Data collection and analysis have become a huge part of modern business. Most product launches and business expansions are based on data such as customer feedback and user metrics. To succeed in business, you must pay for data collection as a service or integrate it into your own business analytics.
In today’s piece we’re going to discuss the three main features any worthwhile data-collection app should have. We are focusing mainly on mobile-based data collection since most companies have an online component and most millennial customers are more than willing to provide feedback digitally rather than on a piece of paper.
1. The app must have an offline mode
Even though a majority of customers live in areas with good internet service, it’s best to use a product that can operate even without an internet connection. The ideal app can store all customer feedback offline and then sync it as soon as you’re reconnected to the internet. Collecting data, even while offline, helps streamline your workflow by reducing the need for manual data entry.
2. The app should support various data fields
To get a complete picture of your customers, you need to collect many types of data when you get customer feedback. The data-collection app you use must be able to accept things like images, voice recordings, photos, and even geolocation info along with text.
3. The app should be cross-compatible
Great software isn’t really that useful if it’s limited to specific, and often expensive, hardware. The ideal mobile solution should be available on Google’s Android operating system as well as Apple’s iOS.
An app should have a web-based interface that you can access from any desktop computer. The mobile data-collection system should always sync with the central database so that you can access the data from anywhere in the world and make a split-second decision. You should also be able to collaborate with other colleagues in real time and be able to create and assign new forms on the fly.
All these features and more are available in the new JotForm Mobile Forms. This app was built from the ground up to be the most advanced mobile data-collection system, and in our opinion, it delivers. Try out the mobile form app for free by downloading it on Google Play or the App Store.
John Pearson is a serial entrepreneur and writer who is passionate about helping small businesses launch and grow. His work has been featured in Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.
