In 2021, Agri Sumber Prestari (ASP) emerged as a transformative force in Malaysia's agricultural sector, driven by a bold vision to elevate local talent and reduce reliance on foreign and manual labor. As a trailblazer under SD Guthrie Agri Bio (a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation Bhd), ASP is redefining the industry with its innovative approach to manpower solutions.
Its commitment extends beyond mere recruitment; it is about shaping the future of agriculture through high-caliber hiring and cutting-edge training. ASP’s services range from local manpower placement to specialized technical training, with a focus on enhancing skills via dynamic workshops, seminars, and conferences.
To realize their ambitious goals, the organization turned to FieldEx, seeking a true game-changer. This case study delves into how FieldEx’s state-of-the-art platform has become a crucial partner in ASP’s journey, driving operational excellence and innovation.
Learn more on this on Business Today: Click here
ASP faced several operational challenges that hindered their efficiency and effectiveness, grappling with issues related to data integrity, process streamlining, and accurate traceability and monitoring. In the following segment, we explore these specific pain points and how they highlighted the urgent need for a more integrated and automated solution to drive the company’s success.
Maintaining accurate and reliable data across their operations was a challenge for ASP.
The manual entry and management of data through log books and spreadsheets led to inconsistencies and errors, undermining the trustworthiness of crucial information. This lack of data integrity affected decision-making processes, resource allocation and performance tracking, making it difficult for ASP to ensure precise and actionable insights for their workforce and operational needs.
ASP’s operational system and work processes were tedious and fragmented, resulting in inefficiencies and difficulties in managing day-to-day activities.
The integration of various systems and workflows proved cumbersome, creating bottlenecks and hindering seamless coordination across different departments. This complexity not only impacted productivity but also increased the risk of errors and delays in operations, affecting overall effectiveness.
The company faced challenges in tracking and tracing various aspects of their operations, from equipment maintenance to employee performance.
Inadequate traceability hindered their ability to monitor progress, identify issues and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal standards. This lack of visibility made it difficult for ASP to manage and optimize their resources effectively.
Monitoring key operational metrics and activities was a significant challenge for ASP.
Without real-time visibility and robust monitoring tools, the company struggled to keep track of performance indicators, job status and critical operational data. This lack of effective monitoring limited their ability to proactively address issues, manage workloads and ensure that tasks were completed efficiently.
"Previously, we used to do it all manually. For example, our attendance every morning was done manually using a book. We used it to check the machines and work programs. Everything was manual. So sometimes, we forget the days or dates, sometimes we might miss something. It wasn’t really done in order."
Manual processes, such as logging attendance and daily work activities using traditional log books, were prone to errors and oversight. The reliance on manual entries led to inaccuracies in attendance records, incomplete daily work logs and missed tasks. These errors not only impacted operational efficiency but also affected the accuracy of performance evaluations and resource management.
The manual leave application process, which involved filling out and submitting physical forms, caused delays in approvals and disrupted workflow management. The time-consuming nature of manual leave processing affected employee satisfaction and operational continuity, as approvals were often slow and cumbersome.
Manual standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists for machine maintenance were susceptible to errors and oversight.
The reliance on paper-based documentation made it challenging to ensure that maintenance tasks were performed consistently and according to established protocols. This increased the risk of equipment downtime and operational disruptions, impacting overall efficiency and productivity.
FieldEx goes beyond merely addressing ASP’s challenges by delivering a comprehensive suite of robust, versatile features that work in perfect harmony. These intelligent and invaluable tools elevate operational efficiency and productivity, empowering the client to confidently seize new opportunities and expand their influence across regions and industries.
Whether it’s job orders, inventory, reports, invoices, forms, customer feedback or metrics, FieldEx channels every stream of data into ONE unified dashboard. This enables easy access to accurate data, workflow organization and resource optimization, helping ASP turn up efficiency and productivity. This also builds and enhances customer relationship.
FieldEx’s digital (hence paperless) platform enables ASP to easily manage, search and share digital documents (eg customer and equipment information, all types of contracts, maintenance schedules) for improved workflow efficiency and quicker access to information. No more errors, delays and paper-related costs.
"With FieldEx, it’s much easier for me to perform my daily tasks. Updating progress in the app is simple, fast and it’s user-friendly."
FieldEx swiftly generates workflows, SOPs, inspection checklists and job orders. This streamlines processes, and makes tasks of field agents and machine specialists a whole lot faster, more accurate, reliable and efficient. No more errors and delays related to paper messes and human error.
FieldEx automates the entire leave application process through its digital platform. Leave requests submitted online are instantly routed to the appropriate managers for approval. This eliminates paperwork, reduces processing time, and ensures that all leave records are accurately tracked and easily accessible.
Thanks to FieldEx’s automated tracking of employee training and certifications, ASP ensures that all staff stay up-to-date with required training while maintaining compliance and safety standards across the organization.
FieldEx provides instant access to live data, allowing ASP to gain real-time insights into job progress and team locations. It also enables the client to track inventory movements and stock levels, with automated alerts when inventory is low, thereby preventing stock-outs or overstocking.
"The implementation of the FieldEx system into our operations has eased our operational challenges and given us peace of mind in terms of data integrity and security over the data collected."
Access to real-time data provides ASP with immediate insights into their operations, enabling them to monitor performance, identify issues as they arise, and take corrective actions promptly. This level of data integrity leads to quicker decision-making and more responsive management.
Furthermore, real-time data enhances transparency, helping ASP optimize resources, forecast trends and stay ahead of the curve.
FieldEx enables ASP to generate personalized reports by including the most relevant information based on individual roles and responsibilities. This feature helps the client create budget reports to monitor spending and identify cost-saving opportunities, supporting strategic decision-making.
Additionally, FieldEx makes it easy to transform complex data into clear and understandable graphs, charts, and visual widgets for reports. Also, easily pick and choose specific insights by using filters to narrow down data by timeframe, region or job type.
"By having this data to analyze, I think it’s a big win for us. I think it’s a game-changer, and nobody else has what we have at the moment."
Scheduling maintenance based on dynamic frequency (eg timeframes, hour meter readings) automates preventive maintenance tasks, assigning skilled technicians and necessary parts. This reduces downtime and maximizes asset ROI and lifespan.
FieldEx collates all service level agreement (SLA) contracts into a single platform, enabling ASP to easily organize and manage them. Customized notifications trigger tickets or work orders, ensuring they never miss a deadline. By consistently meeting deadlines, ASP enhances customer confidence and strengthens brand integrity.
The end customer portal enables customers to access up-to-date information with clarity and transparency. It also sends instant emails upon job completion. This improved experience boosts customer satisfaction.
ASP grappled with disjointed systems, manual errors, and inefficient processes that hindered their operations. These challenges led to significant inefficiencies, operational delays, and inaccuracies, making it difficult for ASP to maintain smooth workflows and achieve their strategic objectives.
FieldEx delivered a comprehensive, integrated solution that tackled these issues head-on. By unifying data management, automating key workflows, and providing real-time insights, FieldEx not only addressed ASP’s immediate pain points but also significantly boosted their operational efficiency. The seamless integration of these features has streamlined ASP’s processes, reduced errors, and enhanced their ability to make data-driven decisions with confidence.
Thanks to FieldEx’s advanced solutions, ASP now enjoys smoother operations, greater accuracy, and improved productivity. This transformation has positioned ASP for successful expansion and growth across various markets, enabling them to navigate their business landscape with newfound agility and effectiveness.
