Madek
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Zurich University of the Arts is the largest art university in Switzerland, counting over 2500 students. It’s also one of the most progressive schools in the country.
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.
"Madek" is the software behind the Media Archive of the Arts project. It offers a system of users, groups and access authorisations to allow easy media sharing. It's like Flickr, Vimeo, and Soundcloud combined with a built-in drag-and-drop file converter. At the moment, the platform is actively used by 3.500 users.
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The University’s internal IT team wanted to improve the functionality of the software by building new features. To speed up the platform’s development, they needed an experienced external partner who would work side by side with the on-site development team and advise on the most efficient solutions.
The size of the team varies from 1 to 4 software developers depending on the current needs.
Despite the long-term character of the relationship, the team remained fairly consistent, with the same tech lead for the last 7 years.
Striking a balance between numerous functions and ease of use is a major challenge.
The current engagement is shifting to operational support, but we also regularly add new features and functionalities.
We use the agile approach and regularly meet with the product team to provide feedback on features and gather requirements for the application.
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.
Ragnarson excels fairly well at the tasks they're given. That's a key reason why we've had a long term relationship with them. They listen to our needs and work closely with our team to make the partnership easy and effective. They've done everything in their power to ensure that the resources initially assigned to us stay with our team. On top of that, they have excellent Ruby on Rails knowledge.
