Delivered fully connected: machine and cloud platform in one ecosystem

Rather than treating machine and digital fleet management as separate entities, the new CLAAS connect for the first time considers them as a whole. Starting with advice and a quotation for a new CLAAS machine: if the customer is already registered with CLAAS connect, they can access the CLAAS configurator directly via their CLAAS ID, configure their desired machine and request a quotation or demonstration. The appropriate dealership then prepares the quotation or provides a demonstration machine. If the customer makes a purchase, the machine data is uploaded to the customer’s CLAAS connect portal on delivery. This gives the customer direct access to the digital operator’s manual for their machine. They can also find out which lubricants their machine needs, as this information is automatically provided as well. With the 5-year Machine connect licence supplied with the machine, the relevant maintenance intervals are automatically entered in the portal – giving farmers and contractors a clear overview of upcoming maintenance work and enabling CLAAS dealerships to plan schedules and capacities in advance. “CLAAS connect also enables us to enhance communication between the local CLAAS dealership and the customer using the latest communication technology,” explains Georg Larscheid.

Machine performance data can be prepared, analysed and documented in CLAAS connect – just as before in TELEMATICS. With a Fleet connect licence, third-party machines in mixed fleets can easily be connected to CLAAS connect via the DataConnect interface, enabling data such as location, machine status or current fuel and AdBlue levels to be displayed there. In addition, machine data can be transferred to partner companies via the point data interface.

CEMOS Advisor, the platform extension of CEMOS – the leading assistance and process optimisation system for numerous CLAAS tractors, combine harvesters and forage harvesters – is an integral component. Performance data and settings for all CLAAS machines stored on the platform can be viewed and compared with one another, enabling adjustments to be made to maximise the performance of the overall fleet.

Furthermore, with licence management, customers can get a complete overview of licence coverage and runtime at any time and can extend them as required or buy additional licences from their dealer.

Precision Farming and documentation: easy integration via licence

Farm connect – the second basic licence – with add-on licences for Field connect and Fleet connect provides farmers and contractors with a wide range of options for precision farming applications. In Field connect farmers can access numerous functions from 365FarmNet – for example, to prepare potential and application maps from geodata such as satellite images or soil analyses. Field boundaries and other master data can easily be imported as SHAPE or ISO-XML files. Yield maps from different machines and manufacturers can also be incorporated with ease – a familiar feature from the map area in 365FarmNet.

Fleet connect automatically documents field-specific task data relating to yield, constituents or application rate, enabling the status and progress of preplanned tasks to be tracked virtually in real-time on smartphone, tablet or PC. It is also possible to create reference lines and plan tracks based on field boundaries in Fleet connect – alternatively, this can be done on the machine’s CEMIS 1200 terminal, if it has one.

Other compatible farm management information systems can be connected to CLAAS connect via the Connection Manager. Furthermore, with CLAAS connect it will be possible to exchange data between different CLAAS IDs using Data Sharing in future. This will simplify task planning, implementation and documentation, including invoicing, for farmers and contractors.

Many CLAAS customers already benefit from using the existing CLAAS connect platform on their PC and as an app on their smartphone or tablet. The first customers will be using the new, significantly enhanced CLAAS connect from spring 2024 with a wider roll-out planned for autumn 2024, initially in Central, Western and Eastern Europe, North America and Australasia. 365FarmNet and CLAAS connect will exist in parallel initially, before CLAAS connect takes over from 365FarmNet as the farm management information system in the CLAAS product portfolio.

The new CLAAS connect at a glance:

CLAAS connect is a cloud-based platform providing access to various functions from machine management to Precision Farming.
Only one CLAAS ID to access all functions and licences.
New CLAAS machines are automatically created on delivery, and linked to the relevant digital operating instructions, Parts Doc and CLAAS Parts Shop, as well as the Lubricant Adviser and specific maintenance intervals. The relevant CLAAS dealership provides advice and is responsible for parts delivery and servicing.
Machine connect basic licence for every CLAAS machines: new CLAAS machines come with activated 5-year telemetry licence and remote maintenance.
Farm connect basic licence for Precision Farming and entry-level digital farm management: online task management with status reports, map view, machine positions and machine status with easy online data transfer. Add-on licences Fleet connect and Farm connect:
- Fleet connect: automatic, field-specific, fleet-wide documentation of machine and process data plus machine-specific alert messages.
- Field connect: digital library and workbench for high-resolution, interpolated yield maps, geodata with satellite images and soil maps as well as the option to generate potential and application maps based on vegetation monitoring for variable rate application planning. Includes route planning and creation of reference line.
Connection to external providers and platforms via the CLAAS partner programme.

One platform, multiple options: new CLAAS connect digital ecosystem launches in 2024