365FarmNet, CLAAS and John Deere introduced their DataConnect – the first direct industry-wide and manufacturer-independent cloud-to-cloud solution which overcomes one of the main issues in the Smart Farming Ecosystem: Interoperability.Exchanging data via a common interface in real-time as well as controlling and monitoring their entire machinery fleet using their favourite system is the key requirement of the farmer.

In the past for the agricultural data, which has been collected across a mixed machinery fleet, there was no practicable way to share this valuable information across the different brands. With the introduction of DataConnect, farmers will now be able to securely exchange in real time through a common interface. In addition, the farmer will be able to control and monitor his entire machinery fleet with his telematics platform of choice, like 365FarmNet or CLAAS TELEMATICS without having to switch portals or manually transfer data from one system to another.

DataConnect allows for the secure viewing and handling of these basic machine data elements, including current and historical machine location, current fuel tank level, working status and forward speed. For the future the transfer of additional relevant agricultural information is intended.

With CLAAS and 365FarmNet, two founding members of DataConnect, this collaboration platform has two strong and visionary players in the agricultural industry: CLAAS, one of the leading agricultural machinery manufacturers started to rethink and adjust their corporate strategy in the early 2000s, while anticipating the dramatic change within the agricultural industry initiated by the emerging digitization. The case study from the Master Program Intellectual Property Law and Management (MIPLM) describes this change, away from larger and larger machines to digital solutions (Download MIPLM Case Study CLAAS)

Collaboration over an open and manufacturer-independent platform is the basic idea of 365FarmNet, which offers a multiple award-winning platform for digital farm management. All stakeholder groups of the agricultural ecosystem are hereby integrated creating an efficient farm management solution to the farmer as well as promising business opportunities for all participating 3rd parties. Maximilian von Loebbecke, CEO of 365FarmNetand an accredited expert for digitization reported on the digitization of the agricultural industry at the CTO-Herbstforum 2019.

Image 2: Source CLAAS

Against the background of the dominant and visionary founding members the impact and success of DataConnect is not surprising: Introduced to the industry at the 2019´s Agritechnica in Hannover, CNH Industrial with its brands CASE IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr another big player joined DataConnect only weeks later.

Also, the recognition of the press had not taken long to wait for: With the Machine of the Year 2020 – Audience Choice Award, DataConnect is already awarded even before the scheduled market entry in 2020.

Image 3: Source 365FarmNet/ own presentation

About 365FarmNet

365FARMNET is market-leader of software solutions for agricultural businesses and offers a multiple award-winning platform for digital farm management. Together with agricultural enterprises they work on efficient, sustainable and future-oriented farming. The main differentiation is the open, manufacturer-independent and functionally expandable platform.

About CLASS

CLAAS is a family business founded in 1913 and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agricultural engineering equipment. The company, with corporate headquarters in Harsewinkel, Westphalia, is the European market leader in combine harvesters. CLAAS is the world leader in another large product group, self-propelled forage harvesters. CLAAS is also a top performer in world-wide agricultural engineering with tractors, agricultural balers and green harvesting machinery. The CLAAS product portfolio also includes state-of-the-art farming information technology. CLAAS employs more than 11,000 workers worldwide and reported a turnover of 3.8 billion euros in the 2018 financial year.

About Machine of the Year 2020 – Audience Choice Award

The Machine of the Year has been a coveted award in the agricultural machinery industry since 1997. It is conferred every two years during Agritechnica in Hanover by a panel of judges. Chief among them are the journalists of Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH. They are joined by agri-tech editors of the trade journals traction, Agrarheute, Agrartechnik, Land & Forst and Bayerisches Landwirtschaftliches Wochenblatt as well as colleagues from publications outside Germany. These select the best innovations in the agricultural machinery market from 15 categories ranging from tractors and combine harvesters to forage harvesters and drills.