*By Luciano Costa
Last year, Brazilian agribusiness exports totaled US$169.2 billion, representing 48.5% of all the country's exports. This performance was driven by a record harvest of 352.2 million tons of grains. Behind these numbers, however, lies a sector under pressure – rising costs, increasing environmental requirements, and the need to gain operational efficiency.
From this context, remote management of technological assets can be a strategic tool – a potential differentiator between losing margin or gaining competitiveness. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and data analysis have ceased to be exceptions and have become common practice on rural properties. A survey conducted by Embrapa in 2024 indicated that 8 out of 10 farmers already used digital solutions in their daily lives, and almost half of them recognized gains in performance and productivity with these innovations. In the corporate sphere, 45% of agribusiness companies in Brazil report using IoT, a rate well above the average of 9% observed in the economy in general, according to PwC.
But what does remote management of technological assets in agriculture mean in practice? Essentially, it's the ability to supervise and operate the farm's technological "assets" remotely, through connectivity and integrated platforms. This includes connecting machines, inputs, warehouses, and data in real time, enabling faster, safer, and more sustainable production decisions. Sensors distributed across the field capture information on climate, soil moisture, silo temperature, and equipment performance, feeding centralized systems that display a complete overview of the farm.
With the data at hand, a manager can, for example, immediately adjust the irrigation of a plot or the ventilation in a grain warehouse, all remotely. Tractors and harvesters equipped with telemetry send their location and operating conditions in real time. Even the IT infrastructure – cameras, rural wireless networks, monitoring drones – falls within this scope, composing an ecosystem in which each asset “speaks” remotely.
Remote telemetry: part of the revolution
In the machinery sector, remote telemetry has revolutionized maintenance and operational safety. Tractors, harvesters, and other modern equipment are equipped with sensors that measure engine temperature, vibration, fuel level, and wear and tear on parts during operation. This data allows for the identification of potential failures before they occur, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing the risk of accidents or unexpected downtime.
From a financial and managerial standpoint, the gains are equally significant. Data integration provides a predictive view of the business – the farmer can anticipate maintenance needs, plan crop outflow logistics based on monitored inventory levels, and even negotiate better inputs and financing with reliable information at hand. Studies indicate that digitizing management can generate increases of 10% to 20% in operational efficiency in just two years of use, thanks to reduced losses, optimized resource use, and faster decision-making.
Despite the clear benefits, the widespread adoption of remote asset management still faces obstacles in Brazil. The first is connectivity. Large rural areas remain without quality internet coverage. There has been recent progress – the presence of 4G or 5G signal in agricultural regions jumped from 18.7% to 33.9% in the last two years – but this still means that two-thirds of the countryside is disconnected.
On many farms far from urban centers, the lack of internet access makes the use of IoT, precision agriculture, and remote management platforms unfeasible, limiting productive potential, especially among small and medium-sized producers. Digital exclusion is now a bottleneck: without internet, the producer cannot receive data from the machines or activate remote systems.
Another challenge is technical training. Implementing and maintaining sensors, wireless networks, and specialized software requires knowledge that is not always available in rural areas. There is a lack of trained personnel to operate these systems and interpret the generated data. Small producers, in particular, face difficulties in affording initial investments in infrastructure and training – often needing support to enter the digital age.
Overcoming these challenges is fundamental to unlocking the full potential of remote technology asset management. Brazilian agribusiness – already established as one of the world's breadbaskets – finds in digital transformation not just another tool, but a strategic foundation to maintain its leadership and grow efficiently and sustainably in the coming years.
Luciano Costa is a co-founder of Setrion.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
