Use case · Personal protection
Employee tracking in agriculture with the ATC700
Agriculture is a vital economic sector that shapes society in many ways. It supplies raw materials, supports international trade and employment, secures livelihoods, drives economic growth, promotes sustainability and much more. At the same time, it brings challenges that can also hit agricultural businesses hard. Teltonika offers a practical solution for this with the compact ATC700 asset tracker.
Image: Teltonika Telematics
The challenge
In 2023, around one billion people worldwide worked in agriculture – about 28 % of all employed people worldwide, or roughly one in three workers. The sector therefore remains a major employer and a key part of the global economy.
Operators of farms, ranches, plantations and agricultural businesses of all kinds face several challenges. First and foremost are the protection, safety and traceability of workers. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations, with high rates of fatal and serious accidents – falls from height (from ladders or grain silos), being struck by objects or vehicles, contact with chemicals, overturning tractors, injuries caused by animals, entanglement accidents, broken bones, head injuries, burns, suffocation due to dust exposure, etc. All of this can have serious financial, legal and moral consequences.
The second challenge is a lack of efficiency in the workplace. “Buddy punching”, where one employee clocks in for another, leads to lost productivity and inflated personnel costs, costing US companies around USD 373 million a year. On top of this come unauthorised breaks, leaving assigned areas and poor management of workflows, all of which waste time and resources.
Another major challenge is theft. 78 % of the sector has already been affected by it. Worldwide, the annual cost of agricultural theft is estimated at USD 10 to 15 billion. This includes stolen crops, livestock and equipment as well as the cost of additional security measures. The Indian government, for example, estimated that agricultural theft cost farmers over USD 2 billion in 2022.
Overall, the theft of agricultural produce is a growing problem worldwide: as global food insecurity increases and inflation drives up the prices of goods such as fresh produce, consumables and fuel, thieves are increasingly targeting agricultural products. Teltonika offers a practical solution to overcome these obstacles and support the industry.
The solution
To meet these challenges, we recommend the 4G LTE Cat 1 tracker ATC700 from the ATx70 series – rugged, wearable GPS trackers developed not only for asset tracking, but also for personal protection and workforce management.
How it works: Imagine a large farm, ranch or plantation owned by a company with hundreds or even thousands of employees. Every worker is equipped with a Teltonika ATC700. The compact tracker is comfortable to wear, easy to use and built for outdoor use.
Agricultural operations often extend over vast areas. Without knowing where workers are at any given moment, it is difficult to manage operations efficiently. That is why periodic tracking is so important: it provides location reports on workers’ movements at defined intervals, ensures efficiency and avoids wasted time.
One of the most practical features of the ATC700 is its versatile multifunction button, which simplifies both safety and work processes in the field. With one click, workers record their check-in and check-out times – this simplifies attendance recording and eliminates the need for manual lists or constant supervision. The same button can be adapted to specific requirements, for example to send alarms, serve as a panic button for immediate assistance or switch the device mode.
If a worker feels unwell or gets into an emergency, a single press of the button immediately alerts their supervisor – for a fast and potentially life-saving response. The device therefore supports both day-to-day workforce management and important safety measures when it matters most.
Beyond safety, the tracker is a powerful management tool. With the geofence function*, management and foremen can assign teams to different areas of the site, compare productivity and make sure that nobody enters restricted areas.
The ATC700 also has a battery that allows long operation without frequent charging. This is particularly useful in remote areas where access to power is limited and uninterrupted operation is essential. After work, the device can be charged with any standard USB-C charger or even a power bank. By the next morning, the tracker is ready for another full working day – for smooth and reliable operation.
All relevant data, including location reports, check-in and check-out times and emergency alarms, is transmitted to the way4net Portal via the mobile network. This allows operations and safety managers to follow employees' activities and keep track of operations.
In short, the ATC700 is more than just a tracker – it is like a guardian angel for your employees. With emergency alarms, regular location reports and intelligent monitoring functions, it improves safety and visibility – even in the most remote and demanding agricultural environments.
*The geofence function will become available with a future firmware update. The update is easy to install.
System overview
Graphic: Teltonika Telematics
Your benefits
Instant emergency alerts
The tracker's customisable multifunction button allows employees to raise an alarm instantly in an emergency – for a fast response and greater safety on site.
Regular location reports for better visibility
The GPS tracker provides periodic location reports. Management therefore knows promptly where employees are and keeps track even across large agricultural areas.
Simplified time recording
The check-in and check-out function records working hours effortlessly at the push of a button, reduces administrative work, prevents time fraud and ensures accurate payroll.
Geofences for smarter task allocation
Management can define areas for specific teams, restrict access to dangerous or restricted zones and compare the productivity of different areas using movement data.
Long operation in remote areas
The battery enables long deployments in the field – particularly valuable in rural regions with limited charging options.
Better decisions
The ATC700 provides real-time data on staff and operations, improving decision-making. This information helps with decisions on staff deployment, shift planning and resource allocation.
Devices used
Devices from Teltonika – available from way4net to buy or rent, bundled with the way4net Portal.
Note
Content and graphics based on the use case by Teltonika Telematics (original on teltonika-gps.com), translated and adapted for way4net. Device data according to manufacturer specifications. Together, we will work out which devices and functions suit your application – and you can test the solution with a 14-day trial.
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