Archive / Telefónica × Natura · 2013–15
Natura — translating nature into data
IoT sensors on murumuru drying mats in the Amazon, so quality could be known before the harvest reached the factory.
The challenge
Natura buys around 400 tonnes of raw material a year from families and communities in the Amazon. Artisanal drying meant quality was only known when the seeds arrived at the plant — too late.
The concept
Temperature and humidity sensors on the drying mats, connected to Telefónica’s cloud platform, let Natura monitor drying online, warn production teams in advance and plan the treatment of the raw material.
What I learned
The project worked for Natura but not as a business for Telefónica. A real success has to be a win for both sides — a lesson about the business side of design I still carry.
