Ease of use and portability key to mobile data collection
Our new GainSeeker Collect iPad (and Android) app has been picking up momentum. We think it is because it is easy to set up, flexible enough to handle a lot of situations, and fast, efficient, and very portable for the operator.
One of our first customers for the app, Smoker Craft, builds aluminum fishing and pontoon boats. GainSeeker Collect is perfect for them because they need to crawl all over the boat during their inspection, and they have a lot of inspections. Here is a brief video of an inspector running through her checks.
If you look carefully over her shoulder you’ll see that one of the checks is red while the rest are green. If you look very closely you’ll she is actually going through a couple of pages of checks – all with a swipe of her finger. You can see how it is fast, efficient, and very portable.
What you can’t see in the video is that during the inspection she can take photos, videos, and audio recordings, and attach them to the inspection records. For them, being able to record an audio of the sound system at final check out is useful for documenting to their customers that everything worked when it left the factory.
Customization is fast and easy
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere in this blog, GainSeeker Collect is highly customizeable. You can set it up to do almost anything, from inspecting cookies, to boats, to golf balls, and you can set it up in minutes. Recently two of my colleagues were visiting a client to talk about their need for a roving inspection plan. The client talked for maybe 10 or 15 minutes about his vision. While he was talking, one of my colleagues set up the inspection on the iPad. In just a few minutes he had a working prototype that met this customer’s very specialized needs.
Something for the iPad besides Facebook and email
One of the things that I think may be feeding this momentum is that a lot of IT people in corporations are getting on the iPad bandwagon, perhaps without knowing exactly how their people will use this new technology. Over a year ago we saw research showing corporations were eager to purchase iPads, but it seems that they were devices looking for application. When our customers see GainSeeker Collect, their eyes light up and they say “At last, something for the iPad besides Facebook and email.” I’m exaggerating only slightly.
What about you? Do you have an iPad or Android tablet for work? What do you use it for? Does your organization need roving data collection? Please leave a comment, or write to me at ejmiller [at] hertzler [dot] com. I’d love to hear from you.
