ICT Ignite - Cyber Security for Inventory/Sales Management Software
The main goal of this project is to plan, implement, manage, monitor and upgrade security measures for the protection of user data and systems for AgSights' bioLinks application. bioLinks is an Inventory and Sales tracking solution for Canadian agricultural businesses. Working with bioLinks' Lead Full-Stack Developer, Learners will have the opportunity to apply their skills to contribute meaningful recommendations and improvements to bioLinks' CyberSecurity practices across a wide-range of infrastructures. bioLinks includes two web-applications written in Python and React, an iOS application, and an integration with WordPress/WooCommerce for e-commerce that communicate via extensive APIs. We also have integrations with popular payment processing and accounting softwares.
Enhancing User Experience of an Inventory/Sales Management Solution
AgSights is a not-for-profit member co-operative that enabling data capture and integrating data across the supply chain are critical to increasing the efficiency and sustainability of Canadian Agriculture. We provide tools and services that make it easier for members to capture and use data in their operations.The software solutions we offer include: bioTrackPlus, a herd/flock management application for livestock (beef cattle, sheep, goat and bison) producers; bioLinks, an inventory-sales tracking solution designed for agricultural businesses; and ProcessorLinks a collaboration to increase the efficiency of booking harvest space for livestock.bioLinks is out inventory-sales tracking software. It will be launched in Fall 2023 and our goal in this project is for learners to help improve the user experience of this platform to ensure a successful launch. bioLinks is a python-based web application with a Microsoft SQL database, that also includes API integrations to a mobile application and WooCommerce multi-site store. In the beta testing phase we have received feedback from existing clients that we would like to incorporate into the launch to better suit their needs such as:Modifications to user interfaces, which are displayed using the datatables libraries, so users can efficiently view the data that is important to them. Including, improving the column selector, allowing users to customize the data the layouts of screens to suit their needs.Minor updates to increase consistency and usability of user interfaces (i.e., consistent column names, adjustments to css, order that data is displayed).Improvements to page loading and general performance to improve the user experience.Improvements to the user interface of the WooCommerce online store (e.g., improving sorting and filtering of products, payment gateway integrations, flexibility of the store for different clients).In this project, learners will work together to review and prioritize client beta testing feedback, and then develop and implement a plan to address the small wins that can improve overall user experience in the short term.The learners in this project will contribute to a successful and smooth launch of the new platform. This will help AgSights to better meet the needs of existing clients and provide more value to new clients. The enhancements will help increase the ease of use of bioLinks for clients, supporting small to medium sized businesses in increasing their production efficiency, reducing staff work load and improving overall profitability.
Building Data Analytics Tools to Improve Livestock Management Application
AgSights is a not-for-profit member co-operative that believes that easy data capture and data-driven insights are imperative to increasing the profitability and sustainability of agricultural operations. The software solutions we offer include: biotrackPlus, a herd/flock management application for livestock (beef cattle, sheep, goat and bison) producers; bioLinks, an inventory-sales tracking solution designed for agricultural businesses; and ProcessorLinks a collaboration to increase the efficiency of booking harvest space for livestock.In this project, we are looking for learners to put data analytics skills into practice to build tools that will empower livestock operations across North America to make data-driven decisions to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their operations. Our bioTrack Plus herd management software is built on the Microsoft Dynamics platform, which has robust data analytics and visualization capacity. This version of the software was launched in late 2022 and has users with beef, sheep, goat and bison operations across North America. We continue to enhance the platform to provide more value to members. One key area of continued growth, is building reports and visualizations because a herd management software is only as valuable as the insights it can provide users. In this project, learners will have the opportunity to develop summary reports and visualizations on the Microsoft Dynamics platform for a database of over 2 million animal records. This will provide valuable real-world experience building analytics tools on a commercially-available low-code platform that is used in many industries around the world. They will be working with livestock geneticists that have extensive experience in the manipulation and analysis of animal data as well as experience coding in SQL, R, Python, JS, C# and more.
Creative Website Re-design to Market Agricultural Software Solutions.
AgSights is a member cooperative with headquarters in Elora, Ontario that has been in business since 1993. We focus on bridging intelligence among producers, retailers, and consumers to bring 3 core values to agri-food businesses and their products; integrity, trust and value. As a not-for-profit, AgSights works to design, build and support innovative software solutions stemming from our customer’s needs.Project Scope:Our organization is interested in improving our digital marketing through initiatives that are budget-friendly and realistic to improve our reach to potential clients to grow sales.This project may include, but is not limited to:Facilitate updates and advancements to our current WordPress websiteImprove website & company SEOBlog posts & client toolsIdentify & determine marketing channels for various customer segmentsIdentify key communication strategy & marketing material to capture client interest for web-based solutionsStrategies to grow awareness and following of our not-for-profit and its solutionsThe final project deliverable we would expect is a fully functional, easy-to-use, updated website that is launched with improved SEO and client material, along with any actionable marketing recommendations. Final deliverables from this course will be used to assist our sales and marketing teams to improve our sales approach and to generate new marketing material & strategy to draw our client prospects interest and grow sales.
Creative Strategies to Market web-based Agricultural Solutions.
Our organization is interested in investigating new marketing solutions to implement that are budget-friendly and realistic to improve our reach to potential clients to grow sales.This project may include, but is not limited to:Investigate AgSights current marketing strategy & areas of improvementIdentify & determine marketing channels for various customer segments (i.e. age demographics, industries)Identify key communication strategy & marketing material to capture client interest for web-based solutionsStrategies to grow awareness and following of our not-for-profit and its solutions.The final project deliverable is a report including highly detailed research, analysis, and actionable marketing recommendations. Final deliverables from this course will be used to assist our sales and marketing teams to improve our sales approach and to generate new marketing material & strategy to draw our client prospects interest and grow sales.
Data Reporting and Visuals for Software
Our product inventory, production and sales tracking software, bioLinks, is the area of our business that students would focus on. The goal will be to devise and implement one or multiple data visualization and reporting tools that help our current and prospective clients create more value and run their business more efficiently. Example reports/visuals that our clients are currently interested in are:A report that helps clients understand the margin of their products- this report would help clients understand what products are more profitable and help them address pricing.Seasonal sale trends- how do the sales of different products vary over the year. This could allow comparisons between the client's Sales Reps ore between sales in the Current Year vs a Previous YearAn overview of partially filled orders to understand what products they were short on for each order- For example a client could have received an online order from a customer for 10 different products but they only have 9 of these products in inventory. Our client would like to be able to view these partially filled orders to better understand what is missing in them so that when that product is in inventory they can complete the order. This could reveal short comings where our client could understand that consistently they are short on a product.Inventory levels over the past 6 months for their different products- Note the average client would sell 100 different products, but the range could be from 10 - 1000+ products per clientInventory/sales projections- as clients use bioLinks more and more this data visualization system could understand their past sales and inventories to make projection reports on what their sales and inventories could be for each product.In general, the data visualization system/tool would be customizable by the client. For example, a client could use the tool to see their total sales projections for the next 6 months today but could change this to just for the next 3 months.
Innovative Marketing Strategies for Digital Business Growth
We are looking to gain a better understanding of out target market to ensure we are positioning ourselves in the right segment, offering effective benefits, and creating the best marketing messages. To accomplish this, you could focus on providing:A complete analysis of our current offerings, our target market, and the positioning of our brand( i.e. insight into how we should communicate our brand or services) .How does COVID-19 change our target market and our marketing strategiesConducting empirical interviews and/or questionnaires for feedback on our brand, product, service, etc.Executing further market research to develop a comprehensive report of our target market (who, and where).Solicit feedback on consumer preferences when considering digital business solutions and what they would sustain for a pricing modelDevelop creative tactics that reach the target market for a digital solution that facilitate sales growthWe will provide you with access to organizational assets that support the project, including personnel, marketing strategies, marketing and sales collateral, etc.We hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of our target market and how we can better satisfy their needs. We would like recommendations on how to improve our positioning, brand, and products to better suit the market.
Data Analytics for Software Launch
Our organization is interested in analyzing animal data that has been collected in our bioTrack software for over 20 years. We would like you to analyze our historical records to identify key trends in the data that can be used towards growing our companies sales reach, in marketing material and for any software improvements. This project may include, but is not limited to:Key trends of the number of different data-point kept over time. - For example: From 1999 to 2005 the number of birth weight records kept increased at 2% per year.Overall trends in improvements of individual data points (by individual user and overall). - For example (overall): The number of death events has decreased by 5% per user per year.How long from when a producer starts to use the program until there are statistically significant improvements in certain data points (i.e. how long does it take to make a change in their herd). - For example: In 3 years users(s) were able to produce animals that reach market weights 2 months earlier on average than when they started using AgSights' program.Correlations between multiple variables. - For example: Users that vaccinate animals prior to a weaning event reduced post-weaning treatments by 15%The final project deliverable is a report including highly detailed research, analysis, and actionable recommendations. Final deliverables from this course will be used to assist our sales and marketing teams to improve our sales approach and to generate new marketing material composed of strong analytics that will support the need for livestock record keeping to our client prospects.