For ÚKSÚP (the Central Agricultural Control and Testing Institute in Bratislava), we created a new system (IS CÚR – Central Data Repository) with clean processes, unified code lists, clear services, and integration with the map. We integrated the Central Register of the State, the Real Estate Cadastre, and data from the Agricultural Payment Agency and prepared and made accessible more than a hundred electronic services for farmers, the public, and other state administration bodies.
The departments of ÚKSÚP are now connected through a common system, share information, cooperate better, and communicate faster. Farmers have a huge amount of bureaucracy removed because not only do they submit documents and requests electronically, but the system automatically fills in data for them.
Marek Ivaňák, Project Manager at YMS, said: “ÚKSÚP gradually transformed into a modern electronic state organization without paper, delays, and bureaucracy. Successful computerization transformed the entire culture of the organization into a modern, fresh, and agile one. It gave back to the experts who looked after the safety of our food the time to devote themselves to professional work, knowing that the correctness of work procedures and data is taken care of by IS CÚR. For farmers, it returned the energy needed to take care of our land and livelihood.”
Marek Molnár, Director of IT at ÚKSÚP, said: “We control the quality of agricultural inputs so that Slovak consumers can be sure that Slovak products Are in good quality, certified, and safe. It is, however, a long and complicated process. Every entity has to be registered, hold a certificate of professional competence in its field, and undergo controls and laboratory testing. Farmers are understandably administratively burdened. IS CÚR reduced this burden by making all actions as simple as possible and electronic.”
One and Done in Agricultural Monitoring – What It Looked Like
We fully digitalized the activities of the Sections for Agricultural Inputs and Control and Plant Production and Testing. Decisions, certificates, attestations, notifications, confirmations of recognition of materials, professional opinions, and many other services are issued electronically. ÚKSÚP offers more than a hundred electronic services to farmers, the public, and other state administration bodies.
Getting Rid of Bureaucracy “Bought” Time for Professional Work
ÚKSÚP primarily needed to eliminate the autonomous functioning of departments, separate and unshared code lists, systems, and processes. This separation burdened ÚKSÚP experts with administration, and farmers repeatedly filled in data and submitted papers — causing frustration and blocking time during the season.
Once and Done for ÚKSÚP
ÚKSÚP employees use a shared database of registered entities and varieties — they verify data directly in the system and update it for everyone in real time. Thanks to the integration of system modules, they see automatically loaded information needed for decision-making right in the requests (such as registration of entities or types). They work without interruptions in their module, with access to data from other departments, without having to switch between modules. Automatic warnings replaced manual data entry from paper forms.
Once and Done for Clients
ÚKSÚP is connected to the Central Register of the State, the Real Estate Cadastre, and the Agricultural Payment Agency, so farmers get the same benefits. When logging into the system, their data, such as company ID, name, address, and management automatically appear. With a simple click on the map, the area, type of land, and ownership relationships are automatically pulled into the request from the Real Estate Cadastre. Furthermore, information registered with the Agricultural Payment Agency — such as data on fertilization or the types of plants on their parcels — is also pre-filled in the request. In this way, farmers do not enter data repeatedly and focus only on the subject of the specific request.
Communication between farmers and officials is fully electronic, the time to handle requests was shortened, and — if ÚKSÚP needs additional information — farmers receive immediate emails or system notifications.
Effective Electronization – Implementation in Practice at ÚKSÚP
Common foundation:
IS CÚR represents an integrative foundation, a shared logical core — literally the backbone of the organization’s digital management. It organizes a vast number of activities, processes, data, outputs, results, certificates, registers, and more.
Accurate data:
The content — the “inside” of the system — consists of structured data cleaned of potential errors, inaccuracies, and duplications. For ÚKSÚP, this takes the form of 12 specialized registers. Each user has accurate and up-to-date data for the area for which they are responsible.
Digital agenda:
On this common foundation with clean data, we build a functional “layer” — measures and digital services. We set up the overall work design, processes, procedures, and notifications. For external users, this includes electronic forms and other digital working tools.
