Feed Management - January 2013 - 10
10 | [ COVERSTORY ] become IT specialists. If an automated feed ordering the cloud as a way to get around good idea, but it hasn't taken those objections. Cloud comput- off like some expected. Harner system means buying new serv- ing lets companies use files and thinks it will eventually, as mills ers or retraining staff, mill manag- applications over the internet. realize they can deploy a system ers aren't interested. Many saw On paper, it sounds like a faster and reduce their total cost of ownership. As mills consolidate and are forced to consolidate different software systems, the cloud may offer a way to centralize the systems into one. The cloud may also be the answer to developing Web portals that allow customers to directly enter orders, opening the way for more business-to-business ecommerce. Mobile is the future Feed is not the only industry that has been slow to adopt business-to-business e-commerce. "Business-to-business commerce is a hard market to penetrate," Harner said. "Consumer ecommerce has taken off, but the b-to-b section just seems to be slower." Smartphones may provide the impetus for change that the cloud didn't. "It's something they are already using and familiar with, so they don't have to be retrained to use it." While livestock producers may not care if they can go to a desktop computer and order feed online, they may appreciate the ability to place a feed order from their smartphone at 10 p.m. when they check a bin and realize they forgot to place a feed order earlier that day. Mobile apps that allow a feed mill to send customers reminders that it's time to order feed again or alerts that the feed WATTAgNet.com | January/February 2013
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