At a glance: Agra-GPS converts traditional, heavy, farming machinery into auto-steering extremely precise equipment, complete with reliable, centimeter-level accuracy. With innovative hardware and software, and by leveraging Point One Navigation’s Polaris RTK corrections network, Agra-GPS eliminates frustrating base station issues and saves thousands of work hours for the farming industry.
The struggle for seamless precision
In the demanding world of precision agriculture, every minute counts. Farmers depend on highly accurate Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections to guide their heavy machinery, ensuring flawless planting, precise spraying, and efficient harvesting. Yet, a persistent challenge has plagued the industry: the unreliability of traditional RTK solutions, particularly those relying on individually-installed base stations.
Agra-GPS, a leading innovator in ag-tech solutions compatible with giants like John Deere, Fendt, CNH, and Claas, frequently faced this challenge. Andrew Clayton, VP of Sales and Marketing at Agra-GPS, vividly recalls the daily struggle:
“We would spend hours troubleshooting farmer’s third party base stations trying to diagnose issues with products that we didn’t build or have any control over,” Andrew explained. “This was a point of frustration for our customers and a strain on our support team.”
When a farmer’s base station failed due to Wi-Fi glitches or technical snags like set-up or monument issues, valuable time was lost, directly impacting potential yield. With support often buried in online forums, farmers, many without the technical expertise, were left stranded. The urgent need for an immediate, reliable, and user-friendly GNSS corrections solution became undeniably clear.
The solution: Centimeter-level precision, delivered effortlessly
Driven by the pressing need for a better way, Agra-GPS began actively seeking alternative RTK networks. What they discovered in Point One Navigation’s RTK corrections network was a game-changer. Point One’s network integrated seamlessly with Agra-GPS’s receivers, which are designed to work with industry-standard corrections.
“It was almost by chance that I ran into Point One,” Andrew recounted. “I was having so many issues with our customers’ third-party private base stations, and my temporary solution was to see if there were any other networks that could get them up and running fast. With farmers, time is everything. We didn’t have an immediate fix for the third-party base stations and often technical support from these companies was generally not prompt, so we tried Point One, and we were up and running immediately.”
Agra-GPS utilized Point One’s free two-week trial involving numerous customers experiencing issues with privately owned base stations, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. The stability and accuracy of the corrections provided by Point One consistently received praise. The success of the trial forged a pivotal partnership, enabling Agra-GPS to deliver an industry-first: an agricultural receiver with lifetime RTK service built right in.
The innovative offering of lifetime RTK corrections in the new Agra-GPS CRG+/CRG2+ receivers drastically simplifies setup for farmers. The days of configuring complex third-party base stations, surveying sites, or wrestling with connectivity issues are over. With Point One embedded directly into Agra-GPS, it’s a simple process: “just plug in the CRG+ and within minutes you have centimeter-level accuracy.” This eliminates the technical burden on farmers and frees up valuable time for Agra-GPS’s dedicated support team.
Tangible results: Boosting sales, saving hours, and empowering farmers
The strategic partnership with Point One has delivered an outsized impact on Agra-GPS’s business and, more importantly, on the farmers they serve:
- Significant sales growth: The appeal of a hassle-free RTK solution with lifetime service is undeniable. Agra-GPS has witnessed a dramatic surge in sales of their CRG+ models, with twice as many CRG+ units sold compared to the CRG. Many existing CRG customers are also actively upgrading to the CRG+, further validating the value proposition.
- Massive time savings: Andrew estimates Agra-GPS has saved “1,000 human support hours or more in the last year” by eliminating the need to troubleshoot third-party base station problems. This newfound capacity allows Agra-GPS to focus on strategic growth initiatives, including developing new features for the CRG+ and expanding their market reach.
- Enhanced farmer satisfaction and operational continuity: The unwavering reliability of Point One’s network means farmers can operate their equipment consistently, even when local Wi-Fi or individual base stations encounter problems. This continuous operation is crucial, especially during tight weather windows essential for maximizing crop yield. Where previous solutions presented a single point of failure with individually installed base stations, Point One’s robust network ensures 99.9% network uptime, a priceless advantage during critical farming seasons.
- Simplified deployment: For Agra-GPS, the collaboration extends to streamlining base station distribution for the rare instances where RTK coverage might not be comprehensive. In these remote locations, Point One will deploy a base station to ensure centimeter accuracy. The “mount it, plug it in, off to the races” simplicity removes significant technical barriers, especially benefiting customers in areas with Wi-Fi restrictions who can now access RTK via a SIM card.
The collaboration between Agra-GPS and Point One has not only resolved a critical pain point for farmers but has also firmly positioned Agra-GPS for substantial growth as a leader in precision agriculture. By providing a reliable, user-friendly, and cost-effective RTK solution, they are empowering farmers to achieve unprecedented levels of precision and efficiency in their operations, truly transforming the landscape of agriculture.
Ready to explore how Point One’s RTK corrections can embed centimeter accuracy into your service? Reach out to our team today for a personalized discussion and POC. Contact Sales