Early disease detection in pig farms through sound data and AI
SoundTalks is a spin-off from KU Leuven built on years of research in sound analysis and precision livestock farming. They created a hardware device to capture sensor data in pig farms and an algorithm to detect disease patters. We assisted them with their AWS cloud architecture and digital product development.
Challenge
SoundTalks hardware devices capture vast amounts of data in environments where stable internet connectivity isn't always available. Our task was to reliably transfer this data to their cloud infrastructure and build a software platform with a user-friendly interface that provides valuable insights and notifications to field operators.
Solution
We designed and built a comprehensive, end-to-end product experience for everyone involved in the process. This solution delivers real-time insights on pig population health to both farmers and veterinarians. By accelerating the detection of disease patterns, farmers can save significant costs and mitigate potential losses.
Approach
We began with a detailed product definition process, meticulously mapping out user journeys for all personas involved. Simultaneously, we designed a robust cloud architecture capable of handling the anticipated data volumes. Once these foundational elements were in place, we assembled a blended product team, combining key people from both SoundTalks and Panenco.
Dries Berckmans
CEO SoundTalks
"We're active in a complex operational setting with limited internet connectivity and challenging digital adoption by our users. We found a great partner in Panenco given their deep expertise from cloud infrastructure towards end-user experiences."
Defining the functional and architectural specifications
Our mission was to formalize the functional and architectural dimensions of the product, delivering actionable health insights directly to farmers, veterinarians, and field operators.
Design track:
We created interactive prototypes for all desired functionalities, encompassing everything from the floor plan configuration for the hardware devices to health insights and alerts for farmers and veterinarians, accessible through web and mobile apps.
Architectural track:
Alongside the functional requirements, we collaborated with the SoundTalks engineering team to design a scalable AWS architecture capable of handling high data volumes and meeting stringent security requirements.
Orchestrating a highly effective product development process
We helped SoundTalks implement a sprint-based operating model, structuring the product development process with clear milestones, bi-weekly planning sessions, well-documented user stories, and close involvement of the leadership team. We assembled a blended engineering team with a clear mandate: build and release quickly while maintaining high product quality. To achieve this, we implemented extensive automated tests, monitoring tools, stress tests, and other quality assurance measures within the deployment pipelines.
"The SoundTalks team came to us with a challenging assignment: building the digital infrastructure to turn sensor data in pig farms into health insights. We wish the whole Soundtalks team the very best of luck on their further rollout across the globe. We're happy to keep supporting you every step of the way!"
Johan Haest
Engineering manager
Egwin Avau
Founder & CEO