Implementation of a precision farming system
Reducing fuel consumption and increasing equipment efficiency by 18–25%
Case of successful implementation of Bitrek equipment + Cropio software
One of the leading agricultural farms in Cherkasy region
- Total cultivated area: 3,200 hectares
- Equipment fleet: 18 units (including 12 John Deere, CLAAS, New Holland, Massey Ferguson tractors)
- Main crops: wheat, corn, sunflower, rapeseed, soybeans
- Previously, they used basic GPS monitoring, but did not have a comprehensive precision farming solution.
Key economic problems
- Fuel losses due to rain, underfilling and “left” refueling — up to 20–25%.
- Significant overlaps and omissions when processing fields — overconsumption of fuel and pesticides up to 12–18%.
- Lack of control over the connection of trailed equipment.
- Manual, unreliable accounting of engine hours and work performed.
- Low driver discipline, human factor.
- Lack of accurate data for analysis in the Cropio system.
- Inability to promptly detect incorrect operation of equipment.
The result: annual losses in millions of hryvnias and a decrease in productivity.
What did we do?
We installed a comprehensive precision farming solution based on Bitrek hardware modules with full data integration into Cropio.
Main advantages of the solution
- Centimeter-precision field processing (RTK)
- Full fuel control and theft protection
- Automatic identification of trailed equipment
- Operation control via CAN and ISO-BUS
- Driver identification
- Video recording (optional)
- Data transfer to Cropio in real time
In the tractor cab
- BI 480 Connect (4G) or mNVR — main data transmission device.
- UX module — dual-frequency GPS antenna with RTK support.
- CN module — CAN FMS and fuel sensor controller.
- IB module — ISO-BUS bus controller.
- EX module — control of additional sensors and flow meters.
- MF (Mifare) or EM (EM-Marine) module — driver identification.
- RL module — ignition switch control.
Outside
- BI FLSensor v.8 — fuel level sensor.
- BL module + BLE tags — automatic identification of trailer equipment.
- Dahua IP camera — video surveillance (when using mNVR).
How the system works
- The UX GPS module provides accuracy of up to 2–3 cm thanks to RTK.
- Fuel and CAN/ISO-BUS sensors record real consumption.
- BLE tags automatically detect connected trailed equipment.
- Driver identification and ignition control exclude unauthorized use of equipment.
- All data is transmitted in real time to Cropio.
- The manager and agronomist see up-to-date dashboards, field maps and reports.
Implementation results
| Indicator | Was | Happened | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel loss | 20–25% | 4–7% | 18% reduction |
| Overlap during processing | 12–18% | 3–5% | 13% reduction |
| Tracking equipment control | None | 100% automatic | Full control |
| Hour tracking | Manual | Automatic | +100% accuracy |
| Discipline of machine operators | Low | Significantly higher | Less conflicts |
Additional results
- Prompt detection and elimination of downtime.
- Accurate data for agroanalytics in Cropio.
- Increase overall equipment productivity by 14%.
Economic effect
According to the results of the first year:
- Total savings on fuel and pesticides — XX million UAH.
- Average payback of equipment — 7–9 months.
- Additional profit due to increased accuracy — +XX million UAH.
- Return on investment — XX% for the first season.
- ROI = 280% for 18 months.
Feedback from a farm representative
“Thanks to the Connect system, we finally gained full control over the equipment. Fuel losses have significantly decreased, and the accuracy of field processing has increased. The data in Cropio has become truly accurate.”
— Chief Engineer
Connect — a ready-made solution for modern precision farming
- Comprehensive approach (Bitrek hardware + Cropio software).
- Fast payback.
- Works with equipment of any brand.
- Maximum automation of processes.
- Real control and transparency.
Ready to be implemented on your equipment.
