Mobile Applications for Data Collection

[Knowledge base]

Mobile phones are useful tools for collecting data in the field.   As a result, there is an abundance of mobile data collection applications and projects.

Unlike bulk messaging and general information services that are targeting the general public as recipients of standardized messaging, mobile data collection applications are often used internally in an organization, customized to fit with existing organizational processes. This may mean using services or applications that are not part of most people's day-to-day experience of mobile use.

This article looks at choosing a mobile data collection solution, from defining the information requirements to choosing the most appropriate technology strategy for a specific organizational context and communication environment.