Following some setbacks with our current software, we then contacted SoilEssentials about their cloud platform. Our interest increased as we heard more about it and the benefits we could see for our business.
Company: Keith Mount Liming
Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Staff: 10
Keith Mount Liming, a sixth-generation family business, first applied lime to the fields of Norfolk in 1868. They recently sought out SoilEssentials’ expertise to bring them bang up to date with our flexible and customisable cloud-based KORE precision farming platform.
From those early days of excavating chalk by hand, Keith Mount Liming (KML) became fully independent in 1992 and now supplies lime from multiple sources, giving the farmer greater choice and better value. The firm also carries out a range of soil sampling services across hundreds of farms in Eastern England and beyond every year. Their Phieldtek brand was launched in 2008 to specialise in precision agronomy.
As one of the largest independent and privately-owned lime companies in the country they estimate to have spread close to 100,000 tonnes last year… and counting, made up of all the bulk products supplied. The lime itself is sourced from up to 20 quarries and KML utilises over 40 spreading contractors to cover their territory. Alongside the lime services, the firm also supplies and spreads large quantities of fibrophos, recycled Gypsum and green waste compost.
KML says 90% of its business comes from repeat customers with word of mouth being the most influential means of attracting new clients. Therefore, it is absolutely key that its business offering is completely in tune with their own customers’ needs and sustains their long-established reputation.
Andrew Mount, Director at Keith Mount Liming, was conscious of SoilEssentials being an innovative company and that improving farm efficiencies is at the heart of what we do.
“I was aware of SoilEssentials from around 2006 and through our connections to Trimble,” said Andrew.
“I had spoken to Jim Wilson about mapping previously and was hearing about the different approaches he was taking on this. We then met up a few years ago at CropTec to discuss further developments happening within SoilEssentials.”
“To survive and thrive in business you are always looking for the things that will save time, make jobs easier and benefit your customers too. We knew that current systems and processes we operated were becoming outdated, caused frustrations and if we didn’t leap into a more modern and fit-for-purpose arena, we would risk being left behind.”
Having got to the stage that they wanted to stand on their own two feet and become independent of the inadequate software that they had relied on for so long, KML was instantly attracted to our KORE solution.
“The KORE solution allows us to work remotely on different devices, with mobile functionality – so basically it goes where we go! It caters for multiple farms and clients, has the added flexibility we wanted and customised to our specifications,” continued Andrew.
“The platform enables us to prepare the soil sampling plans prior to going out on a job, makes reporting afterwards extremely easy, supports all our services and more, giving us the opportunity to continue what we do but in a better, user-friendly online environment.”
“The KORE solution is straightforward to use, saves us valuable time and it is geared specifically towards our type of business. The system gives us individual customer-focused aspects which is very appealing – it’s not a one size fits all approach.”
“Providing soil sampling services themselves, if anyone understands the nature of our business, it is SoilEssentials. The delivery of the training is ongoing, support is on hand, and we always get an answer.”
“As for the future of Keith Mount Liming – we’re in it for the long haul. Soil health is crucial and if we can play our part in providing the right services with visual, understandable results and reporting that allows our customers to confidently manage their land more effectively, then it’s all good. The KORE solution is giving KML the opportunity to work smarter and best serve our existing and future customers.”
Andrew Mount and Fliss Cleverley
