Before day 1: agree the scope
Choose apiaries, devices, named contacts, permissions, cellular coverage, languages, training and success criteria. Confirm availability, installation costs, hosting and data requirements in the written proposal. The timetable begins after installation and activation.
Days 1–14: establish a baseline
Record initial hive conditions and beekeeper observations. Check device placement, expected readings and notification delivery with the responsible beekeeper. Record gaps instead of assuming every device is reporting.
Days 15–75: use and review
Review trends and alerts alongside inspections. Log the alert, the observation, the action taken and the follow-up. Agree review frequency and escalation contacts in the scope; this planning outline is not a support SLA.
Days 76–90: evaluate the evidence
Compare the agreed measures with the baseline, document missing data and seasonality, and decide whether to expand. Separate observations from causal claims. Agree how records will be exported, retained or removed when the pilot ends.
Example equipment budget: 50 hives
An illustrative mix of 5 SmartBeePro and 12 SmartBeeGPS costs USD 1,405 in hardware. Service for all 17 devices is USD 459 for 12 months, starting at activation: USD 1,864 combined before accessories, shipping, tax, installation or training. A 90-day pilot does not imply a prorated annual subscription. This is a list-price example, not a fixed all-inclusive package.
What the final proposal must state
Device models and quantities; sampling approach; delivery and acceptance; installation and training; full tax-inclusive total and payment currency; support hours and response targets; hosting and transfer requirements; user roles; export, retention and end-of-pilot arrangements.