Digital Transformation in Grain Engineering and Post-Harvest Activities: A Case Study and Maturity Model Proposition

This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on a Brazilian post-harvest engineering company. The manuscript examines how digital technologies impact performance and competitive advantages, providing actionable insights for practitioners. The methodology is a twofold case study. First, it describes the company’s technology development process, examining the journey from initial implementations to its current state over the past ten years. Then, it focuses on the recommendations for future advancements, provided by a leading technology research institute located in Germany. Data collection involved observation, interviews (personnel, clients, experts), document analysis, and facility tours. The findings include qualitative (grain quality, agility) and quantitative impacts (EBITDA increase, 84% storage efficiency). Barriers included mechanical adaptation and costs. Opportunities related by BIBA include advanced technologies (such as AI and digital twins), aligning with a proposed six-level digital maturity model for post-harvest systems. Regarding practical implications, the findings emphasize the need for a strategic vision for digital technology adoption in the post-harvest industry, which is crucial for addressing labor shortages, reducing losses, and promoting sustainability, with potential annual gains of $700 million. The main novelty introduced by this study is a novel, empirically derived six-level digital maturity model. It provides comprehensive qualitative/quantitative impact analysis, highlighting advanced technologies for industry challenges.