A generic definition of digital data collection is the ability to collect information using smartphones, tablets or other digital devices. At GoReport, as we are dedicated to supporting the full surveying workflow, we extend this definition to be the ability to collect data at the most relevant point in a survey or inspection.
Supporting the full cycle of activity from preparation and planning, through physical survey, edit and review and onto subsequent reporting and analysis is key to driving benefits from digital adoption into the surveying process.
In order to understand the benefits that can be driven by digital adoption, it is important to consider the detail of the surveying specialism and how a particular service is delivered. For a surveyor who is delivering a large volume of similar outputs, the efficiency of data collection and speed of production of the output report is key. The ability to collect accurate data at source and to publish into a high quality, professional and consistent report ready for distribution will be a primary driver for digital adoption.
A prominent example of this will be in the world of the residential surveyor, where several surveys may be conducted in one day with an incentive to complete and distribute the final report as quickly as possible. GoReport clients in this sector have looked to digital adoption having faced difficulty in either delivering sufficient volume or suffering from a poor work/life balance due to the time required to “write up” reports following the survey by more traditional means such as pen & paper, merging photographs from other devices etc.
The drive for efficiency in producing volume, which has an obvious direct financial benefit, is applicable to all aspects of residential surveying from the sole trader to the large enterprise and from the Homebuyer market to other specialisms such as Timber & Damp, Structural specialists etc.
As the size of a business increases, other considerations increase in their importance when considering digital adoption. The ability for data to flow from other sources and systems, such as booking or practice management tools, into the surveying application and for output data and reports to flow back for quality assurance, distribution or to trigger financial workflows become much more important due to the volume and number of different stakeholders involved including operational, administrative and financial staff as well as the surveyor.
It is, therefore, vital to consider how each of your solutions or systems interact with each other to ensure your business can drive efficiency across the management of the surveying process as well as delivering the survey itself. There are many different systems and requirements vary from business to business but the GoReport ability to share data via our Application Programming Interface (API), or import and export mechanisms ensure that our clients can realise the advantages of data flow across their business.
All of the advantages above are also applicable in the commercial sector where the service delivery is consistent from client to client. However, commercial surveying will often also entail a requirement for consistency across a portfolio of assets, but where each client requires a variation in the service offered. For example, a particular client may require a full schedule of condition but also seeks to understand priority Health & Safety Issues. In these cases, digital adoption drives accuracy at source and consistency across individual surveyors as well as efficiency across the portfolio of assets.
GoReport’s unique ability to configure bespoke data collection, standard phrases or responses and tailored outputs ensure that the client need is driving the benefits as opposed to technology constraining the service being delivered.
Most importantly though, as legal, strategic and compliance requirements become more complex, the benefits of digital adoption are not just a luxury but essential to be able to deliver the service in the timeline demanded by clients. Without digital data collection, our clients' experience is that it is impossible to deliver the subsequent analysis and data driven guidance that clients increasingly expect.
In summary, there are many benefits of adopting a digital data collection strategy which cover all aspects of efficiency, consistency and quality. Whether you are a sole trader or working in a large complex enterprise, these benefits are easily attainable with many organisations able to demonstrate how they have been able to achieve them. While many in the surveying industry are yet to adopt digital, it is becoming increasingly likely that it will be difficult to remain competitive without adopting a suitable solution for your needs.
GoReport clients have digitally transformed their businesses with adoption of GoReport and have experienced and overcome the challenges we discussed in this article. You can find out more here or read on to the next article ➡️
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