Harvesting Efficiency: Bruce Farms’ Digital Transformation Journey

Background

Bruce Farms, rooted in the early 1960s, has transcended the traditional family farm paradigm, growing into a vast agricultural enterprise that spans 22,000 acres. Now managed by the next generation, three brothers and their families, Bruce Farms has not only scaled in size but also in technological sophistication. With a robust fleet of 7,000 cattle and around $45 million in annual revenue, the farm employs precision farming techniques, integrating GPS to optimize planting and harvesting, thereby achieving efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. This leap into modern farming practices has set the stage for their foray into digital office operations​​.

The Challenge

The administrative arm of Bruce Farms faced a bottleneck with the processing of up to 400 vendor invoices monthly. This task, critical yet cumbersome, involved manual data entry into the Sage accounting system and meticulous filing for future retrieval. Mike Barrett, overseeing accounting and administration, highlighted the inefficiency and time consumption of locating a specific invoice, a process that could extend to hours, underscoring the urgent need for a streamlined system​​.

The Solution

In pursuit of efficiency, Bruce Farms turned to Consentia for a solution, adopting custom scanning and corresponding enterprise content management software to automate and manage their document flow. This transition was not merely about technology adoption but a strategic overhaul of their accounts payable process. The integration facilitated automatic data capture from invoices, significantly reducing manual entry and improving data accuracy. Furthermore, the introduction allowed for efficient document management, creating a seamless workflow that ensured consistency and compliance across all business processes​​.

The Outcome

The adoption of both their custom scanning software and ECM transformed Bruce Farms’ administrative operations, particularly in accounts payable. The immediate benefit was a streamlined process, but the true value unfolded as Bruce Farms expanded the application of its ECM to manage a wider array of documents and processes. From leases and purchase orders to vehicle registrations and maintenance records, the farm experienced enhanced accessibility, easier compliance with safety regulations, and smoother audits. This digital transformation not only optimized their administrative tasks but also paved the way for future enhancements, including the automation of approval processes and the use of mobile applications for even greater efficiency​​.