Daily Checks / Maintenance Recording

[Chris W]

We are looking to improve our recording of machinery checks and maintenance.

Does anyone have any experience/views on the available apps, such as MeritAgCheck or SmartFarmer? The later appears to be quite expensive..

Does anyone have any other systems they would recommend?

 

[tepapa]

We are looking to improve our recording of machinery checks and maintenance.

Does anyone have any experience/views on the available apps, such as MeritAgCheck or SmartFarmer? The later appears to be quite expensive..

Does anyone have any other systems they would recommend?

Just signed up to meritagcheck after @Clive recommend it. Haven't really used it much yet so can't fully comment but the paid version isn't dear/month and allows you to set personalised lists.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Been looking into this recently and the ‘free’ option is to make a google form template linked to a google sheet. It’s even possible to stick a QR code in every tractor windscreen for driver to scan to go straight onto the google form. Couple of multiple choice question, hours, date and a few brief answers will populate a google sheet in no time.

 

[Will Dunn]

Hi Guys,

I've recently just launched an app called Ag-drive that will eliminate the paperwork for all farm businesses. Key features include digital job recording, timesheets, invoicing with full integrations with Xero and Quickbooks, field mapping and finally pre-start health and safety checks.

Before each job recording you can set a customised pre-start checklist for the vehicle, implement and risk assessment of the operation if you want to make compulsory for your operator to tick off before he starts recording a job. Every operation on farm can be tracked using the phones GPS to make your farm traceable and accountable for everything you do!

I'd love to hear your feedback as literally launched Ag-drive last week.

Please do visit our website for more details!
https://ag-drive.com/

Thanks
Will

 

[Jack Russell]

We use merit check. We use the paid version and it works very well. Can fill in when repairs or servicing is done. Seems to work very well

 

[Chris W]

Both MeritAgCheck and SmartFarmer appear to do the same thing but at very different price points? Has anyone justified SmartFarmer?

 

[kiwi pom]

Just remember that when the driver has done all the checks and finds a fault that means it can't be used at all or can't be used on the road. It has to be fixed, regardless of whether its about to rain and the hay's ready or the combine tanks full.
Finding faults is the easy bit.

 

[Jack Russell]

Just remember that when the driver has done all the checks and finds a fault that means it can't be used at all or can't be used on the road. It has to be fixed, regardless of whether its about to rain and the hay's ready or the combine tanks full.
Finding faults is the easy bit.

Not all faults take it off the road, but it’s a good way to make sure everything is as good as we can be. Having come though an accident last year this system takes a lot of worry and stress out of the job.

 

[betweenthelines]

Just remember that when the driver has done all the checks and finds a fault that means it can't be used at all or can't be used on the road. It has to be fixed, regardless of whether its about to rain and the hay's ready or the combine tanks full.
Finding faults is the easy bit.

As above + make sure the checks are actually done! Ticking a few boxes on a phone app isn't the same as looking at a machine to check it's in working order.

Truck drivers are usually required to show they have spent an appropriate amount of time doing the checks -usually means 10-15 mins between putting digicard in truck and moving off.

If the tractor driver drives out of the yard five minutes after he drives in in his car, he isn't checking much!

 

[Chris W]

Now I have a full team that are coherent with smartphones I am relooking at this, does anyone have any updated opinions on these apps?