Software Solutions for IoT Sensor Management
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The German start-up provides a set of modular software and hardware solutions for IoT sensor installation and maintenance. These tools are applied by energy suppliers and the housing industry.
Studies have shown that less than 6% of Africa's farmland is irrigated, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions like solar-powered water pumps to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience. In many regions, farmers face significant challenges in managing their water resources efficiently to sustain their crops and livestock. Erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts exacerbate these issues, making access to reliable water sources critical.
Solar-powered water pumps offer a sustainable solution, but determining daily water consumption needs and the technical requirements for these pumps is a complex task, often beyond the expertise of the average farmer. Traditional methods involve navigating intricate Excel spreadsheets, leading to frequent errors, delays, and the need for expert intervention. This inefficient process needs to improve farmers' ability to make timely and accurate decisions, affecting their productivity and livelihoods.
Ragnarson, specializing in climate tech and startups, partnered with Margraf Publishers and GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) to develop a custom software application. This case study outlines how Ragnarson addressed these challenges by focusing on the client's software and business goals. The result was a user-friendly, impactful solution that empowers African farmers to optimise their water usage effectively, thus improving their productivity and livelihoods.
The platform simplifies and accelerates consumption billing for the real estate industry. It serves as a control center for device configuration and data processing, working hand-in-hand to deliver a smooth sub-metering process - from installation to cost allocation, and more.
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The then-existing prototype was not strong in terms of architecture, scalability, and future maintenance. It required a solution for passing data from meters to a gateway, sending it to a server for processing, and utilizing it for cost allocation. We started with a code review and shortly were given the first major task - to develop the core of the product, which offers flexibility in terms of future iterations and experiments.
Stable, scalable, and cost-effective backend API allowing other companies to integrate the system into their legacy apps.
We shipped the API to connect a Rails backend with the customer mobile application.
Meter values can be automatically transferred from one software system to another.
The software provides monitoring and alarm functionalities.
Thanks to wireless technology, consumption data is readily accessible in the web application.
The solution provides users with high-resolution monitoring in real-time.
Single-page web application for platform management and sensor installation.
The platform is stable and currently running more than 500 gateways, each of which handles around 1100 meters.
We utilised Ruby on Rails for server-side development, ensuring simplicity with core functionalities focused on authentication and data persistence.
It was built using React for a dynamic and responsive user interface.
Implemented Tanstack Query for advanced caching and offline support, ensuring the application could function without a stable internet connection.
Used React Router for straightforward routing and DaisyUI for system design, ensuring a user-friendly interface.
The development process involved iterative cycles with continuous feedback from the client, ensuring the final product met the users' specific needs.
Original complex Excel formulas were simplified and integrated into the application with the help of the client’s experts.
The new web application replaced complex Excel files, reducing errors and eliminating the need for expert intervention. Farmers can now easily determine their water requirements and the technical specifications for solar-powered water pumps.
The offline mode ensures that farmers in regions with poor internet connectivity can still use the application effectively.
The app’s design is simple, straightforward, and accessible, catering to users with limited technical expertise. Responsive design ensures usability across different devices, including mobile phones.
Users can download detailed PDF reports of their input data and results, providing a valuable resource for record-keeping and decision-making.
Ragnarson successfully developed a web application for Margraf Publishers that addressed significant challenges faced by African farmers. Leveraging expertise in climate tech, startup development, and impactful software solutions, the team delivered a user-friendly, efficient, and accessible tool.
This project streamlined determining water and pump requirements, empowering farmers with reliable, easy-to-use technology. By providing a solution that simplifies complex calculations and reduces errors, the application significantly contributes to sustainable agriculture practices in Africa.
Through close collaboration and a focus on the client's software and business goals, the project ensured the success and growth of Margraf Publishers in the climate tech sector. This strategic partnership met immediate needs and laid the groundwork for future innovations in sustainable farming solutions.
The more I got to know them, the more I appreciated their style of work. They’re helping us build the right tool, not just by providing designers, but also by understanding the problem and product very well. They constantly enable us to challenge our solution, asking a lot of good “Why?” questions and proposing easier solutions to our problem. Their support is invaluable.
