Harvest Automation Inc., developer and manufacturer of mobile autonomous robots for agriculture, and Practical Software Solutions, a provider of ERP systems to the nursery and greenhouse industry, announced a partnership to connect Harvest Knowledge robot data systems with the Grower Vertical for Sage ERP package.
Following on the 2013 introduction of the HV-100 plant moving robot, Harvest Automation will launch Harvest Knowledge this year. Harvest Knowledge is a cloud-based data collection and analysis system which will allow robots to link the work that is being performed to the fields and plants they are working with and report this information back to growers and production planners. This will provide a comprehensive view of the work robots have completed, and a new tool to plan and optimize production.
Practical Software Solutions developed Grower Vertical in 2006, when Metrolina Greenhouses of Huntersville, N.C., approached the company to help create horticulture-specific functionality for their ERP system. Practical also provides integrated solutions for HR, fixed assets and CRM for the industry.
Grower Vertical provides a customizable, scalable, and full-featured enterprise management system designed for specific needs of the horticulture industry.
"The connection between mobile autonomous robots working the farm and integrated production data systems marks the beginning of a new era for the agriculture industry," said John Kawola, Harvest Automation CEO. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Practical Software Solutions to provide growers with another tool to streamline operations and increase profit margins."
Vince Stamey, Practical Software Solutions CEO, echoed Kawola's sentiments.
"We are proud to stand with Harvest Automation in bringing the newest technology to the horticulture industry," Stamey said. "By adding another integrated solution to Grower Vertical, we are excited to help the industry find even more ways of managing their business across all aspects of their operation."