BinSentry expands feed inventory management platform with new software

CANADA – BinSentry has introduced Critical Event Management (CEM), a new software add-on for its feed inventory management platform, designed to help producers track and respond to bin slide management issues. 

The CEM plugin provides real-time alerts via SMS text, tracks event times and durations, and records employee responses, ensuring that feed-related issues are quickly addressed before they impact animal health and productivity.

BinSentry, a leader in agricultural technology, develops AI-powered solutions to improve efficiency and sustainability in the animal feed supply chain. 

Out-of-feed events can significantly harm the health and performance of swine and poultry, further tightening producers’ already-thin profit margins. 

However, many of these incidents go undetected and untracked, making it difficult for producers to address the root causes effectively.

While many assume that feed outages occur when bins run empty, BinSentry’s data—collected from monitoring tens of thousands of feed bins daily—reveals a different reality. 

The company has found that 80% of out-of-feed hours result from bin slide management errors, not actual feed shortages. This discovery highlights the need for better monitoring and management of feed bins to prevent unnecessary disruptions.

The new CEM feature allows producers and mill operators to detect and manage slide management issues remotely at any time. 

BinSentry CEO Ben Allen emphasized the importance of quick intervention, stating that out-of-feed events can occur for a variety of reasons, but a timely response is critical. 

Before BinSentry, producers had little to no visibility inside their bins, making it nearly impossible to address these issues in real time. With CEM, that has changed.

Leveraging artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly vital role in agriculture by automating critical processes and optimizing supply chains. BinSentry’s AI-driven technology enhances process control, prevents waste, lowers transportation costs, protects workers, and improves overall animal health and performance. 

Elizabeth Willard, BinSentry’s Director of Product, explained that the CEM software add-on provides real-time alerts and direct communication with on-site teams via SMS text messaging. 

Unlike traditional app-based monitoring systems, CEM does not require employees to download an app or undergo extensive training, ensuring a seamless and accessible solution for feed management.

In addition to real-time alerts, CEM records the duration of out-of-feed events and tracks employee response times. When combined with BinSentry’s Out-of-Feed Insights dashboard, the software allows producers to analyze historical trends, compare feed management performance across farms, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their operations. 

By leveraging these insights, producers can improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) by up to 10 basis points, avoid emergency feed deliveries, and ensure that their animals reach market on time and in peak condition.

Allen noted that animal feed represents nearly two-thirds of the total cost of food production, making efficiency gains in feed management crucial for profitability. 

Better feed tracking and optimization also benefit feed mills and distributors, enabling them to reduce costs by delivering the right feed mixes at the right time while minimizing transportation inefficiencies.

In a related development, BinSentry recently announced a strategic partnership with Cargill to introduce AI-powered tools aimed at optimizing Brazil’s animal feed supply chains. 

Under this agreement, Cargill has become the exclusive distributor of BinSentry’s feed inventory management platform in Brazil, expanding their existing collaboration from North America to a new market. 

By integrating BinSentry’s advanced sensor technology with Cargill’s expertise in sustainable food production, the partnership aims to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and provide real-time feed management solutions that support both poultry and pork producers.

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