Agro" is the ability to control theft. Unfortunately, in large conglomerates of various companies, periodic clashes with the dishonesty of employees, theft of grain, fuel and fertilizers are not uncommon. The digital system monitors all this and allows you to increase the company's productivity by 10-15%.
As a result, process automation allowed not only to collect complete information, improve the efficiency of the entire grain production cycle for the “Atameken-Agro” group of companies, but also analyze it to further increase profitability and improve business processes.
“Atameken-Agro” JSC definitely made the right choice of a partner in the difficult task of digitalization, because “Agrostream” LLP combines the experience of advanced foreign developments, but at the same time is maximally adapted for the domestic consumer. The head of “Agrostream” LLP, Aida Mullasheva, emphasizes the simplicity of the interface, the intuitiveness of generating reports, the informativeness and complexity of the developed product, which is successfully used by our Company.
“Atameken-Agro” JSC is fully satisfied with the chosen course for the digitalization of production and in the near future plans to further simplify the work of its agronomists by providing them with a mobile application with the functions of determining the likelihood of diseases and pests, as well as receiving recommendations for preventive actions.
In conclusion, important to note that the timely correct strategic decisions made by the managers of “Atameken-Agro” JSC bring great benefits to the country's agriculture and set the right trends for other companies, stimulating the development of the industry as a whole.
