Changing the World One Sheet at a Time The use of technology to save the planet

Technology not only transforms the way we work but can also drive solutions for real-world problems, even those that seem unchangeable as we are too used to them. In this article, I’ll share how a technology solution based on smartcards helped improve the operations of an agricultural support company by reducing paper usage and facilitating resources distribution in rural areas.

Myself a Software Engineer

Throughout my career, as a Software Engineer, I’ve had the opportunity to work in several industries, developing software solutions that not only optimize processes but also improve people’s lives, having also the opportunity to travel to other countries and meet other cultures. Today, we see software and technology everywhere, transforming the world around us, and I have been part of that change.

One interesting project I worked on took place in a company that supported farmers in managing their crops. In this company, agronomists who supervised the harvests, filled out paper forms to request supplies like seeds, fertilizers, or services such as tractor rentals. However, even when the operation was working, the process had some issues, from document loss to poor synchronization with the backend systems. Furthermore, the farmers often worked in remote areas without telephone or internet signals, complicating the operation even more.

Identifying Problems and Solutions

As part of the software development team, my job was to improve the efficiency of these processes and solve the logistical problems. The main proposal was simple but ambitious: completely eliminate the use of paper whilst improving the accuracy and synchronization of information.

After analyzing the technology options, we decided to implement smartcards to replace the paper forms. These would allow supervisors to record transactions directly onto the cards, storing the data in a digital format that could be synchronized with the company’s central system, making it easier for the farmers to carry the supplies requisitions without the issues of handling paper forms.

Requirements and Changes

The project’s requirements focused on three key points:

1. Completely eliminate the use of paper.
2. Reduce errors in data synchronization and handling.
3. Improve the speed of operations, especially in areas with little or no connectivity.

To implement the solution, we identified the necessity to develop new applications that allowed supervisors to record information onto the smartcards. Additionally, to modify existing systems to read and process the data stored on the cards. It was also necessary to integrate communication interfaces to synchronize the information with the warehouses and generate digital forms reflecting the transactions.

The Technological Challenge

Although smartcards were developed in the 1950s, their use wasn’t popularized until the 1990s. And by 1999, when we developed this solution, smartcards were still mostly limited to banking systems, at least in Mexico.

We purchased the cards and readers from the German company Schlumberger, which gave us access to manuals and libraries (DLLs) for programming. Since technical support was based in Germany, we heavily relied on our own skills to develop the applications.

My specific role in the project was to create an API for configuring, reading, and writing data to the cards so that other developers could integrate this functionality into their systems.

By comparing now and then, today it would be as easy as asking tools like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot to generate the code for us, but in the 1990s all we had were manuals and our own developing skills.

Data Limitations and Optimization

One of the main limitations of the technology was the storage capacity of the smartcards, which ranged from 1K (1024 characters) to 2K (2048 characters). With this limited space, we had to be extremely selective about the information we stored. For instance, we only saved the essential data: dates, product codes, and quantities. Having each record of around 23 characters allows us to store approximately 40 records on a 1K card, along with the farmer’s identification information.

Project's outcomes

The addition of the smartcards on the operation was a success. Not only did we eliminate paper usage, but we also improved the quality of the information for delivering supplies. This increased user satisfaction, as they no longer had to deal with documentation errors or lost forms. Actually, three years later, the system was updated to support newer versions of Windows and development tools, giving the project a second life.

Final Reflection

This project was a valuable experience in my career. I learned to work with new technologies with limited information, to be more structured in my approach, and to offer remote support to users in different cities. It also showed me the true power of technology to solve field problems and improve people’s lives, even in the most rural and disconnected environments.

Technology is not just a tool for progress; it also enforces positive changes. In this implementation, the use of smartcards helped reduce paper usage, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately contribute to the well-being of farmers and the sustainability of the planet.

Once in your life you may need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer. - Brenda Schoepp