Providing exceptional customer service in ag retail requires more than knowledgeable staff and quality products. It also depends on the speed, accuracy, and reliability of a retailer’s operation. From automated loadout to real-time inventory visibility, MEI solutions help retailers serve customers more effectively while improving operational performance.
Here are 6 ways, MEI helps retailers nationwide deliver superior service to their customers:
1. Increased Throughput
Faster throughput allows retailers to respond more quickly to customer demand and provide more timely service during peak seasons. As the industry’s only provider of equipment, systems, and controls, MEI is uniquely positioned to help ag retailers increase plant throughput through fully integrated solutions.
MEI’s experienced engineering team works alongside retailers to identify operational bottlenecks and implement the right solution — whether that involves liquid handling equipment, facility layout improvements, automation, or a combination of all three.
Solutions that help increase throughput include:
- Automated loadout systems
- Plant production software
- Automated premixing
- Additional loadout bays
- 24/7 unattended loadout
- High-speed pumps, meters, and equipment upgrades
2. Unattended 24/7 Loadout
With MEI’s ICS 24-7 system, retailers can allow customers to pick up fertilizers and micronutrients on their own schedules. This helps reduce congestion in attended bays while extending service hours for customers who prefer to apply product themselves.
ICS 24-7 can also support after-hours operations by allowing drivers to transport product to the field or transfer inventory between locations without additional staffing requirements.
By expanding access beyond traditional business hours, retailers can provide greater flexibility and responsiveness to their customers.
3. Improved Billing Accuracy and Speed
MEI’s ICS automation helps retailers improve billing accuracy while accelerating the flow of information between the plant and office.
ICS ControlPro integrates with more than 30 agronomy and ERP software platforms, allowing ticket, customer, and inventory information to move between systems in near real-time.
This eliminates duplicate data entry, reduces lost paperwork, and ensures information is readily available when it is time to invoice customers. Faster, more accurate billing helps improve customer satisfaction while reducing administrative workload.
4. Greater Operational Efficiency
Automation allows retailers to spend more time serving customers and less time managing routine manual processes.
At the plant level, MEI ICS controls can automate micronutrients, additives, and dry solubles, as well as other processes that traditionally require significant time and operator involvement. Most retailers report at 50% reduction in the time it takes to fill a truck. Electronic tickets and batch information also eliminates much of the paperwork traditionally associated with plant operations.
At the office level, plant information is synchronized automatically via ICS ControlPro, giving agronomists and managers immediate visibility into operations. This allows teams to have proactive customer conversations and quickly address situations that require their attention, instead of piecing together paperwork.
5. Enhanced Inventory Control
Better inventory control and visibility leads to better operational decisions.
With ICS ControlPro and its seamless integration with plant controls and agronomy/ERP software, retailers can be confident they have an accurate understanding of what they have on hand, what they need, and where it needs to go.
ICS ControlPro is also the industry’s only software that is NTEP approved when paired with NTEP-certified meters and scales. Retailers can have confidence in the accuracy of their inventory data and their ability to fulfill both current and future customer commitments.
6. Reduced Errors
Automation helps retailers reduce costly mistakes while reinforcing customer confidence.
MEI’s intelligently designed plumbing and timed air purges help ensure lines are properly cleaned between batches. Combined with NTEP-approved meters, scales, AND software, retailers can produce more accurate blends, reduce shrink, and confidently deliver the correct quantities and formulations to customers.
ICS ControlPro also automatically sends information back to agronomy and ERP software, eliminating manual reentry errors. Its configurable logic allows retailers to align ticket close-out procedures, billing periods, batch handling, and other plant behaviors with office processes for greater operational consistency across the organization.
As ag retail operations continue to evolve, automation and integration are becoming essential tools for delivering consistent customer service. MEI’s complete lineup of equipment, controls, and software helps retailers improve accuracy, streamline operations, and better meet the demands of today’s growers.
