The benefits of digital vineyard management apps are clear – low-code/no-code apps in the vineyard in combination with IoT technology are breaking new ground – this is the forms2 advantage
You’re here for a couple of reasons.
Maybe it’s because you know there are some major benefits of digital vineyard management apps and low-code/no-code app builders that you want to tap into.
It’s the fact that low-code/no-code is cheaper than traditional app development and you want an easy solution you can roll out in days.
You’ve read our research on the trends about how the agriculture and Viniculture/Viticulture industry is embracing low-code/no-code applications built with forms2.
Or perhaps you know that embracing digital transformation in the vineyard and winery industry is important, but you’re not completely sure whether it’s right for you or how easy it is to implement or get your digital forms set up.
Well, I’m here to tell you that if you like the idea of optimising your vineyard management, having access to real-time data about your vineyard, and streamlined irrigation management – then building your own Vineyard management app with forms2 is for you.
The rise of low-code/no-code apps in vineyard management
We know that agriculture is one of the biggest sectors moving towards digital transformation, based on a survey we conducted across 293 companies and 37 industries to find low-code trends and statistics. Agriculture and vineyard management was one of the top 7 industries showing growth with low-code/no-code apps and digital transformation.
Whether you want to call it, IoT technologies, which stands for The Internet of Things, or vineyard management software, our studies showed there is a distinct move towards digital transformation and low-code/no-code app building in the vineyard management industry. When used in conjunction, both IoT and low-code apps provide benefits like:
- Increasing crop yields
- Assessing things like environmental data
- Soil analysis
- Quality and quantity of harvested grapes
- And streamlining farm management
They are all achievable with a mobile business app for Digital vineyard management.
How to using the Internet of Things and Low-code/no-code mobile apps in the Vineyard, viniculture and Viticulture Industry
In vineyards and the viniculture and viticulture industry as a whole, low-code/no-code apps built with the forms2 platform are used to capture data, allow you to analyse it and then distribute it digitally.
In vineyards especially, IoT technology and vineyard management apps are used in conjunction, in the field or remotely. They enable you to capture environmental data such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, soil moisture, and soil analysis so you can make informed decisions. They help vineyard managers by providing access to real-time data that could be used to improve the quality and quantity of harvested grapes, reduce waste and create safer workplaces.
How do the IoT and Low-code/No-code apps work with hardware in vineyards?
Low-code/no-code apps and IoT technology built and used through the forms2 platform enable you to connect wirelessly to the hardware you have on your vineyard, enabling remote monitoring, anywhere in the world.
This hardware may include wireless sensors you have on vineyard plots that capture and relay data on soil quality, the physical condition of the plants, pest control, watering schedules and micro-climatic data, for example.
You can connect your vineyard management apps that you have created with the forms2 platform to process and present the data they capture in such a way that it enables winegrowers (like you) to make better decisions on your daily vineyard operations and schedules. This could ping back data you can use to control pests and diseases and analyse trends, create better irrigation schedules and plans, and predict optimal harvest times.
The main benefit here is that you spend less time in the field manually capturing data and less time manually inputting data – it’s all there in an app for you. Bringing down labour costs, reducing guesswork and maximising profits.
How do I Implement IoT and Low-code/no-code apps in my vineyard?
Simple. When you use forms2, that is.
Implementing IoT with low-code/no-code vineyard management mobile apps in your vineyard with forms2 is super simple and there are LOADS of benefits of Digital Vineyard Management (see below).
Let’s say you’re out visiting multiple vineyard blocks for example.
With the forms2 low-code platform, you can create a vineyard management app that field engineers use to capture data directly on a smartphone or tablet, or automatically deliver from your field hardware. The data is then uploaded to your tech stack via API which can then be processed to help winegrowers make better decisions in their vineyard management operations.
You can set geolocation data so that locations are automatically logged when you’re in the field, and have fillable mobile forms/digital forms for each block in the vineyard, which then generates a report with a table containing information from all of the vineyard blocks you visit.
In addition, with a low-code/no-code vineyard management app, you are no longer bound by calendar-based irrigation and spraying schedules. You can set up alerts or automatically log soil analysis – watering when the spoil calls for it, making sure your vineyard methods are precise, which means even better grapes and world-class wine.
We also know smart agriculture is making use of digital forms and no-code apps for seed analysis too!
By connecting low-code/no-code vineyard management apps and IoT technology you can boost vineyard performance and optimise your viticulture methods with absolute precision, backed with data!
Guesswork is eradicated.
Now let’s look at the benefits in depth:
5 Benefits of Low-code/No-code vineyard management apps
The best vineyard management app is the one that works for you. One where you need less technical knowledge than you think, just a good grounding with Excel and the will to learn new citizen development platform (we even cover how to find your citizen developers – chances are you are one or you’ve got them in your organisation. The benefits of a vineyard management app built on a low-code/no-code app builder platform are things like remote vineyard condition observations, preventing pest and disease outbreaks, crop management, soil analysis and better overall management of your vineyard or winery thanks to access to real-time data and connection via the Internet of Things technology. They also save costs by reducing water and fertiliser use as you have accurate and up-to-date information from your sensors and irrigation systems.
Let’s take a closer look:
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Benefit 1. Being able to predict and observe vineyard conditions in real-time
Whether you have your own vineyard management system and you want to connect it to a low-code/no-code platform or build a vineyard and viniculture management app from templates, the benefit is clear – you can use it to predict and observe vineyard conditions in real time!
By connecting your low-code/no-code platform to your remote sensors in your vineyard, growers can access and monitor information on vine health status, water stress and irrigation information from the office or when you’re out riding a quad bike or tractor around a block.
The benefits of a low-code/no-code vineyard management app are that you can discover the best times for harvesting, and then optimise things like crop load. You can then schedule workflows for vine pruning, fertilisation processes, herbicides, etc. Thanks to the connection with the forms2 API or your own API, you can also see real-time weather conditions and predictions by accessing weather apps. If the weather is looking bad, you can make necessary provisions or adjustments and prevent crop loss due to hail storms, floods or freezing temperatures, act in time and appropriately armed with weather data.
Benefit 2. Mobile data capture for vineyards
One of the major benefits of using a low-code/no-code vineyard management app is the ability to capture data in the field using digital forms. We’ve talked at great length about the benefits of mobile forms and how paper forms are unreliable, but the major factor here is that data capture is robust as you are capturing it digitally. You can set required fields on mobile forms that must be completed or the app won’t let you continue. This could be things like:
- Vine health
- Soil pH levels
- Water levels
- Complete with georeference points and images taken on your phone.
Data is then automatically uploaded to your tech stack and, if you wish, sent to the office or client for review. Best of all, you can use your vineyard management app to access previous data on any block and compare health, water schedules and irrigation needs etc.
Data capture for vineyards is a breeze with a mobile app! This is why agriculture is one of the sectors finding success in digital transformation. Data is reliable.
You can also read more in our mobile forms and business apps case studies.
Benefit 3. Prevent disease outbreaks and pests in your vineyard
A key benefit of low-code/no-code vineyard management apps is that you can use them to prevent disease outbreaks and pest infestations in your vineyard. Much like how Agriculture uses mobile apps and digital forms to protect cattle.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, downy mildew, powdery mildew, and grey mould are the most common diseases in vineyards, with the likes of botrytis and the root disease honey fungus causing a devastating loss in vineyards.
Pierce’s disease can annihilate grapevines, completely.
So, if you don’t apply fungicides and pesticides at the right time, they are either completely useless or too late. The cost of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides add up. So it’s better to do it armed with the right data!
With a low-code/no-code vineyard management app you can use the data you captured on-site or remotely via sensors and cross reference with agro-mathematical models to accurately forecast any disease development and spray at the right time!
By combining sensor data with real-time analytics, wine growers and vineyard managers not only reduce the amount of herbicides and pesticides they use but treat vines for pests and diseases only when it’s actually needed! This is one of the major benefits of Digital Vineyard Management – you’re safer, cleaner for the environment and more efficient.
Think of not only the savings but the reduction in chemical use in the food chain here!
Benefit 4. Remote crop management
You can’t always get out to every block in your vineyard, especially if you’re managing multiple areas or even multiple plots on a global scale! This is where a low-code vineyard management app comes in handy!
You can use your vineyard management app to access data from any vineyard you need. This could be elements like soil moisture levels, pH levels and even work schedules. You can then connect to your automatic irrigation system via an API which enables winegrowers and vineyard managers to turn on (or off) irrigation and watering systems. You can even use your viticulture management app to connect with irrigation systems and automatically switch off water based on soil moisture readings you’re getting from your moisture sensors.
It’s better crop management thanks to a low-code/no-code app and the Internet of Things technology working together and one of the key benefits of Digital Vineyard Management.
Benefit 5. Lower production costs
You might be wasting fungicide and losing a lot of money in the process. A field study from the Ohio State University showed that over 3 years, fungicide spraying based on an automated warning system resulted in approximately 4 to 6 fewer applications over a year when compared to calendar-based fungicide applications.
With the use of IoT technology in combination with a low-code/no-code business app builder, wine growers can lower costs and reduce waste of fertilisers, fungicides, and even water thanks to the fact they can monitor real-time analytics or set up automated alerts. By combining IoT and real-time analytics, access to the data you need could be the difference between 4-6 wasted sprays per year or reduced costs. Plus it’s better for the environment.
We also have a whole article on the benefits of using digital forms and no-code apps in seed testing, seed trials and agricultural field trials based on evidence and use cases.
How much does it cost to build a low-code/no-code vineyard management app?
Well, it’s around £/$99K cheaper than traditional development. When comparing forms2 low-code/no-code to traditional app development in 2023, you’re easily going to save between $39,700 to $99,700 and get an app built in a ¼ of the time. We’ve researched low-code vs traditional development for you so you don’t have to.
But in a nutshell, when building an agriculture or vineyard management app it costs:
- The forms2 low-code/no-code platform = $18-23 per month/$216-300 per year per user
- Traditional development = $70,000-100,000+ (explained below)
Result = a $99,700 saving* when you choose low-code/no-code.
So for $18-23 per month/$216-300 per year per user, you can have a completely customisable low-code app for your vineyard and get started with templates ready for agriculture and viticulture.
View forms2 pricing for more details.
So what’s the key takeaway here?
When it comes to capturing data, accessing that data and responding to issues or trends happening in your vineyard, low-code/no-code vineyard management is the best thing for you. Especially when paired with your grapevine and vineyard sensors, and automatic irrigation equipment.
Low-code/no-code apps and mobile forms for vineyards can help you manage water spraying schedules, create safer workflows by ensuring workers are logged in at specific locations and provide access to operational data that will empower business owners and managers to make better decisions, everyday. As pointed out in a previous article about how digital transformation is improving agriculture, so too can it benefit those in viniculture, viticulture and the winery/vineyard industry.
Free trial – available now – no commitment
We understand that vineyard managers are short on time and budget. You don’t have time to waste and you certainly don’t want to waste budget.
So, we’ve made it easy for you with our free trial of our low-code/no-code app-building platform for vineyards. And now with our ROI calculator built into the free trial, there’s no reason not to trial the platform and see what we can do for your winery.
At prices starting from $18* per user per month, we’re actually one of the cheapest no-code platforms for enterprise organisations out there!
Speak to a platform specialist at forms2 and build your own scalable Android, iOS and Windows vineyard management apps and mobile forms for vineyard management in hours, not months. Reap the Benefits of Digital Vineyard Management today.
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This article was written by a human and fact-checked!
Want more? Read how digital transformation improves agriculture.
