Brilliant Harvest Emerges from Stealth, Signs Major Deal with Rocky Mountain Equipment
Calgary, Alberta (October 2023) – Brilliant Harvest, an AI-powered customer experience platform for agriculture equipment, has emerged from stealth mode after securing Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) as its first major client. The Calgary-based startup, founded by industry veteran Remi Schmaltz, aims to enhance the support capabilities of ag equipment dealer teams from purchasing to repair using cutting-edge AI technology.
Schmaltz, who has a rich history in the agtech sector with successful ventures such as ag retailer DynAgra and farm management software company Decisive Farming, identified a need for a more seamless customer experience in the agricultural sector. This recognition led to the launch of Brilliant Harvest, bolstered by $1.3 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round was led by Mark Blackwell from Builders VC, with participation from AI service provider AltaML Venture Studio.
Transforming Dealer Support with AI
The partnership with Rocky Mountain Equipment, the largest agricultural equipment dealer in Canada, signifies a significant step for Brilliant Harvest. The agreement will see RME’s 43 stores equipped with a dealer-branded mobile application designed to streamline communication and support for both customers and internal teams.
Schmaltz’s vision for Brilliant Harvest aims to address common pain points experienced by farmers and agricultural equipment dealers, particularly during peak periods like spring planting. “Ultimately, we’re addressing a talent problem,” Schmaltz explained. He noted that during critical times, there is often a shortage of quality support for both sales and technical assistance.
Enhancing Customer Experience
The white-label mobile app offered by Brilliant Harvest is designed to cater to the needs of both dealership employees and their customers. It acts as a conduit for communication between customers and dealers and facilitates interactions within the dealership teams. The app boasts the capability to ingest extensive equipment manuals, some running into thousands of pages, and enables the AI assistant to provide immediate, informed responses to customer inquiries.
Schmaltz emphasised the efficiency of the AI in providing round-the-clock troubleshooting for farmers. “It’s just a way better experience than flipping through a long PDF or waiting on hold,” he said. The AI assistant not only taps into the detailed manuals but also draws from proprietary knowledge accumulated through previous customer interactions, thus offering tailored support.
Challenges and Solutions
While recognising that human interaction remains ideal, Schmaltz noted the practical limitations of availability and response times. The AI assistant ensures that farmers receive accurate and timely information without the delays that can occur with human support staff. This technological solution is not envisioned to replace human workers but to enhance their capabilities and reduce stress, leading to a more efficient and satisfactory customer experience.
Millennial and Gen X farmers, who constitute about 41% of North America’s farming population, have different expectations from previous generations, preferring self-service options and digital communication channels, according to Schmaltz. Brilliant Harvest’s platform is geared to meet these changing demands.
A Turnkey Solution for Dealers
Schmaltz also highlighted the distinct advantage that Brilliant Harvest offers over potential in-house solutions from large manufacturers or dealers. “The larger equipment manufacturers and dealers have been talking about doing their own AI projects, but they’re not software development companies,” he said. The platform’s flexibility ensures compatibility with various brands and business systems, thereby preserving dealers’ relationships with their customers and their unique value proposition.
Furthermore, the platform enhances knowledge retention by capturing the expertise of individuals who might otherwise leave the organisation, thus mitigating the high costs associated with employee turnover. This also means new hires can be more rapidly integrated and productive.
Future Prospects
With Rocky Mountain Equipment on board, the groundwork is laid for Brilliant Harvest to expand its reach. The company is already in talks with several other dealers interested in adopting its AI technology. As the platform continues to grow, it promises to revolutionise customer and dealer support in the agricultural sector, setting new standards for efficiency and satisfaction.
For further details or inquiries, contact Brilliant Harvest directly via their website or visit one of the Rocky Mountain Equipment stores equipped with the innovative new mobile app.
Source: Noah Wire Services