Equipment
The equipment you need
In the basic setup an Android phone is all you need - nothing else. A scale, NFC tags, a scanner and a label printer are optional: each of them is an investment in saving time while recording. Which equipment fits follows from the way you record work on your plantation. Below you'll find requirements, approximate prices and recommended models.
Not sure which equipment to choose? Get in touch with us
1The worker taps their NFC tag on the phone
2The phone identifies the worker and records the harvest
3The scale sends the net weight over Bluetooth
We don't sell hardware
The recommended products are examples available in external stores - we don't earn on the links. We'll help you pick the right equipment for your farm and walk you through the setup step by step.
01
Android phone
The heart of the system. The foreman records harvests on it, and the app also works offline - data syncs once the signal returns.
- Android 10 or newer
- Chrome browser - required for NFC and Bluetooth scale support
- NFC module - to read worker tags
- Bluetooth - to connect to the scale
- No NFC? A camera is enough - identify workers with QR codes
Practically every new mid-range phone has NFC and Bluetooth. You don't need a flagship - a model around 500-800 zł is plenty.
02
Scale with an RS232 port
The app reads the measurement directly from the scale, automatically subtracts the container tare and stores the net weight. The scale talks to the phone over Bluetooth - either through an adapter plugged into the RS232 port, or through an indicator with a built-in Bluetooth module.
- Any scale with an RS232 port - most platform and warehouse scales have one
- An RS232 - Bluetooth adapter plugged into the scale's port
- No modifications - already have a scale with RS232? Just add the adapter
- Or a platform with an indicator that has Bluetooth built in - then no adapter is needed
Not sure if your scale has an RS232 port or whether it will work? Write to us - we'll check.
Example sets
Ready-made scale + adapter
Total ~590 zł
The simplest start: a compact 15 kg scale with 2 g accuracy. Plug the adapter into the RS232 port and pair it with the phone.
Platform + Bluetooth indicator
Total ~810 zł
For larger containers and pallet crates: a 40x50 cm platform with a 150 kg capacity. The indicator has a built-in Bluetooth module, so no separate adapter is needed.
03
NFC tags
Each worker gets their own tag - a card, key fob or sticker. To record a harvest, they simply tap the tag on the phone.
- Any standard tags work (e.g. NTAG213, NTAG215, NTAG216)
- Any form factor: cards, key fobs, wristbands or stickers
- Cost from well under 1 zł to a few zł apiece
Tags are reusable - next season you can assign them to new workers.
Example products
04
Code scanner or PDA terminal (optional)
For piece-rate work in continuous scanning mode - like a shop checkout. A wireless code reader pairs with the phone over plain Bluetooth and adds every scanned container to the session. Instead of a phone plus a reader you can use a PDA terminal - a single Android device with a built-in scanner.
- 1D/2D/QR code reader with Bluetooth connectivity
- HID mode - works like a keyboard, no drivers to install
- Base station for charging and wireless use within range
- Or an Android PDA terminal with a built-in scanner and NFC - one device instead of a phone plus a reader
With a scanner or a PDA you run continuous scanning: one movement of the hand adds the next container, and the session keeps a running total of units and the amount due. A PDA with NFC reads the worker tags on the same device. Cheaper PDA terminals are also available on AliExpress - write to us and we will suggest a model.
Example products
05
Label printer (optional)
The app prints label sheets straight from the browser - worker ID labels with a QR code and container codes. An ordinary printer and an A4 sheet will do, but once you print a lot of codes a roll label printer is far more convenient.
- Direct thermal roll printer - prints without ink or toner
- 203 dpi resolution is perfectly enough
- Labels from 35 x 20 mm - the minimum recommended size; you can set any dimensions in the app
- USB port and a desktop driver - you print just like on any other printer
A label printer prints ready, self-adhesive codes in the size set in the app - QR or barcode. Print a single label or a whole series of codes for a new batch of containers, whenever you need them.
Example products
We'll help you put the set together
Write to us before you buy - we'll suggest a specific model for your farm and walk you through the setup and integration with the app.
Prices are approximate and may vary by store and time of purchase. Links lead to external stores we are not affiliated with.