Mobile Data Collection
What is Mobile Data Collection?
The route that many industries are taking is using mobile technology as the means for field workers to collect data. For example, workers use their smartphones or tablets in conjunction with applications that exist as electronic versions of the paper forms to record work completed from the field. This can provide a much better quality of data collected, as mobile devices capture dynamic forms of data, such as photos and GPS locations. Once the data has been captured into the electronic format, it can be immediately stored in a database or server or can even be emailed to relevant people from the field.
Mobile field data collection eliminates the need for manual re-entry of the data into a system, as the data is being recorded directly to where it must be stored. Since no paper is involved, there is no instance of lost forms and results in a much greener solution. Mobile data collection eliminates two time-consuming and value-reducing steps in the data collection process. It removes the need for physical forms to be brought to the office, and it does not require another human to input the data into a computer.
By eliminating non-essential steps from the collection process to when the data is re-entered into a computer, mobile data collection can reduce the time and resources needed to complete the process, while improving the quality of the data collected, and making field teams more productive.
Is Mobile Data Management Important for Business?
As mentioned previously, the conversion of data into information is where the value of raw data lies, and the quality of the data that is collected greatly impacts the caliber of the information that can be derived from it. Additionally, the means by which the data is collected, stored and utilized impacts the decision-making power that the users of the information can harness.
Mobile data management can reduce the time, resources, and cost of extracting the necessary information from the field, while improving the quality of the information collected. Utilizing mobile data collection provides decision-makers with better, more accurate information in order to make more informed decisions, without the guesswork.
