For the S.C.A. Ntra. Sra. de las Virtudes cooperative, the daily auction was more than a tradition, it was a cornerstone of their business, accounting for a full 25% of their annual revenue. But this critical operation was facing a foundational crisis that threatened its very existence. The traditional, analog system that had served them for decades was finally at its breaking point.
This challenge is one many established organizations face: when does a legacy system shift from being a reliable workhorse to a significant business risk? For Las Virtudes, that moment had arrived.
A traditional system on the brink of failure
The agricultural sector, though rooted in tradition, is no stranger to the need for modernization. Las Virtudes faced two critical challenges that jeopardized its business model:
- Risk to operational continuity due to auctioneer retirements: the traditional downward auction, a spoken practice reliant on the experience of auctioneers with deep market knowledge, was threatened by the retirement of two key professionals. Finding and training new profiles with this specialization was an almost insurmountable challenge, compromising the cooperative’s fundamental operations.
- Customer loss and barriers to new customer acquisition: the complexity of traditional auctions demotivated new generations of buyers. This dynamic led to customer attrition and hindered the acquisition of new ones, directly impacting sales volume and business expansion, despite the excellent quality of their produce.
The turning point: moving from technology to total control
The search for a viable digital alternative led Las Virtudes to a key realization. Early trials with generic technologies had proven insufficient. The solution required not just an app, but absolute control over the entire digital environment to ensure fairness, security, and simplicity.
This strategic requirement led them, in partnership with their technology advisor Texco Solutions, to select Applivery as the foundation for their new digital auction.
Texco chose Applivery for its proven robustness and flexibility in secure application management and total device control. The platform’s capabilities directly addressed their primary needs:
- A controlled environment with Kiosk Mode: Applivery was used to lock a fleet of over 80 Android devices into a single-app mode. This ensured that every terminal was used exclusively for the auction, eliminating user error and creating a uniform, distraction-free experience.
- Guaranteed fairness through centralized policies: from a single console, the IT team could deploy universal configurations to every device. This meant every participant’s screen had the same brightness, volume, and settings, creating a truly level playing field and building trust in the new system.
- Operational agility for management and scale: the platform’s ability to enroll, configure, and update devices instantly removed significant IT overhead. This agility was crucial for managing the system day-to-day and for scaling the operation as more buyers joined.
From pilot program to full adoption: a user-first approach
Recognizing that user buy-in would determine the project’s success, the cooperative made the strategic decision to launch a pilot program before the full rollout. The goal was to create a seamless transition for their buyers, so they dedicated a two-month period to perfecting the user experience.
This focus was possible because the underlying technical deployment with Applivery was so swift. With the IT side handled efficiently, the team could dedicate its full attention to gathering user feedback, iterating on the application’s design, and executing a thoughtful adoption plan. The result was a system that was not only technically robust but also fully validated and embraced by its users from day one.
The results: a resounding business success
The strategic shift to a digitally controlled auction yielded significant and measurable returns across the business:
- A 30% increase in revenue: the efficiency and transparency of the new system directly translated to a stronger bottom line.
- 18% growth in daily customers: by making the auction accessible and trustworthy, Las Virtudes attracted a larger, more competitive pool of buyers.
- Radical efficiency gains: The entire auction, including administrative processing, was condensed to just 90 minutes. Manual data entry and its associated costs were completely eliminated.
Future vision: the roadmap for agricultural business sustainability
This solution not only addresses current challenges but also offers an innovative response to a challenging trend: the disappearance of auctioneers and the decline of traditional auctions. This alliance has demonstrated that digitalization can not only reverse this negative trend but also revitalize entire sectors and ensure their continuity.
Key aspects that drove success and the future vision:
- Specific adaptation for the agricultural sector: our kiosk mode was fundamental, allowing a single auction application to run on all devices and blocking any other functionality. This adaptability was crucial for the particular needs of the agricultural process.
- Applivery’s potential beyond auctions: Applivery’s functionalities extend to other areas of the agricultural sector, such as device management for field technicians and the commercial team. It’s also ideal for mobility in factories, production, and warehouses, optimizing workflows and ensuring the exclusive use of required applications.
- Key to collaboration success: success lies in mutual trust and the ability to understand specific client needs. Applivery’s flexibility and Texco’s agrotechnology expertise, combined with Las Virtudes’ openness to innovation, created a perfect synergy.
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