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Managing Input Inventories with Granular
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems
Applicable Industries
- Agriculture
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Procurement
Use Cases
- Inventory Management
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
Clete Inc., a diversified farming and cattle operation, was facing challenges in managing their input inventories. The process of planning for the inputs needed each growing season was manual and time-consuming. The team had to sit together to decide the acreage for each crop and then manually estimate the required inputs. They relied heavily on local suppliers for their inputs and valued the customer service and timely delivery. However, unexpected changes in plans or field activity often led to discrepancies and required constant communication and updates. The company was using Excel for inventory management, which was not efficient and prone to errors.
About The Customer
Clete Inc. is a diversified farming and cattle operation based in Gering, NE. The company farms corn, sugar beets, wheat, dry edible beans, and alfalfa, mostly under irrigation. They also run a cow/calf herd and operate three feedlots. The company is managed by Jeana Harms, the CFO, who has a background in finance and accounting. She worked as a loan officer at Farm Credit before joining Clete Inc. Her role at Clete Inc. extends beyond managing the financials; she is also responsible for all data management. She works closely with the farm owners, the agronomist, and the operations manager to plan and manage the farming operations.
The Solution
Clete Inc. implemented Granular, a software solution, to manage their input inventories. The software helps them develop their crop plans and provides a quick total of each product they will need for the upcoming year. Granular is also used to manage unexpected changes in plans or field activity. If a change is known before the operator is in the field, the task is changed in Granular so that the work order is correct. If a change occurs while the operator is in the field, the operator can change it on the Granular app on his phone. As the tasks are completed and deliveries are made, the inventory in Granular is updated, providing real-time visibility into the inventory levels.
Operational Impact
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