Understanding future feedback mechanisms

Summary

Effective provision of data-driven feedback is a top priority for enabling improved decision support on-farm and through the value chain as it captures information from different sources visualising it in formats that are easily accessible and relevant to users.

The Livestock Data Link (LDL) system was intended to provide feedback along the value chain, but it is now timely to review the system and understand if there is a business case for further investment. Following consultation with industry, through focus groups and surveys, this project adopted a design-led method and proposed completely new business models and underpinning customer value propositions to make a shift towards data-driven feedback for decision making.

A business model that creates Network Effects via a new mutually beneficial platform technology, and Application Programme Interface (APIs) for solution providers to connect with localised networks is strongly recommended as a first step towards investing in the future delivery of feedback to producers. 

Objectives

The main objectives of this project were to complete:

• a comprehensive understanding of stakeholder and industry requirements for supply chain feedback.
• analysis of the key opportunities and challenges for Livestock Data Link in delivering the needs of stakeholders and industry
• recommendations for tactical and strategic changes to the product to ensure it will provide the greatest value to the industry in the future.

Key findings

This project found that:

• the industry supports data driven feedback for decision making
• a business model that creates a network effects via a platform technology and an application programme interface (API) for solution providers to connect on a localised network is a recommended first step.

Benefits to industry

This project assists in the uptake of producers making data driven decisions so that they can:

• decrease non-compliance to specifications
• reduce the number of carcases affected by disease and deficit 
• increase the overall quality of livestock and decreased processor costs due to downgrades.

MLA action

In response to the outcomes of this project, MLA has :

• initiated discovery sprints to understand and validate Network Effects approach and assumed value propositions
• developed a roadmap to develop Livestock Data Link.

Future research

Future research in this area should focus on:

• reviewing literature regarding data driven feedback systems in other industries 
• developing a strengths and weaknesses framework applied to the Australian red meat industry 
• validating the network effects and proactive analytics models within the industry.

Related resources

• Strategic Plan: Integrity Systems 2025 and beyond (November 2018)
• Development of an Integrated Livestock (Beef) Management System, MLA final report, 17 October 2019
• Livestock Data Link progress report – Producer benchmarking and improving the LMY component in the LDL system, MLA final report, 24 January 2017