The primary objective of the ProCrop Financial project is to engage student learners in the design, development, and testing of a web-based financial and economic analysis platform for crop producers. This project will give students hands-on experience in SaaS development, UI/UX design, ag-tech innovation, and business modeling, while delivering tangible value to the agriculture industry through improved financial transparency and decision-making for farmers.

ProCrop Financial is a flagship tool under True Ag Developments Inc., designed to fill a critical gap in agriculture by providing producers with real-time, crop-specific financial reporting — including cost of production, profitability by field or crop, and scenario planning tools. The project will allow learners to contribute directly to a technology solution aimed at improving financial literacy and management in the agri-food sector.

Tasks and Activities:

Student teams will be actively involved in the following:

1. Discovery & Market Research

• Review the Alpha product that is currently developed in MS Excel and understand plan to covert it to a SaaS product with code, etc.

2. Platform Planning & Requirements Gathering

• Translate real-world producer needs into clear software requirements and user stories.
• Define key financial and analytical features needed by producers (e.g., breakeven analysis, crop-level ROI, cost tracking).

3. UI/UX and Front-End Development

• Design wireframes and user interface mockups using tools like Figma or Adobe XD.
• Build front-end components using modern frameworks with a focus on mobile responsiveness and simplicity.

4. Back-End Development & Database Design

• Set up databases and data models for capturing crop budgets, revenues, expenses, and forecasts.
• Develop core logic and calculations for real-time financial reporting using technologies like Node.js, Python, or Firebase.

5. Testing, QA & Iteration

• Perform unit and user testing in collaboration with mentors and industry partners.
• Iterate on feedback to improve functionality and usability.

6. Presentation & Documentation

• Prepare technical documentation and user guides.
• Present project outcomes to industry partners, faculty, and potential users.

Deliverables:

• A working web-based prototype of the ProCrop Financial platform.
• Market research summary and user persona profiles.
• UI/UX mockups and user flow diagrams.
• Database schema and system architecture documentation.
• Functional modules for cost of production, revenue tracking, and profitability reporting.
• Pilot test summary and recommendations for future development.
• Final project presentation and demonstration.

Learners participating in the ProCrop Financial project will be expected to complete a combination of research, design, development, and documentation deliverables that contribute directly to the launch and commercialization of a financial technology product for crop producers. The work will be divided into well-defined tasks and milestones that align with both academic learning goals and the project’s business objectives.

Expected Deliverables:

User Experience & Interface Design

• UI/UX mockups of key platform screens using tools like Figma or Adobe XD:
• Dashboard (showing profit/loss, breakeven, etc.)
• Crop/field-level reporting
• Budgeting and forecasting tools
• A clickable prototype demonstrating basic navigation and user interaction.

Software Development (MVP Features)

• A responsive landing page introducing ProCrop to potential users.
• A web-based MVP of the ProCrop platform, including:

Input cost tracking module (seed, fertilizer, chemicals, etc.)

Revenue entry and sales tracking module.

Financial dashboard with real-time profitability calculations.

Database & Back-End Architecture

• Database schema design and implementation (e.g., Firebase, PostgreSQL).
• API endpoints and backend logic for key features (e.g., cost calculations, profit analysis).

Testing & Feedback Integration

• A user testing summary report based on trials with mock or real users.
• List of identified bugs, usability issues, and improvement recommendations.

Technical & Business Documentation

• System documentation including architecture diagrams, tech stack summary, and setup instructions.
• User guide for onboarding new users and demonstrating key features.
• A final project presentation summarizing outcomes, challenges, and future recommendations.