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Growing Bayer Crop's revolutionary Agri-Tech app capabilities
How might we provide the agriculture sector with data and information for tech-enabled crop protection support?
Bayer Crop Science’s agri-tech app, FieldMate, is a vital resource for growers to diagnose problems out in the field, from identifying pests and potentially damaging weeds to diseased crops.
Despite its popularity, the app was limited in capability, no longer on Android and was difficult for teams at Bayer to manage regular content updates.
We started by introducing more rounded and robust design principles to the app, which ultimately led to the creation of a dedicated design system.
By using atomic design principles we were able to add much-needed consistency throughout the app design, providing structure and reusability to how Bayer used specific styles, components and content. By taking this approach, nothing needs to be reinvented in the future – making it simpler and more convenient for future design development.
With user insight and farmer feedback at the heart of the app’s development, it was vital we validated our assumptions in user testing sessions to continually improve our designs throughout the process.
As the app is used by such a specific audience in farmers and agronomists, we were able to test directly with our primary users and get important feedback. This even meant getting the app out into the hands of farmers whilst working out in the fields!
With the first-generation version built twice for both iOS and Android in their native language, bringing the app up-to-date with modern technology and a shared framework was a priority.
We used React Native so almost all of the work could be shared across Android and iOS and be built cross-platform. This means that future engineering will become much quicker, more sustainable and more reliable.
We also restored the original functionality of managing the app through the CMS, so teams at Bayer could update both make content updates to the app and website in the same place. By taking this approach, nothing needs to be reinvented in the future – making it simpler and more convenient for future design development.
