Project Overview
This project involved the design and development of a custom farm management software solution for a leading accounting firm serving clients in the dairy and livestock industry. The objective was to replace an expensive and overly complex third-party tool with a cost-effective, user-friendly, and purpose-built platform. The new software focuses on streamlining the tracking of livestock and dairy production, integrating financial data with Xero, and generating accurate annual budgets. Built with modern technologies, the system ensures long-term scalability, security, and ease of use allowing the firm to deliver better service to its agricultural clients while reducing operational costs.
The Challenge
The client , a respected accounting firm with a strong presence in the agricultural sector was using a third-party software platform to manage farm data for its clients. While the software was feature-rich, it posed significant drawbacks, high per-client subscription costs, excessive complexity, and limited customization. Most clients used only a fraction of the tool’s functionality, which resulted in inefficiencies and unnecessary spending. Additionally, the software lacked the flexibility to support the firm’s unique workflows and reporting needs. As the firm’s client base grew, it became clear that a more tailored, efficient, and affordable solution was necessary.
The Solution
In response to these challenges, we developed a fully customized web-based application tailored to the firm’s operational needs. The platform was designed for internal use and included all the critical features required to manage livestock data, milk production, budgeting, and integration with financial systems. Built with a React frontend and .NET backend, and developed using Storybook for consistent UI components, the application delivers a reliable and scalable experience.
The system includes tools for tracking livestock (including sheep, dairy cattle, beef, goats, deer, and pigs) with year-on-year comparisons, monitoring monthly milk production, and managing deferred payments. A powerful budget module allows staff to generate and analyze annual budgets using historical data, with support for data visualization and Excel import/export. Integration with Xero was a central focus—enabling automated import of farm-specific charts of accounts, mapping stock sales and purchases, pulling Profit and Loss reports, and posting journal entries. Additional features include an admin dashboard for managing annual stock prices and user access, along with secure login and two-factor authentication.
The Results
The final product has successfully replaced the previous third-party tool, eliminating the associated licensing costs and bringing key operations in-house. The custom solution has dramatically improved workflow efficiency, reduced manual data entry, and minimized reporting errors through automation and system integration. Staff can now access only the features they need, resulting in faster adoption and greater productivity. With centralized control over livestock pricing, financial tracking, and user permissions, the firm has more flexibility to adapt the software to evolving requirements. Ultimately, this project has empowered the client to serve its agricultural customer base more effectively delivering tailored, data-driven insights while maintaining complete control over the platform and its costs.