Data collection is not a new concept, but the emergence of mobile devices has radically changed how data is collected and stored. Before everything became digital and mobile, traditional data collection used pen and paper to create records from many locations, aggregate the physical data sheets in a typical central location, and consequently finish the manual data entry into the computers to manage and analyze it.
Currently, all inputs can be handled digitally at the point of origin with the digitization of the mobile data collection process, which eliminates the need for manual handwritten entries, physical sheets, and manual data entry, making the process exponentially simpler and more efficient for all stakeholders.
Options for specialization
Currently, the market provides a variety of mobile application solutions for security on-site inspection duties, which bring significant benefits such as:
- Geolocation devices that use the GPS of the phone or tablet to verify that the checklist operates in the proper location and that the associated tasks are completed on time and in the correct location.
- Smart scheduling optimizes execution times to avoid production or service delivery delays. This is accomplished by the inspector determining an ideal limit for using the checklist in the field. This saves the organization time and/or important resources.
Mobile GIS Data Collection
The precise physical location of each asset is crucial in any industry with a large number of assets scattered across a broad geographical region. This is where the extra feature of GIS-enabled mobile data collection comes in handy.
For example, which spare is needed to repair a specific broken component, which buildings this asset is mounted on, the precise asset location, and the best time, route, and staffing plan.
GIS Data is frequently used in the creation of:
- To display data on a certain subject or topic, use thematic maps like the choropleth/color-based mapping and even the dot distribution visualizations.
- Obtaining direction-finding data for easy travel.
- Photogrammetric data, collected from geographical locations and structures using photographic pictures, is used in surveying.
GIS technology expressly enables field teams to map every asset in-field data settings utilizing protocols relevant to their business and industry.
An oil and gas firm, for example, can design every piece of machinery, what building it is a part of, where it is located geographically, and even the point of elevation or vertical position to ground level.
This data allows them to view their whole field assets, better design field operations, establish more efficient processes, deploy people on the field, assign tasks, plan inventory management, and track support progress in real-time.
Final Words
All on-site inspections follow a standard list of quality verifiers, sometimes known as a “checklist.” This enables one or more inspectors or supervisors to evaluate and compare the quality of a product or service in the field to see if it matches the previously defined requirements by the manufacturer or organization.
If the inspector discovers any failure or discrepancy based on comparing these data, the product is destroyed, or an operational error warning is sent, as appropriate. Especially if the failure or error poses a danger to both the process and the customer or end-user of the commodity or service.
However, many of these checklists are still generated and implemented manually, utilizing templates or static forms stored on a single computer, or even using automated paper procedures that demand more worker hours and provide a higher risk of failure.
Maintaining these antiquated procedures not only results in high inefficiency but also in low process traceability and visibility in real-time. It also necessitates the excessive use of manual storage or file resources. Here, mobile data collection is the best solution.
Furthermore, in a context where process speed and agility are critical to providing timely responses to an increasingly demanding market, the development of new digital solutions and applications that specifically address this operational need is critical for companies and organizations to save costs and optimize their performance, and ultimately succeed.
