Forage Commander
Bale and customer data at your fingertips
In today’s era where there are apps for everything, the Vermeer team believes there is an opportunity to have an app for making hay. The Vermeer Forage Commander app, currently being tested by the team, is designed to collect and manage field data produced by balers to give producers a new way to track their progress and productivity.
The app will connect via Bluetooth to the data gateway unit located on the baler. Whenever the user’s smart device is within range of the baler, it will automatically sync to provide the latest information. By tracking field and cutting data, the app will let producers see a wide range of field statistics, such as bales per field, bale weight (if scale is equipped), average bale moisture, bales per hour and more.
Ideal for helping custom operators streamline their work, data can be paired with the customer manager widget of the app that keeps the information sorted by customer and field. The baling data and customer information will allow Forage Commander to generate an invoice directly from the app that can be emailed to the custom operator’s customer. Producers can also manually enter other custom work (hauling manure, for example) on the invoice and even charge at pre-defined rates by job.
*Concept only. Currently not available for sale.
FAQs
How does the app connect to the baler?
A data gateway unit located on the baler connects to the app on a smart device via Bluetooth. When the user’s smart device is within range of the baler, it will automatically sync to provide the latest information.
What information can a producer get from the app?
Information can be broken down into three categories:
Bale data – If your baler is equipped with all the appropriate features, you can get data on moisture levels, bale weight, bale size, bales per hour and more.
Customer data – The app allows operators to track all the bale data by a customer level so they can bill out custom work as needed.
Invoicing – The app allows you to combine the bale and customer data and generate invoices to send to customers. It also keeps a record of invoices you have sent by date or by customer.
What devices does this app support?
The app is designed to be used on both Android and iOS devices. Most modern smartphones and tablets can use this app.
Where can I find this app?
The app is in the testing phase and is not yet publicly available. Once officially launched, users can download the app from iOS App Store or Google Play.
Does the app or data gateway unit use cellular data?
We recognize that cellular signal coverage can be a challenge in our industry, so the app and data gateway unit are designed not to rely on cellular connection. The data gateway unit and app communicate via Bluetooth, and data are stored on the smart device temporarily. When the user’s smart device has internet connection, the app will automatically upload data to the cloud.