Integration of smart information systems in the agri-food sector

Enterprises in the agri-food sector work with a multitude of different stakeholders. Business processes are becoming less stable, and production systems evolve more quickly than ever before as new digital technologies become available at a rapid pace. The agri-food sector is shifting towards a data-driven industry enabled by smart information systems. A typical example of such a sector is the Netherlands horticulture, which will be used as a case for this study. Enterprises in this sector use diverse smart information systems (SISs) such as enterprise planning systems, artificial intelligence, IoT (Internet of Things) and advanced data analytics to manage their business processes, including production in highly controlled greenhouses. However, in practice and literature, it is seen that these smart information systems (SISs) are highly fragmented, scattered and not sufficiently integrated. The current situation is often characterized by island automation: a patchwork of different SISs that are hardly integrated with other applications within and outside the enterprise. This study aims to contribute to overcoming this situation by first reviewing the existing issues and approaches to integrating SISs. We subsequently will develop guidelines and methods to assess agri-food enterprises' maturity and readiness for SISs integration and we will develop an information architecture and governance model to guide its implementation. Through this study, the question ‘how can the different SISs in the agri-food sector be integrated both within and outside enterprises to enhance the coordination of internal and supply chain processes?’ will be answered.