ProficiencyCheck: Provana’s New Frontier in Fleet Monitoring
Today, tires are a key factor in the efficiency of agricultural machinery, but only if properly monitored and managed can they guarantee maximum economic returns for the company. When used in the ideal conditions for each specific application, agricultural tires ensure significant fuel savings, reduced tread wear, and a drastic reduction in downtime. In short: greater productivity and healthier financial management.
But how can you monitor tire pressure and, above all, adjust pressure in real time? Agostino Provana, owner of Provana Group in Izano (CR), provides the answer with the “PC Fleet” system. The acronym PC stands for ProficiencyCheck, or “efficiency control.” In the dictionary, proficiency expresses competence, skill, and the full ability to navigate a specific field. And this is precisely the goal of Provana’s solution: to offer constant monitoring of pressure, temperature, and fuel consumption for tractors and trailers.
PC Fleet integrates professional hardware and intuitive software for comprehensive tire monitoring. The system is based on a small, antenna-free sensor, protected by a special rubber casing, installed directly in the inner rim channel. This positioning is not only quick and non-invasive, but also essential for protecting the sensor from impacts and external agents, ensuring the reliability of the data collected.
Using Bluetooth technology, PC Fleet connects to the vehicle’s CAN bus, communicating directly with the control unit. Thanks to GPS geolocation, the system detects fuel consumption in real time, allowing the operator or fleet manager to monitor TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) while optimizing performance, safety, and operating costs.
“The ProficiencyCheck Fleet solution is already operational on ten tractors owned by contractors and agricultural businesses in Northern Italy,” explains Alberto Viganò, consultant at Provana Group Innovation. “The development plan is already mapped out: we expect installation on another 20 tractor-trailer systems by next June.”
“The dashboard with all the information is accessible in real time, both online and on smartphones,” adds Agostino Provana. “The system sends immediate automatic alerts in the event of anomalies. In addition to alerts and instant graphical analyses, the software stores a complete data history, essential for personalized reporting and implementation of predictive analysis strategies. It is a 360° technological solution that brings digitalization to the daily management of agricultural vehicles.”
The key benefits of PC Fleet:
Energy efficiency: reduced fuel consumption.
Longevity: longer tire life thanks to reduced irregular wear.
Productivity: predictive maintenance to minimize downtime.
Safety: real-time alerts for critical temperature or pressure issues.
24/7 monitoring: complete remote control of the fleet.
Data Analysis: reports ready for verification and optimization.
“In agriculture today, sustainability necessarily involves sensors and geolocalization,” continues Viganò. Sensors enable us to monitor vital parameters, including microclimate, soil moisture, and wind speed, allowing for targeted interventions such as automatic irrigation or specific treatments. While today’s tractors are experimenting with automatic guidance, it is equally crucial to use tire pressure and temperature sensors. Only in this way we can fully exploit technologies such as VF (Very High Flexion) and PFO (Pressure Field Operation), reducing soil compaction and optimizing fuel consumption.
Provana Group Innovation has established itself as a leading agricultural consulting company, with a vertical focus on tire optimization. Thanks to a unique mix of technological expertise, strategic marketing, and Research & Development, the group provides high-value services that support the growth of the entire sector: from field performance assessments to specialized training, from technical testing to event organization and technological transformation.
PC Fleet’s cross-functional nature allows Provana to engage with an extremely broad range of stakeholders. While the natural customers are fleets, large agricultural companies, and contractors, the solution also directly targets tire, agricultural machinery, and wheel manufacturers.
“PC Fleet is an extremely versatile solution, designed to generate value for all players in the supply chain,” concludes Agostino Provana, outlining the technology’s future developments. “While the system is already operational in some of Italy’s leading fleets, our focus is now on tractor and wheel manufacturers. For them, PC Fleet represents an opportunity to integrate advanced monitoring systems directly into original equipment or into large-scale applications, bringing native digital innovation to the vehicle.”
