2020 RVC Insights Fall Wtih Edits copy 20 pages - Flipbook - Page 8
With the foundational goal of advancing our member-owners’ digital experience, River Valley Cooperative signed an agreement with AgVend on April 28,
2020, to develop a River Valley Cooperative branded
portal. This integrated digital tool, coupled with the
service and expertise of our account managers,
unlocks a new experience for customers.
While AgVend first carved out its business with its
online marketplace platform and then retailer storefronts, they have shifted their focus as of late.
“We made a shift in the focus of our business,” says
AgVend Co-Founder and CEO Alexander Reichert.
Reichert sees an increased percentage of farmers eager and wanting to engage with their retailers through
digital business tools. “We could not agree more,” says
Craig Patty, River Valley Cooperative’s Vice President
of Sales and Marketing. “We have been on this journey
for what feels to be a very long time. The journey to
find a tool that fully integrates with our accounting
system, that is mobile friendly, and compliments our
tremendous River Valley Cooperative team and their
efforts to serve the cooperative’s member-owners.”
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Through the application, AgVend will connect River
Valley Cooperative to member-owners through a
portal on the cooperative’s website, www.shop.rivervalleycoop.com, as well as through a mobile app. The
grower portal will offer growers real-time digital access
to agronomy product pricing info, inventory, invoices,
and more. In addition, the grower portal will allow
information to flow seamlessly between the member-owner and the River Valley Cooperative account
manager.
“We are extremely excited about the efficiencies
that will be gained from the portal,” Patty says. “Our
member-owners can review plans and educate themselves on products when it is convenient for them. Our
account managers can provide information and product quotes for the member-owners to assess when
their time allows. This new tool will allow us to share
information on products and programs with customers, and customers will be able to communicate plans
with account managers, price products, and make
payments online.”