To achieve this, it has implemented the Silometric solution: a level sensor developed by MCSystems, a specialist in the digital transformation of stock management in the agricultural sector, and based on the IoT connectivity of UnaBiz, a global provider and integrator of massive IoT services.
For years, measuring the level in a silo was done using unreliable manual methods: from tapping on the metal sheet to guess the remaining amount, to throwing a stone outside to estimate what was left. These rudimentary practices were not only inaccurate but also generated uncertainty and losses. At Piensos Gòdia, this lack of reliable information caused significant inefficiencies: errors in assigning tanks to silos, tanks that emptied overnight, and constant calls to farms to verify storage levels. Added to this was the heavy workload that managing stocks placed on the teams. This situation was particularly acute on Fridays, when activity increased significantly to prevent problems over the weekend.
IoT sensors and connectivity for real-time monitoring
To overcome this challenge, Silometric was implemented: a level sensor developed by MCSystems that uses laser technology to measure storage levels and check stock status from any smart electronic device. This solution is based on UnaBiz's IoT connectivity, which is key to its operation in rural environments and areas with limited coverage or no conventional electrical infrastructure. Thanks to this connectivity, the sensors can transmit information efficiently, with low energy consumption and without the need to deploy complex infrastructure.
The system displays the silo's status in real time using a graphic and a color code (green, yellow, orange, and red) that allows for quick identification of the available feed level, without the need to analyze complex data. This enables Piensos Gòdia to centralize silo management at the factory, keeping the information accessible to both farm staff and the teams responsible for logistics planning and feed production.
The implementation of Silometric has brought about a significant change in Piensos Gòdia's daily operations. One of the main benefits has been improved staff safety, as they no longer need to climb the silos to manually check feed levels. Furthermore, it has resulted in time savings, allowing for greater dedication to animal care. Currently, checking animal feed levels takes approximately 5 minutes per silo each day. The solution has also reduced the stress associated with Friday planning. With real-time information, Piensos Gòdia can anticipate feed production and distribution, taking advantage of quieter days to fill the necessary silos and avoid peak workloads at the end of the week. By accurately knowing the level in each silo, the company can better adjust stored feed quantities and prevent excessive accumulation. As a result, feed removal has been reduced by approximately four truck trips per week. Trucks take almost an hour to remove 1000kg of surplus feed. This has resulted in significant savings (an average cost of removing surplus feed of around €60/silo, plus the cost of transporting the removed kg back to the source), considering that Piensos Gòdia currently manages more than one hundred feed silos distributed among 10 different farms.
