Mobile apps for field data collection tremendously enhance the field service operations of an organization by streamlining data collection in the field.

Today, software solutions have entirely replaced paper-based forms with their digital counterparts that are easily accessible to people irrespective of their working condition through a smartphone app.

A data collection app that combines GIS, data collection, workflow automation, and reporting increases the productivity of field operations.

The flexibility imparted by mobile solutions in editing, creating, and sharing forms on a real-time basis provides many advantages to varied field-tech organizations.

Advantages of Mobile Apps for Data Collection

Time and Cost-efficiency 

Although hiring technicians to work in the field is expensive, one cannot discount their tremendous value. Naturally, businesses desire to enhance their time in the field.

Data collection apps enable your field teams to gather data on their smartphones. This information is shared by the app immediately with other office staff and team members. It also provides businesses with a competitive edge as they save huge time in data processing.

Enhanced Decision Making

Data collection apps facilitate the field manager to track the data in real-time. They can identify obstacles immediately and thus take actionable steps as soon as they are alerted of the problem.

Improvement in Process Standardization

Technicians can fill conventional paper forms as they like. There are no particular fields that should be filled out. This process is considerably standardized through data collection apps.

There are thus no differences in the data irrespective of the one conducting the field observation. Moreover, the information which is gathered gets geo-located automatically and is also transmitted into the database.

Accessibility to all Relevant Tools from a Single Place

With such an app, technicians have easy access to every tool they require in a single place. Thus, they don’t need to burden themselves with carrying GPS devices, paper and pencil maps and cameras when they go on the field. Practically everything they want is right there in the app.

Great Customer Service

Data collection apps facilitate good customer service by giving them speedy access to reports through the app. When businesses use paper forms, they become vulnerable to many errors and delays. All this is avoided when they use an app for this purpose.

Use Cases of Data Collection Apps 

• Healthcare – For those in the healthcare domains, creating forms that fulfil federal and state regulations becomes easy, thus ensuring best practices in client engagement.

Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set Gaps analysis need providers to gather non-technical data. It is used for creating care plans.

• Construction – Mobile forms function as a portable solution for recording employee time, collection of proof-of-service, and log use of items. Signatures and approval marks can also be edited rather than transported, making them prone to human errors.
• Maintenance – Data collection apps allow facility managers and maintenance staff to collect equipment readings and trigger instant alerts if repairs are needed.

Mobile forms solutions can streamline an array of daily tasks and processes. A great data collection app allows team members to gather field asset information, capture their photos and make workflows any time anywhere.

Field-tech industries need to bring about greater collaboration and manage field data effectively. An app for the same purpose upgrades business processes and makes them more streamlined. It also paves the way for enabling an organization to offer exceptional customer experiences.