PDRL announces BhuMeet, India's First SaaS platform for connecting Drone Service Providers with Farmers

NEW DELHI, 16 September 2024: PDRL, a leading innovator in drone technology, proudly announces the launch of BhuMeet, an advanced SaaS platform designed to revolutionise the way essential drone services such as agricultural spraying and surveying are accessed and managed.

By bridging the gap between drone service providers and farmers, BhuMeet is set to transform the landscape of drone spraying operations in India, offering a seamless and efficient solution for locating reliable drone services and optimizing operational workflows.

In India, where agriculture is the backbone of the economy and the livelihood for millions, the integration of drone technology holds great potential. As of 2021, agricultural land in India spanned over 1.78 million square kilometres, according to the World Bank. The National Statistical Office's Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households (SAAH) report estimates that between 90 million and 150 million farmers, ranging from smallholders to large-scale landowners, are actively engaged in agriculture.

Given that India is the world's second-largest producer of food grains, fruits, and vegetables, as well as the second-largest exporter of sugar, the application of drones in agriculture extends far beyond pesticide spraying. Drones can play a critical role in crop monitoring and health assessment, precision agriculture, field mapping and surveying, crop scouting and surveillance, planting and seeding, irrigation management, livestock monitoring, and post-harvest assessment.

Furthermore, the G20 Agriculture Deputies Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) has highlighted four key areas: food security and nutrition, climate-smart sustainable agriculture, an inclusive agriculture value chain, and the digitization of agricultural transformation. These discussions have further given tremendous impetus to the application of drones in the Agriculture Sector.

Speaking on the launch, Anil Chandaliya, Founder and CEO, PDRL said, "As India continues to embrace advanced technologies to revolutionize its agriculture sector, we at PDRL are proud to introduce BhuMeet, a platform that will fundamentally change how farmers access essential drone services. By bridging the gap between farmers and reliable service providers, BhuMeet not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers the agricultural community to harness the full potential of drone technology. We believe this innovation will set new standards in the industry and play a vital role in modernizing agriculture across the nation."

PDRL Sets New Standards in Agricultural Drone Technology

PDRL is at the forefront of innovation in agricultural drone technology, continuously raising the bar with its groundbreaking solutions. In March 2023, PDRL launched AeroGCS GREEN, a software product proudly made in India that has swiftly become the go-to choice for Indian drone manufacturers. Today, around 70% of type-certified agriculture drones in the country rely on AeroGCS GREEN for their drone operations.

Later in 2023, PDRL introduced AeroGCS Enterprise, a sophisticated platform designed to streamline large-scale drone operations. AeroGCS Enterprise enables managing extensive spraying activities, complete with detailed flight logs and insightful performance metrics. This platform enables drone service providers to calculate acreage and other vital metrics with ease, offering accurate billing information and performance reports to large enterprise partners. The large-scale drone spraying operations powered by AeroGCS Enterprise deliver tangible benefits to drone service providers.

Continuing its journey of revolutionizing drone spraying, PDRL is set to launch a new product – BhuMeet, designed to connect drone service providers with farmers. The platform will further streamline drone spraying operations, enabling the completion of tasks that once took weeks in just hours.

Kisan Drone Scheme

The Kisan Drone Scheme, introduced in 2022 by Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji signifies a significant stride towards modernising agriculture throughout India. The scheme's primary goal is to empower farmers by utilising drones to streamline tasks like spraying, reduce labour and time investments and boost farmers' income. The government extends support to farmers, facilitating the optimal utilisation of this initiative.

Connecting Farmers with Trusted Drone Service Providers

In an era where drones are increasingly vital for various tasks, BhuMeet emerges as a comprehensive solution to streamline the connection between farmers and drone service providers. BhuMeet enables users to find and hire top drone service providers based on their service records and proximity, ensuring efficient and localized service delivery. For drone service providers, the platform offers a unique opportunity to expand their reach, connect with potential customers, and drive business growth through enhanced service management.

A Seamless Experience for All Users

BhuMeet is designed to address the key challenges faced by drone service providers, pilots, and farmers, offering a streamlined and user-friendly experience for all parties involved.

Value Addition for Drone Service Providers:

• Streamlined Service Management: BhuMeet simplifies the handling of service requests and task assignments, enabling providers to manage multiple requests efficiently and optimize resource allocation.

• Real-Time Updates: Providers can enhance transparency and customer satisfaction by delivering real-time status updates to their clients.

• Efficient Fleet and Inventory Management: With robust tools for managing drone fleets, pilot assignments, and inventory, BhuMeet ensures effective utilization of resources.

• Business Growth Opportunities: BhuMeet centralizes service opportunities, providing a unified platform for providers to attract new customers and expand their business. The platform also facilitates direct payments from customers, simplifying the invoicing and payment process.

Features for Drone Service Providers:

• Service Request Management: Simplifies the organization of service requests, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

• Task Assignment: Facilitates clear and efficient task delegation to drone pilots, improving operational efficiency.

• Real-Time Status Updates: Keeps customers informed about the progress of their services, enhancing transparency and trust.

• Drone Fleet Management: Optimizes the utilization and assignment of drone fleets for maximum efficiency.

• Location Management: Simplifies the organization of resources and service locations, enabling providers to operate across multiple areas seamlessly.

• Service Analytics and Reports: Generates insights and reports to help providers enhance service delivery and business performance.

• Invoice and Payments on the Go: Enables customers to view and pay invoices directly from their mobile devices, using convenient payment methods like UPI or cash.

• Service History: Maintains a record of past service requests for easy access to important information in the future.

Value Addition for Drone Pilots:

• Clear Task Assignments: BhuMeet offers an organized workflow, allowing pilots to efficiently receive and manage their assignments.

• Enhanced Communication: Pilots can easily provide status updates to customers, fostering better communication and trust.

Value Addition for Farmers:

• Easy Access to Reliable Services: BhuMeet simplifies the process of finding and hiring trusted drone service providers based on location and customer ratings.

• Real-Time Service Updates: Farmers receive timely updates on their service requests, ensuring transparency and peace of mind.

• Convenient Management Tools: The platform offers an intuitive tool for managing service requests, exploring top providers, and paying for services directly from their mobile devices.

 Comprehensive Features to Meet Diverse Needs

BhuMeet is more than just a platform; it's a robust, all-in-one solution designed to meet the diverse needs of the drone service industry. By integrating both mobile and web applications, BhuMeet offers a seamless experience for providers and customers alike. As the drone industry continues to expand, BhuMeet is poised to play a pivotal role in transforming how drone services are accessed and managed. It empowers customers to easily connect with trusted providers while enabling providers to efficiently manage and grow their businesses.