Still Moving Farm Data by Hand?
If you regularly copy information between spreadsheets, farm software and online systems, there is a good chance it can run automatically. Here is how to tell.
Most farms already have plenty of software. The problem is that different systems often do not communicate, so somebody still exports files, changes spreadsheets, re-enters information and produces repetitive reports.
The test
Ask three questions about the job: is it repetitive, is it predictable, and is it rules-based? If the answer to all three is yes, software can usually do it consistently. If the job needs judgement on every occurrence, it should stay with a person, though the preparation around it can still be automated.
What to do next
Do not write a specification. Record two or three minutes of your screen while you do the job, or show us on a call. We count the steps, time the process and ask how often it happens. Then we explain which steps could disappear.
