Unified Communications for the Agricultural Sector

How Can Unified Communications Benefit Farmers and Those in Agricultural Businesses?

Facing the demands of an ever-expanding population, agricultural businesses are under constant pressure to deliver produce on time and in the quantities expected. 

In 2022 alone, the UK’s total income from the agricultural industry was almost £8 billion, according to data from the government.

Yet despite this figure, some areas of the agricultural industry hesitate when the time comes for adaptation and improvements to meet demand. Specifically in the use of more modern technologies.

According to the NFU’s Mutual Voice of The Farmer survey, while technology adoption is occurring in the sector, 62% of farmers have yet to even consider new technologies which could enhance their efforts.

One area that could see rapid improvement, is communications. 

In the digital age, cloud communications – such as unified communications – have proven to be a game-changer for industries seeking to boost their internal and external communications – and it could do the same for agricultural businesses.

A cloud-based platform, unified communications bring together all the major communications tools a modern business needs to thrive, into a single, all-encompassing application with an easy-to-use interface. This includes voice calls (including international calls), text, instant messaging, email, video conferencing, file sharing, screen sharing, collaboration tools, and more.

But how are unified communications tools useful for those in agricultural businesses? 

At Elite Group, we’re experts in offering businesses cloud communication solutions. If you’re interested in transforming the communication capabilities of your agricultural enterprise, reach out to an Elite Group expert today. Alternatively, keep reading to learn more about the benefits on offer.

The Benefits of Unified Communications Systems on the Agricultural Sector

Improved Productivity

According to data featured by Simon and Simon, workers who feel they are well-informed are 77% more productive than their less-informed colleagues.

When workers feel uninformed they are less likely to complete tasks to the standard expected of them. Yet given the sheer size and scale of some agricultural businesses, with farms, crops and buildings scattered across acres of land, communication between staff can be difficult.

Traditionally, experienced farm employees would operate independently. However, in the age of mass agricultural operations, farmhands need to remain in constant contact with both their fellow farm workers and office-based colleagues. 

Unified communication is one method agricultural businesses can use to facilitate such communication. 

By arming farmhands with the correct digital device (most often a smartphone) they can be instantly reachable in a manner that suits the situation, whilst remaining as productive as possible. 

With access to real-time information without relying solely on face-to-face interactions or being tied to a desk phone, farm workers can remain productive, concentrating on the job at hand whilst still being provided with important and timely updates. 

Not only that, but farmhands can also quickly access key information via the unified communications system, including technical manuals, calendars, cattle figures and more. All without the need to carry physical documents which can be damaged, destroyed or easily lost in an agricultural environment.

Better Communications Between All Levels of the Business

Those on the ground are not the only ones who need access to consistent and reliable communications. For larger agricultural businesses, many of the logistics and financial decisions will be made from an office base.

But with so many moving parts within an office setup – especially one potentially spread across multiple locations – maintaining consistent communication can be difficult.

Departments or offices that choose to communicate via means that aren’t the company standard can be counterproductive, preventing a positive and collaborative working relationship across all areas of the business. 

This is a concern given how reliant the agricultural industry is on quick and effective information sharing – such as changing weather conditions, breeding figures, stock tonnage and more.

By bringing all areas of the company under the same umbrella with a unified communications system, messaging is simplified and more direct. Eliminating the chance of missed messaging and confusion caused by spreading important information across numerous external platforms, like WhatsApp, Messenger, or personal email addresses.

Plus, with both office and farm-based staff all logged into the same UC system at once, communications can remain effective across all locations and levels of the business.

Improved Safety Practices and Protocols

All areas of the agricultural sector – be it crop farming, livestock management, fishing and more – all come with their own set of challenges and safety concerns.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, around 1 in 5 fatalities that occur in the workplace happen in the agricultural sector, highlighting the need for robust and effective safety measures across all areas of the industry.

However, when an accident occurs, it can be difficult for all farm staff to know precisely what to do, who to contact, and the best method to contact them.

In some instances, timing can be crucial, with the effectiveness of communications between two parties being the difference between life and death.

Thankfully, unified communications systems can be of assistance in these scenarios. Because all employees are logged into the same communications system, they are instantly contactable if the situation calls for it, wherever they happen to be.

Not only that, but workers don’t need to rely on a wifi connection to access the system. Despite being accessed via the cloud, unified communications systems can still be used with a mobile data connection, meaning essential contact can be made even in remote or poorly serviced locations. 

Further assisting safety protocols, unified communications systems can also be loaded with a plethora of health and safety documents, along with the manuals of complex mechanical devices used in agriculture.

Cross-Site Communications

One of the major selling points of unified communications for most modern businesses is how it opens the doors for greater remote working options yet few sectors can benefit as greatly as the agricultural sector.

As long as an employee is using the relevant digital device (smartphone, laptop, tablet) and has a stable internet connection, they will be able to log into the UC platform and gain instant access to all the same tools and files as their office-based colleagues. Ideal for remote collaboration.

This is particularly useful for those in the agricultural industry as it allows workers to remain connected and productive no matter where they are, even if they need to visit multiple sites throughout the week.

Should farm workers need to move between separate farms, or other agricultural workers need to move between separate sites, they don’t need to sacrifice connectivity or communications with the wider team.

As long as all employees are simultaneously logged into the same unified communications platform, they can message each other and share essential information and documents.

Choose Elite Group to Onboard Unified Communications in Your Agricultural Business

If unified communications sounds like a valuable addition to your agricultural operations, contact us to explore the solutions we offer. At Elite Group we will seamlessly implement the right technology to fit your needs.

Our Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solution allows us to manage your communications infrastructure remotely, relieving you of the pressures of daily communications upkeep, so you can continue with your essential work unhindered.

With decades of combined experience in the business technology space, we have a huge amount of experience serving businesses just like yours, helping them remain productive and profitable thanks to the latest innovations.

With Elite Group, you’ll be assigned a dedicated account manager who will oversee the onboarding process and act as your first port of call should you run into any speedbumps as you adjust to your new way of working.

Plus, with round-the-clock technical support available, you’ll always have the information you need to troubleshoot issues quickly and easily.

To find out more about the benefits of unified communications for agricultural businesses, speak to a member of our dedicated team today.