Dole Asia Holdings is the first agricultural company globally to integrate autonomous drone operations with a comprehensive ERP system. By connecting FlytBase's cloud-based drone autonomy platform with Zoho Creator's custom ERP modules, Dole created an unprecedented level of operational visibility and control across their vast Philippine plantations.

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Key Innovation:

• First FlytBase-Zoho Creator ERP integration in agriculture globally
• Real-time data flow from autonomous drone flights directly into business intelligence dashboards
• Unified operational view spanning security, logistics, crop monitoring, and compliance
• AI-generated insights from drone data feeding enterprise decision-making
• Scalable architecture supporting 24,000 hectares of plantation operation

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Overview

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Dole Asia Holdings operates one of the world's largest fresh fruit supply chains, with operations spanning more than 70 countries. Their Philippine operations represent a massive scale of agricultural complexity:

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• 24,000 hectares of pineapple plantations across two major business units
• 60,000+ employees globally, including 1,000 security personnel
• Complex supply chain from field to port logistics
• Multi-faceted operations covering security, transport, research, and compliance

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Read the Full Case Study: Dole Asia Company Improves Plantation Security using Docked Drones in The Philippines

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The Challenge

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When Tyron Magakahia joined Dole, he encountered a critical gap between advanced operational technology and business systems integration:

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Disconnected Technologies:

• Autonomous drone surveillance operations running independently
• ERP systems (SAP) handling financial and procurement data
• Manual processes for incident reporting and operational data
• No real-time visibility between field operations and business intelligence
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"We are the first in the world in agriculture to have drone docking stations and a centralized control room. These needed to be integrated into our business systems for real-time operational intelligence." — Tyron Mangakahia, Director of Security, Dole Asia Holdings

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Integration Requirements

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The challenge was to create seamless data flow between:

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1. FlytBase drone autonomy platform (field data collection)
2. Zoho Creator ERP modules (business process management)
3. Zoho Analytics (business intelligence and reporting)
4. Operational teams (real-time decision making)

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Solution: FlytBase-Zoho ERP Integration Architecture

Integration Approach

Working with implementation partner The Techno Set Sdn. Bhd. and ASY Electronics (FlytBase Partner), Dole created a pioneering integration between autonomous drone operations and enterprise business systems.
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Core Integration Components
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1. FlytBase Drone Operations Layer

• DJI Dock 2 autonomous flights managed through FlytBase cloud platform
• Real-time video streams and telemetry data
• Automated flight scheduling and mission planning
• Incident detection and alert generation

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2. Zoho Creator ERP Integration

• Incident Management Module: Drone-triggered security incidents automatically logged
• Guard Tour Integration: Drone surveillance coordinated with ground patrol schedules
• Crisis Management: Drone data feeding emergency response protocols
• Analytics Dashboard: Real-time operational intelligence from drone operations

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3. Data Flow Architecture

• Real-time sync: FlytBase mission data flowing into Zoho Creator workflows
• AI-generated insights: Drone analytics automatically feeding business intelligence
• Mobile integration: Field teams accessing drone data through Zoho mobile apps
• Unified reporting: Combined operational and business metrics in single dashboards

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Drone Surveillance Integration into Creator: "These drones, managed through FlytBase platform , are used not only for aerial monitoring but also to trigger incident reports and capture field-level anomalies. The Creator app syncs with the drone operators' workflows, and AI-generated data from flights feed directly into Zoho Analytics."

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Implementation Journey

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Phase 1: Foundation Setup

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FlytBase Platform Deployment:

• DJI Dock 2 units strategically positioned across plantation
• FlytBase cloud platform configured for 24/7 autonomous operations
• Integration APIs established between FlytBase and Zoho Creator

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Zoho ERP Module Development:

• Custom incident management system built in Zoho Creator
• Drone operations module designed for real-time data ingestion
• Mobile-first interfaces for field team integration

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Phase 2: Integration Development

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API Integration Layer:

• Real-time data connectors between FlytBase and Zoho Creator
• Automated workflow triggers based on drone detection events
• Bi-directional data sync for operational coordination

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Business Intelligence Integration:

• AI-generated data from drone flights automatically processed
• Custom analytics dashboards combining drone and operational data
• Real-time alerting system spanning both platforms

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Phase 3: Operational Integration

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Unified Control Room:

• FlytBase drone operations console integrated with Zoho dashboards
• Real-time incident management spanning both platforms
• Coordinated response protocols using both systems

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Field Operations Integration:

• Mobile apps providing unified view of drone and ERP data
• Guard teams accessing drone surveillance data through Zoho mobile
• Incident reporting automatically triggered by drone detections

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Technical Integration Architecture

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Data Integration Framework

Real-Time Data Sync: The integration enables seamless data flow between FlytBase's autonomoud drone operations and Zoho's business processes:

1. Drone Mission Data → Incident Reports: Automatic incident creation in Zoho Creator when drone surveillance detects anomalies
2. Flight Analytics → Business Intelligence: AI-processed drone data feeding directly into Zoho Analytics dashboards
3. Operational Alerts → Workflow Triggers: Drone-generated alerts automatically initiating response workflows in Zoho Creator
4. Field Intelligence → Decision Support: Real-time drone insights supporting business decisions through integrated dashboards

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Integration Benefits

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Unified Operational View: Management now has unprecedented visibility combining:

• Real-time drone surveillance data
• Incident management workflows
• Resource allocation and response coordination
• Performance analytics across all operational dimensions

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Automated Business Processes:

• Drone detections automatically trigger incident management workflows
• Response team coordination through integrated mobile applications
• Real-time reporting spanning both operational and business metrics
• Predictive analytics combining drone intelligence with historical business data

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Results & Impact

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Operational Transformation

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"Our ERP now spans everything from pineapple fields to port logistics on one connected platform. We're proving that you don't need millions to build world-class systems—you just need the right integration approach." — Tyron Mangakahia, Director of Security, Dole Asia Holdings

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Integrated Response Capabilities:

• Drone surveillance automatically triggering incident management workflows
• Coordinated response between autonomous systems and human teams
• Real-time business intelligence spanning both operational and financial metrics

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Business Intelligence

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Data-Driven Decision Making:

• AI-generated insights from drone operations feeding business strategy
• Real-time operational metrics integrated with business performance indicators
• Predictive analytics combining field intelligence with business trends

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Scalable Integration Model:The successful integration provides a blueprint for scaling across Dole's global operations and other agricultural enterprises seeking to bridge operational technology with business systems.

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Technical Innovation Highlights

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API Integration Architecture

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FlytBase Integration Points:

• Mission planning and execution data sync
• Real-time telemetry and video feed integration
• Alert and incident detection automatic forwarding
• Operational analytics and reporting data export

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Zoho Creator Integration Capabilities:

• Custom workflow triggers based on drone data inputs
• Mobile application integration for field team coordination
• Business intelligence dashboard integration with drone analytics
• Automated reporting combining operational and business metrics

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Scalability and Performance

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Enterprise-Grade Integration:

• Real-time data processing across 24,000 hectares
• Support for multiple concurrent drone operations
• Scalable architecture supporting expansion to additional regions
• Robust data security and compliance frameworks

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Best Practices & Lessons Learned

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Integration Success Factors

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• ‍Unified Vision and Leadership: ‍Strong leadership driving integration across both operational and IT teams, ensuring alignment between drone operations and business process requirements.

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• ‍Cross-Platform Expertise: Collaboration between FlytBase technical specialists, Zoho integration experts, and operational teams ensuring seamless integration.

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• ‍Real-Time Requirements: Ensuring integration architecture supports real-time data flow essential for operational effectiveness.

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Technical Considerations

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• ‍API Design: Robust API integration ensuring reliable data flow between platforms while maintaining system performance and security.

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• Mobile Integration:Mobile-first approach ensuring field teams can access integrated data and workflows through unified mobile interfaces.

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• ‍Scalability Planning:Architecture designed to support expansion across additional regions and operational use cases.

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Future Roadmap & Expansion

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Expanding Integration Capabilities

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Enhanced AI Integration:

• Advanced analytics combining drone intelligence with business predictive models
• Automated decision-making based on integrated operational and business data
• Machine learning models trained on combined drone and ERP datasets

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"Our next step is to integrate this entire Creator-powered ERP with SAP to streamline financial and procurement data across the organization, while maintaining the FlytBase operational intelligence layer." — Tyron Mangakahia, Director of Security, Dole Asia Holdings

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Additional Use Cases:

• Crop health monitoring data integration with agricultural planning systems
• Supply chain optimization using drone logistics intelligence
• Compliance reporting automation spanning operational and business requirements

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Industry Impact

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Blueprint for Agricultural Technology:The successful FlytBase-Zoho integration provides a model for other agricultural enterprises seeking to bridge the gap between operational technology and business systems.

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Technology Partnership Evolution:Demonstrating how cloud-based platforms can integrate seamlessly to create unprecedented operational capabilities while maintaining enterprise-grade security and scalability.

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Key Takeaways

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For Agricultural Operations

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1. Integration Possibilities: Modern cloud platforms enable seamless integration between operational technology (FlytBase drone operations) and business systems (Zoho ERP), creating unprecedented visibility and control.

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2. Real-Time Business Intelligence: Combining autonomous drone operations with ERP systems enables real-time business intelligence that transforms decision-making capabilities.

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3. Scalable Architecture: Cloud-based integration approaches provide scalable foundations for expanding operational capabilities while maintaining business system integration.

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For Technology Leaders

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1. Platform Integration Strategy: Success requires unified vision spanning both operational technology and business system teams, with phased implementation and continuous improvement.

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2. API-First Approach: Robust API integration design enables reliable real-time data flow while maintaining system performance and security across platforms.

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3. Mobile Integration Priority: Mobile-first integration ensures field teams can access unified operational and business data through cohesive user experiences.

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Return on Investment

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Operational Efficiency:

• Reduced manual data entry and process coordination
• Faster incident response through integrated workflows
• Improved decision-making through real-time integrated intelligence

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Business Intelligence:

• Unprecedented visibility combining operational and business metrics
• Predictive capabilities using integrated datasets
• Scalable foundation for expanding integration capabilities

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Read the Case Study on Zoho's site: How Dole streamlined agri-security, logistics, and compliance with an end-to-end ERP built on Zoho Creator

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Contact FlytBase to learn how our platform can seamlessly connect with your ERP and business intelligence infrastructure.