From Paper to Mobile
With technological advances and the rapid increase of smart device usage, phones and tablets are consistently on-hand and have become an integral part of daily life. The majority of users have surpassed the learning curve for basic functionality, and the transition from paper to mobile is prevalent across all industries nationwide. But why are companies making the switch?
Data validation
Compliance is always a priority, especially when it comes to inspection. Construction companies alone faced penalties exceeding $100 million in the past year to avoid prosecution for non-compliance issues due to mishaps in the inspection process.1 Traditional paper processes leave a lot of room for error. A mobile data collection solution significantly reduces these issues through the use of structured data and workflow. Missing fields, illegible writing, ambiguous data, and lost forms are all eliminated through a customizable mobile data solution.
Updating forms through a digital solution is more streamlined, efficient, and generates additional data points. Through the use of smart device features, field workers automatically input information into their data collection process that normally would not be included, allowing for a more complete picture and rich database to benefit future company decisions.
Specifics
Every project and location has unique and variable reporting requirements. Using paper forms to collect this critical information can be very costly. Paper data collection methods struggle to adapt to business needs. Manual form changes, printing and re-printing, and organization and storage are just a few of the challenges that occur. Using paper forms incurs a high cost for printing, especially when updates need to be made or a new form has to be created for each different location. Through a configurable data solution, companies are now working without the boundaries of physical forms and can ask the question, “What else do we want to know?”
Along with enhanced databases comes the ability to visually represent specific data points in mobile forms. All smart devices are equipped with cameras, which now can take high resolution images in a matter of seconds. Attaching images, especially in instances where something is out of compliance or in need of repair, is incredibly beneficial to all industries.
Enhanced efficiencies
Paper data collection can be messy. Forms go missing, get stored incorrectly, and require somebody to re-enter the data into a system at the office. Mobile allows for real-time data syncing across all devices, allowing employees to access any record. The database automatically updates as they progress through their day. When everyone in the company is connected, from office employees to field workers, everyday processes operate more efficiently, employees are more productive, and the company has the ability to scale for growth.
Cloud storage takes away the potential of human error when filing and organizing, and allows records to be searchable in a matter of seconds. With safe, secure, backed-up data, the risk of data loss is minimized while making it accessible at the same time.
The all-encompassing reason…
In one word — innovation. Companies across all industries are growing with the technology that becomes available to them, and using the traditional paper data collection methods becomes a hindrance to everyday process. Through a customizable mobile data solution, companies now discover hidden trends and data points that they were unable to analyze in the past, ultimately increasing the bottom line.
Is your company ready to make the switch to a configurable mobile data solution? Contact us today to schedule a demo.
