Up to now, farmers and contractors with a mixed machinery fleet can only record, process and document their data using the respective equipment and web portals of the individual manufacturers.

But a new move by a number of manufacturers is aimed at linking mixed fleets on a single digital platform.

With new DataConnect, CLAAS, 365FarmNet and John Deere have created for the first time a direct, manufacturer independent cloud-to-cloud solution. In a similar way to Isobus, customers can now exchange their data via a common interface as well as control and monitor their entire machinery fleet using their favourite system.

Meanwhile CNH Industrial has entered into two distinct industry cooperative agreements that will help customers of its agricultural equipment brands, Case IH, Steyr and New Holland Agriculture, manage multiple brands on the same digital platform.

With DataConnect, users can choose their preferred data platform from a specific manufacturer while also being able to transmit data from other machines via the new interface. This means that the data is still available in the John Deere Operations Centre, Claas Telematics or 365FarmNet portals, but can be exchanged in real time from one cloud to the other. The key benefit to the user is that all the necessary machine configurations are available in one system.

DataConnect enables the exchange of all important machinery data, including current and historical machine location, fuel tank level, current working status and forward speed. Transmission of agronomic data is also being planned.

With DataConnect the companies involved also wish to share their experience of cloud-to-cloud communication with ongoing Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) projects. This is why the architecture of this new interface is designed to support existing industry standards.

Any interested agricultural machinery manufacturers and software providers as well as associations and standardisation committees are welcome to help develop the existing interface. A first insight into the operation of DataConnect was to be seen on the Claas, 365FarmNet and John Deere stands at Agritechnica 2019, while the official launch is scheduled for summer 2020.

fleets

The CNH Industrial route also feeds in to this approach and involves two major industry agreements with:

• DataConnect: The data interface project recently announced by Claas, John Deere and 365FarmNet to enable mixed-fleet users to enable the exchange of machine data now includes Case IH, Steyr and New Holland brands; and

• DKE Agrirouter: CNH Industrial will join this universal data transfer hub, that currently includes 17 OEM brands and more than 30 digital service providers, to enable customers to exchange task data between brands.

Though the initiatives are focused on different elements of mixed-fleet access, both are aimed at removing obstructions for customers. Both CNH Industrial agreements required unique cooperation with industry competitors to bring the customers of Case IH, Steyr and New Holland connected Fleet and Farm services the freedom they need to manage their mixed-brand fleets with the highest possible efficiency.

“These agreements empower our customers to share and access data where and when they want,” said Derek Neilson, president Agriculture, CNH Industrial. “This is further evidence of our stated aim of developing a comprehensive suite of digital and connectivity services to help our customers run their farming operations with increased production efficiency."