eforms-mobile

Introducing the Pro User Tier and AI-Powered Voice & Photo Fill 📢

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 21:08:36 GMT

Introducing the Pro User Tier and

AI-Powered Voice & Photo Fill ��

AI is quickly becoming part of how real operational work gets done. Not as a gimmick or bolt-on, but as a practical layer that removes friction from everyday tasks. As we expand AI across the platform, we’re introducing a new user tier to support this shift.

The Pro User Tier

The Pro User tier unlocks expanded AI access for teams that need AI integrated consistently into everyday workflows. It also includes access to all current and future AI-powered features as they are released.

Our AI-powered features currently include:

The Form Generator lets you create a digital form by simply typing or speaking. No more manually creating forms.
The Conversational A I lets you customize your newly created form by typing or speaking to it. Quickly change the colours of multiple fields at once by just asking the AI to do it.
The new Voice Fill & Photo Fill capabilities are introduced below.

All users receive a complimentary monthly allocation of 5 AI credits on the Web Portal and 3 AI credits on the Mobile App. This allows every customer to experience and experiment with these capabilities at no additional cost.

Learn More

You can read more about the Pro User Tier here in our knowledge base article. If you have any questions, please contact support@eformsmobile.com .

Our goal is to continue expanding AI-powered capabilities across the platform to help you reduce effort, improve data quality, and move faster.

New Features: The App Is Going Hands-Free

We’ve been working on something we’re genuinely excited about. Over the next week, AI Hands-Free Voice and Photo Fill will roll out across our mobile apps, starting with the Appenate App. With this update, we’ll give teams a faster and more practical way to capture data in the field.

Voice Fill with AI

Typing is not always practical.

Many Appenate users work in real-world environments, such as at height, around machinery, in protective equipment, or in awkward positions where interacting with a touchscreen slows work down.

The way we fill out forms has been changed forever!. Now, it’s as simple as tapping the mic button on any form and speaking naturally. And no need for robot-speak like “Set field 1 to value A.”

Just say something like “Inspector John Smith hit his pinky with a hammer at the construction site at Eucalyptus Drive,” and the form will fill itself in accurately.

A progress bar indicates how far you have progressed within the 60-second recording limit.

What’s supported?

Basically, any field where you can speak the answer:

Text fields
Choice fields (single, multi, dropdown, autocomplete – all of them)
Number fields
Date fields
Time-only fields
Date & time combo fields

Fields that need physical interaction, like photos, GPS, NFC, will still need to be done the old school way – for now. Web Forms are not yet supported.

All languages are supported. You can even mix languages mid-sentence. Switch between English and Spanish, and it should handle it flawlessly.

Voice Fill allows users to speak their responses and have supported form fields populated automatically.

If a user can speak, they can complete the form.

This is particularly valuable in:

Wind turbine inspections
Maintenance work requiring heavy gloves
Safety-critical environments
Field installations
Any scenario where hands are occupied

Not every productivity gain comes from extreme conditions. Sometimes it is simply about removing steps that slow work down.

Learn More

Read more about Voice Fill with AI here in our knowledge base article. If you have any questions, please contact support@eformsmobile.com .

Photo Fill with AI

Paper still plays a role in many operational workflows. Inspections, checklists, and reports are often completed by hand before being entered into a digital system. That re-entry process takes time and introduces the potential for error. Photo Fill removes that step.

Users can take a photo of a completed paper form. Appenate reads the handwritten or printed content and automatically populates supported fields in the digital form.

This makes it possible to move from paper to structured digital data without duplicating effort.

Common use cases include:

Converting handwritten inspection reports
Digitising contractor checklists
Processing field documentation captured on paper
Bridging legacy paper workflows into digital systems

Learn More

We’re excited to see how you put Voice and Photo Fill to work. As with any new features, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us. Check out our knowledgebase articles for more information.

If you have questions about the PRO User tier, have suggestions or ideas, or notice anything that could be improved, please let us know at support@eformsmobile.com.

Your input directly helps us refine these features and shape what comes next.

Internal Audit Automation: Examples and Implementation Steps

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 22:06:26 GMT

Internal Audit Automation:

Examples and Implementation Steps

Sarah's audit team spent three weeks testing vendor payments last quarter. They sampled transactions, chased down approvals, and documented everything in spreadsheets. Two months later, the CFO discovered a $200,000 payment to a fraudulent vendor that wasn't in their sample.

That's the problem with periodic, manual audits. You're always looking backwards at a fraction of the data, hoping you caught what matters. Sampling-based testing misses emerging issues. Paper-based or disconnected tools kill visibility and consistency. By the time you spot a pattern, the damage is done.

Automation changes that. Not by replacing auditors, but by giving them better tools to catch issues faster, test more comprehensively, and focus on judgment instead of data entry.

This article walks you through what internal audit automation actually looks like, from basic digital workflows to advanced AI and continuous monitoring. You'll learn what to automate first, how to pick the right tools, and how to roll it out without disrupting your existing audit schedule.

The purpose of automating the internal audit process

Internal audit automation means using digital tools to handle the repetitive, time-consuming parts of auditing. Instead of manually tracking down documents, copying data into spreadsheets, and chasing people for status updates, you set up systems that do the heavy lifting for you.

Here's why that matters:

Increased efficiency and faster audit cycles: Automated workflows move things along without you having to send follow-up emails or wait for someone to remember to fill out a form. Long audits can now wrap up much faster.
Reduced manual errors and improved data accuracy: When people copy numbers from one place to another or transcribe information by hand, mistakes happen. Automation pulls data directly from the source and keeps it consistent across your audit documentation.
Greater consistency and standardization across audits: Everyone follows the same process, uses the same templates, and documents findings the same way. New auditors can jump in with minimal onboarding.
Improved audit trail and documentation: Everything gets logged automatically — who did what, when, what changed, and why.
Better use of audit team resources for higher-value analysis: Your auditors stop spending their time on administrative work and start spending it on the stuff that requires their expertise — evaluating controls, identifying emerging risks, and making impactful recommendations.

Examples of basic internal audit process automation

You don't need to jump straight into AI and machine learning. Most internal audits do not require that. Start with the fundamentals and replace paper-based forms and manual tracking with digital systems.

These foundational automation steps eliminate most of the grunt work and give you immediate, tangible improvements:

Automated audit checklists and standardized templates: Instead of everyone creating their own version of an audit checklist in Word or Excel, you build standardized templates that everyone uses. Same questions, same format, same process every time.
Digital data collection through mobile or web forms: Auditors fill out forms on tablets or phones while they're actually on-site, not hours later when they're back at their desk trying to remember what they saw. Photos, timestamps, and GPS data get captured automatically.
Automated task assignments and audit workflows: The system routes tasks to the right people automatically. When one step finishes, the next person gets notified.
Centralized document storage and version control: All your audit documentation lives in one place. You can find last quarter's report in seconds instead of searching through shared drives or filing cabinets. Version control means you know exactly what changed and when, without dealing with "Final_v4_REVISED_FINAL.xlsx" nonsense.
Automated reminders for audit schedules and follow-ups: The system tracks what's due and sends reminders automatically.
Simple rule-based validations to flag missing or incorrect data: Forms check for obvious errors as people fill them out — required fields left empty, dates that don't make sense, numbers outside expected ranges. Catch mistakes immediately, not weeks later when you're building a report.

No-code tools like eForms Mobile let you digitalize and automate internal processes through custom apps and forms, without a development team. Build standardized checklists, deploy them to mobile devices, set up automated workflows, and centralize your documentation without the complexity or cost of enterprise software.

Examples of advanced internal audit process automation

More advanced audit automation is typically reserved for financial and other types of audits, where algorithms can analyze large volumes of existing data that already sit in some database.

You get:

Continuous monitoring of controls and transactions: Instead of checking controls once a quarter (or once a year), automated systems monitor them constantly.
Automated risk scoring and prioritization: The system evaluates risks based on criteria you set; transaction amounts, frequency, historical patterns, control failures, whatever matters to your organization. High-risk items get flagged for immediate attention. Low-risk items get logged but don't clog up your team's schedule.
Integration with ERP, finance, or compliance systems: Your audit tools pull data directly from the systems where work happens — your ERP, accounting software, HR platform, and compliance databases.
Advanced analytics to identify anomalies and trends: Machine learning and statistical models spot patterns humans might miss. Like unusual transaction sequences or emerging risks that show up in the data before they show up in incident reports.
Dashboards and real-time reporting for audit leadership: Executives and audit committees can check live dashboards that show audit progress, open findings, risk heat maps, and key metrics.

This level of automation requires specialized audit management software or enterprise analytics platforms that integrate with your existing systems. It's a bigger lift than basic digital forms, but for high-volume financial audits or operations with serious compliance requirements, the investment usually pays off.

Using robotic process automation for internal audits

Robotic process automation (RPA) uses software bots to handle repetitive, rule-based tasks that normally require someone to log into systems, copy data, and click through the same steps over and over. Think of it as teaching a digital assistant to do the tiresome stuff exactly the same way every time.

Here's where it makes sense for audits:

Extract data from multiple systems automatically: The bot logs into your ERP, pulls transaction data, grabs control documentation from your compliance system, and compiles everything into a single dataset.
Reconcile transactions and test controls at scale: Instead of sampling 50 transactions and testing them manually, the bot can test thousands. It compares invoices to purchase orders, checks approval workflows, flags exceptions, and documents its findings.
Perform repetitive audit testing without human intervention: Controls that need to be tested every month? Set the bot to run the same tests on schedule. It executes the procedures, captures the results, and alerts you if something fails. Your auditors only step in when there's an actual issue to investigate.
Generate audit evidence and working papers automatically: The bot creates documentation as it works — screenshots, data extracts, test results, timestamps. Your working papers build themselves while the testing happens, and everything's already organized and ready for review.

Using AI to automate internal auditing

AI takes automation beyond following rules: it learns patterns, spots outliers, and handles complexity that would overwhelm traditional software. Instead of just executing the same steps repeatedly, AI:

Detects patterns, anomalies, and potential fraud: AI sifts through transaction data looking for things that don't fit — unusual payment patterns, suspicious approval sequences, reports that look off.
Analyzes large volumes of structured and unstructured data: Spreadsheets, invoices, contracts, emails, policy documents…AI handles all of it. You're not limited to what fits neatly in a database. The system reads text, extracts meaning, and connects information across different formats and sources.
Enables predictive risk assessments: Instead of just reporting what went wrong last quarter, AI identifies which areas are likely to have problems next. It looks at historical patterns, current trends, and emerging signals to flag risks before they materialize into actual issues.
Uses natural language processing to review policies, contracts, or audit notes: AI reads through contracts to flag non-standard clauses, scans policies for compliance gaps, or analyzes past audit findings to identify recurring themes. Your team just reviews what the AI surfaces as important.
Supports continuous auditing and real-time insights: AI monitors data streams continuously, not just during scheduled audits. It watches for control failures, compliance violations, or risk indicators as they happen. You're catching issues in real time instead of discovering them months later during the next audit cycle.

Steps to implement internal audit automation

Automating your internal audit process isn't something you do overnight. It takes planning, testing, and buy-in from your team. Here's how to roll it out without creating more problems than you solve.

Step 1: Assess current audit processes and identify automation opportunities

Start by mapping out what you're doing now. Walk through your audit workflows from start to finish: how you plan audits, collect evidence, test controls, document findings, and track follow-ups. Write it down. The official process and the workarounds people actually use when the official process doesn't work.

Then look for the pain points. Where does work pile up? Which tasks require someone to copy data from one system to another, fill out paper forms, or chase people down for status updates? Where do mistakes happen most often? These repetitive, manual, error-prone activities are your best automation candidates.

Once you've got the full picture, prioritize. Not everything needs to be automated right away. Focus on processes that combine high risk with high frequency and consider business impact. Automating something that saves your team two hours a week is helpful. Automating something that eliminates a major compliance risk or cuts your audit cycle by 30%? That goes to the top of the list.

Step 2: Standardize and optimize audit processes

Before you automate anything, clean up the mess. Automating a broken process just gives you a faster way to do things wrong.

Begin by standardizing your audit procedures, templates, and documentation. Everyone should be working from the same playbook: same checklists, same evidence requirements, same way of documenting findings.

Then eliminate unnecessary steps. Look at your current process and ask:

Do we actually need this?
Does this approval add value or just slow things down?
Are we collecting data we never use?

Cut the dead weight before you build automation around it.

Define consistent data fields, controls, and approval paths. For example, when people submit incident reports, they should fill out the same fields in the same format. When findings need review, everyone should know exactly who approves what and in what order. Consistency makes automation possible.

Let's say you run maintenance for a manufacturing plant. Every shift supervisor uses their own version of the equipment inspection checklist: one checks 15 items, another checks 22, and the third uses a completely different format. You can't compare results or spot trends this way.

So, you standardize: one checklist, same fields, same criteria for everyone. Put it on tablets so techs fill it out on the floor instead of scribbling notes and transferring data later. Results? Inspections drop from 45 minutes to 20, and compliance reports generate automatically.

Step 3: Select the right automation tools and technologies

Evaluate tools based on your audit needs and technical maturity. If your team is comfortable with technology and you've got IT support, you can consider more sophisticated platforms. If your auditors are still printing emails to file them, maybe start with something simpler.

Consider what capabilities you need:

Ways to digitize paper forms and automate field data collection?
Workflow automation for routing tasks and approvals?
RPA for repetitive data extraction and testing?
Analytics for spotting trends and anomalies?
AI for continuous monitoring and predictive risk assessment?

Pick the capabilities that address your biggest pain points first.

Make sure whatever you choose plays nice with your existing systems. If your audit data lives in your ERP, your finance system, and your compliance platform, the tools you use to automate the internal audit process need to pull from all of them without requiring manual exports every time.

Don't forget scalability, security, and regulatory requirements. Ask about user limits, data storage, access controls, audit trails, and compliance certifications before you commit.

Step 4: Design automated audit workflows

Now translate your audit steps into automated workflows:

What triggers each action? A scheduled date kicks off the audit. A risk threshold gets crossed. A control failure gets flagged by continuous monitoring. Define these clearly so the system knows when to start moving.
What validations need to happen? Build them at each step: required fields that can't be skipped, data checks that flag obvious errors before they get passed along, approval gates where findings get reviewed before they're finalized.
Set up approval paths and escalation rules. Who signs off on draft findings? What happens if someone doesn't respond within three days? When does something get kicked up to a manager or the audit committee? Let the system handle the follow-up, so your team isn't playing email tag.

If you are using a compliance platform, take time to configure dashboards, alerts, and reporting outputs. What do auditors need to see during an audit? What does leadership need to track? Set up alerts for high-risk findings, overdue tasks, or control failures that need immediate attention. Design reports that generate automatically.

Picture a manufacturing plant running monthly safety audits across three production floors. The system triggers a safety inspection checklist on the first Monday of every month. Supervisors complete audits on tablets and capture photos of any hazards: blocked exits, missing machine guards, improper PPE storage. Critical violations (exposed electrical, fall hazards, missing lockout/tagout) alert the safety manager immediately.

Minor issues get assigned to floor supervisors to fix within 48 hours. Audits that sit incomplete for three days trigger reminders. Hit five days? They escalate to the plant manager. No more chasing supervisors for paper checklists or discovering that faulty PPE wasn't documented until the next quarterly review.

Step 5: Pilot automation with targeted use cases

Don't flip the switch on automation everywhere at once. Start small, figure out what works, then scale up.

Pick something low-risk but high-volume for your pilot. Monthly expense reviews, vendor compliance checks, control testing that happens every quarter. You want something repetitive enough to show clear efficiency gains, but not so critical that a hiccup becomes a crisis.

Run the pilot alongside your manual process for a bit. Let automation do its thing while your team keeps doing it the old way for a cycle or two. Then compare. Does the automated process catch the same issues? Miss anything important? Flag stuff the manual process overlooked? This parallel run builds confidence before you fully commit.

Now, validate everything. Are the results accurate? Is anything getting dropped? Do your internal auditors have all of the information they need?

Lastly, talk to your team. The people doing this work every day will spot problems and opportunities you'd never see from a distance. What's working? What's frustrating? What would genuinely make their lives easier instead of just being different? Listen to them.

Step 6: Train audit teams and update governance

Walk your auditors through the new tools and workflows ; not just a one-hour demo, but hands-on practice with real scenarios. Show them where things live, how to troubleshoot common issues, and what to do when something doesn't work as expected. Make sure they're comfortable before you expect them to rely on it.

Then redefine roles. Automation handles the data collection and repetitive testing, which means your auditors can spend more time on analysis and judgment (which actually requires human expertise). Help them make that shift.

Update your audit methodology, policies, and documentation standards to reflect how you're working now. In practice, that often means updating your standard operating procedures (if they exist).

Finally, establish clear ownership and accountability for automated processes.

Imagine a food processing plant that automated its sanitation audits. Inspectors used tablets to check cleaning procedures and food safety protocols. But nobody owned the digital checklists. FDA guidelines changed. The forms never got updated. The system kept running, audits kept happening, but they weren't checking the right things anymore.

They caught it during a surprise inspection…not ideal. Now the quality manager owns every checklist, reviews them quarterly, and updates forms when regulations change. Someone's accountable, so the automation stays current.

Step 7: Refine and scale the automation

Your pilot taught you what works and what doesn't. Time to fix the rough edges and expand.

Once you've ironed out the kinks, expand. Take what you learned and roll it out to other repetitive, high-volume processes. Started with expense audits? Add vendor compliance, IT access reviews, inventory controls. Scale gradually. Validate as you go.

Your automation might need deeper integration with enterprise systems at this point. Manually exporting data worked fine during the pilot, but at scale? You need direct connections to your ERP, HR system, or compliance platforms. Let data flow automatically without someone babysitting every sync.

Finally, document how automated audits get planned, executed, reviewed, and closed out. Build templates, create guidelines, and make it repeatable so you're not starting from scratch every time.

Simplify internal auditing with eForms Mobile

eForms Mobile is a mobile-first platform built for teams that need to collect data, run inspections and audits, and manage workflows in the field. It's designed for people who need practical automation without a development team on standby.

For internal audits, eForms Mobile enables:

No-code or low-code automation for internal audits: Build and customize audit processes without writing code or waiting on IT. You define what you need, the platform handles the rest.
Mobile data collection and standardized audit forms: Auditors capture evidence, photos, timestamps, and notes on-site using tablets or phones. Everything syncs automatically; no more lost paperwork or forgotten details.
Customizable audit templates: eForms Mobile includes ready-to-use templates for common audits, such as fire safety audit, HVAC audit, and safety audit. Customize them with the drag-and-drop builder or AI form editor: adjust fields, add your company's requirements, and tweak the workflow to fit your business.
Automated workflows, approvals, and reporting: Set up task assignments, approval routing, reminders, and escalations that run themselves. Customize workflows to match your audit process, not the other way around.
Improved visibility and control across the audit lifecycle: Track audit progress in real time, monitor open findings, and generate reports without chasing people down for status updates or compiling data manually.

Ready to see how it works for your audit process? Schedule a demo and let’s see how eForms Mobile can streamline your internal audits.

Tidy up for Spring 2026

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:45:08 GMT

Tidy Up for Spring 2025!

At eForms Mobile, we’re always striving to make your experience smoother, faster, and more productive. Over the years, we’ve evolved tremendously, and we’re not slowing down! As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we’ve given our web portal a well-deserved refresh—think of it as spring cleaning to enhance navigation, declutter the interface, and make everything more intuitive.

The result? A cleaner, more efficient experience that helps you get things done faster than ever before. And this is just the beginning—there’s so much more in the works! Stay tuned as we continue to innovate and bring you the best tools to power your productivity.

New Homepage!

When you log into the web portal, you’ll be greeted with a brand-new page designed to give you instant access to your recent items, latest notifications, quick links, and easy app installs—all in one convenient place! �� But don’t worry, your familiar dashboard hasn’t gone far! It’s now called the "Info Panel" and is just a click away, as shown in the screenshot.

Screens & Forms

A Data Entry Screen is now simply referred to as a FORM and has its own page! Screens now consist of: Board of Icons, Details Screen, List of Data, and Map of Data Points.

Notice below that by clicking "Add New", you simply create a new form.

Creating a new screen has the same options available as before, minus the Data Entry screen.

Screen and Form details have been consolidated. The Version, Status, and External Id have been removed from columns and moved below the Screen/Form title. The shortcuts were moved to the right.

There are other enhancements sprinkled throughout the web portal, but we wanted to highlight these key updates to avoid any unexpected "who moved my cheese?" moments. Rest assured, everything you need is still here—just better, faster, and easier to navigate!

Ruby Mountain Release

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 22:16:55 GMT

This Year's Grand Finale: An Update That Shines Like a Ruby!

The Ruby Mountains Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the Ruby Mountains of Elko County, Nevada, United States. It covers approximately 90,000 acres (36,000 ha) and is administered by the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest.

Ruby Mountains Wilderness contains hiking trails ranging between 9,000 and 10,000 feet in elevation. Hiking destinations include Seitz Canyon and the Lamoille Lake Trail.

Take Your App Customization to the Next Level!

We’re thrilled to unveil exciting new customization options for the Info Alert and Start Screen, giving you unparalleled control over how tasks and information are displayed in your app!

Now, you can fine-tune dynamic titles and subtitles, add eye-catching custom icons, AND choose background and foreground colors that perfectly align with your brand or app aesthetics.

But that’s not all—our new f(x) mode lets you use dynamic color pickers to create adaptable visual cues based on conditions. Imagine colors changing automatically based on criteria, like using IF({{Something}}, '#FFFFFF', '#000000') to adjust shades on the fly.

Here’s the game-changer: no more relying on static info alerts at the bottom of the Start Screen to track task counts and navigate to the Task Screen. Now, you can configure the alert to open your very own custom Task List Screen , making task interaction smoother, smarter, and more personalized than ever.

Simplified Folder Selection for Google Integrations!

Say hello to a streamlined workflow with our brand-new Google Folder Picker for Google Drive and Spreadsheets integrations! Soon, you'll be able to effortlessly browse and select files or folders from your Google Drive—directly within the platform.

But here’s the best part: this update eliminates the need for CASA (Client Access Security Assessment) Certification, which was previously required for apps accessing Sensitive or Restricted API scopes. With CASA certification no longer free, this change is a game-changer for many users.

Now, you can skip the hassle, enjoy seamless file browsing, and keep your focus where it belongs—on getting things done! ��

Stay In the Know with Real-Time Progress Upload Tracking!

We’re excited to roll out **real-time progress tracking** for your form submissions! With this new feature, you’ll have complete visibility into the status of your uploads from start to finish. No more second-guessing or waiting in uncertainty—now, you can watch your submission progress in real-time and know exactly when it’s successfully uploaded.

Whether submitting data from the field or managing critical tasks in the office, this update brings peace of mind and ensures every submission is accounted for. It’s all about giving you the tools to stay informed, confident, and in control of your workflow. ��

Introducing Dynamic Text Evaluation with the EVAL Formula!

Get ready to take your forms to a whole new level of adaptability and intelligence with our latest feature: Dynamic Value Evaluation Using Indexed Placeholders. The game-changing EVAL formula empowers you to create smarter, data-driven forms that respond dynamically to user input and data sources.

How Does It Work?
EVAL lets you use indexed placeholders (like {{0}} , {{1}} , etc.) to dynamically populate field values. These placeholders automatically reference specific fields, making even the most complex background calculations simpler than ever.

Let’s See It in Action:

{{0}} is dynamically replaced by the value in {{textfield1}} .
{{1}} is replaced by {{textfield2}} .

This means you can now reference formulas stored in a data source to populate field values dynamically!

Example Scenario:
Say you fetch a formula from {{ds[0]}} and evaluate it using values from {{textfield1}} and {{textfield2}} .

Use Case Highlight:
Imagine a choice field linked to a data source where:

The display column has options like Yes or No.
The value column contains formulas to execute based on the selection.

If a user selects Yes, the corresponding formula might be:
CONCAT("{{0}}", " and ", "{{1}}")

The dynamic value property would then be configured to evaluate this formula, generating a fully customized response based on the user's input.

Why Is This Exciting?
This feature unlocks the ability to create highly dynamic and adaptable forms, where content and workflows adjust in real time based on user inputs or underlying data sources. Whether you're tackling complex calculations or creating personalized experiences, the EVAL formula ensures your forms work smarter, not harder. ��

Streamline Your Workflows with the New Task Recurring API!

Say goodbye to repetitive manual updates and hello to effortless task management! Our New Task Recurring Endpoint is here to make managing recurring tasks more efficient than ever. With this powerful API feature, you’ll gain full control over your recurring task schedules with just a few calls.

Here’s What You Can Do:

GET: Retrieve detailed information about recurring tasks, including schedules, assigned users, and more—everything you need at your fingertips.
POST: Set up new recurring tasks directly through API calls, integrating them seamlessly into your workflows without the hassle.
PUT: Update existing tasks to adjust schedules, reassign users, or tweak other details, ensuring your system stays current and flexible.

Whether you’re managing a small team or overseeing a complex operation, this new endpoint simplifies your processes, saves valuable time, and helps you focus on what truly matters. Let automation take care of the rest!

Smoother Password Resets for App-Only Users!

We heard you! Some of you using the app exclusively ran into a frustrating loop after updating your password via a web browser. You’d get redirected to the web portal login screen—only to hit a roadblock. We get it—confusion like that can be a real headache.

Here’s how we’ve fixed it:

Password Reset Success Screen : After resetting your password, you’ll now see a dedicated success screen with a convenient “Redirect to App” button, allowing you to jump back into the app seamlessly—no more detours through the web portal login screen.
Improved Web Portal Error Message : For app-only users, we’re introducing a clearer, more helpful error message that explains access is limited to the app, reducing confusion and guiding you in the right direction.

These updates are about reducing frustration, improving clarity, and ensuring you can return to the app smoothly. Your time matters, and we’re here to make things easier.

Obtain User ID from API Explorer/API Response

Good news! We’ve made a significant upgrade to our API responses to make your workflows smoother and more efficient. Previously, API responses only returned a GUID, which, while useful, made it tricky to identify users without additional steps. With this update, the User ID will be included in the API response—available when using an API Full Access Key.

Why is this important?
This improvement simplifies and streamlines a range of tasks, such as:

Automatically Creating Contacts in CRMs: With the User ID readily available, you can seamlessly sync user data into external customer relationship management systems or other platforms that depend on precise user identification.
Enhanced Integration with External Platforms: No more jumping through hoops to match GUIDs to User IDs. The process is now more intuitive, making it easier to connect and integrate your workflows with third-party systems.
Time and Hassle Saved: By reducing the complexity of managing user data in your integrations, you’ll save valuable time and eliminate potential errors caused by manual data matching.
This update is a game-changer for anyone managing complex workflows or leveraging external platforms. It ensures better compatibility, smoother automation, and less time spent on tedious manual tasks. Your integrations just got a whole lot smarter!

Unlock Greater Flexibility with the

New AWS Custom S3 Endpoint Option!

We’re excited to announce the addition of a **AWS Custom S3 Endpoint** option in the Region settings. With this new feature, you’ll have the ability to specify your own custom S3 endpoint, giving you the freedom to integrate seamlessly with **S3-compliant third-party services**.

Why is this update a big deal?

This enhancement is all about choice and control . It allows you to:

- 'Leverage Alternative Storage Solutions:' Whether you’re using a specific third-party provider or an in-house S3-compatible service, you can now easily connect it to your workflows.

- 'Maintain Full Data Compatibility:' By supporting the S3 standard, the integration remains robust and compatible, ensuring smooth operation no matter which compliant service you choose.

- 'Optimize for Your Needs:' Whether it’s about cost savings, regional compliance, or performance, the custom endpoint option allows you to tailor your storage setup to align with your unique requirements.

What does this mean for you?

With this update, integrating with alternative storage platforms is no longer a complicated process. You can maintain the same level of control over your data while enjoying greater flexibility to choose the solution that works best for your business. It’s a win-win for both customization and simplicity!

Take control of your data storage strategy and make the most of this powerful new option. ��

Meet DEVICEALIAS(): The Game-Changer for

Device Management! ��

Say goodbye to cryptic system labels and hello to clarity with the DEVICEALIAS() function!

This exciting new tool unlocks the power of meaningful device management by returning the user-defined name of any device. Now, you can skip the frustration of trying to decipher default labels and start working with names that actually make sense to you.

Why You’ll Love It:

Simplified Device Identification: Instantly know which device is which—no more guesswork!
Streamlined Management: Whether you’re overseeing a small fleet or an army of devices, meaningful names make tracking and organizing a breeze.
Customizable to Your Workflow: Set names that align with your specific needs, so every device has its rightful place in your system.

This is a game-changer for anyone managing multiple devices. From ensuring smooth operations in complex setups to simply keeping tabs on your tools, DEVICEALIAS() makes your work smarter, faster, and far less stressful. Ready to take control?

New Toggle Table Search Bar Feature! ��

Say hello to a sleeker, more efficient interface! We’ve introduced a powerful new option that lets you toggle the Table search bar on and off with ease. This feature is perfect for those smaller tables where a search bar might feel unnecessary, helping you declutter your view and save valuable screen space.

This simple yet impactful update gives you the flexibility to design your workspace exactly how you like it. Whether you're prioritizing space or functionality, the power is in your hands. Get ready for cleaner tables and a better user experience! ✨

Task Map Upgrade: Pin Stacking Just Got Smarter! ��

We’re making the Task Map even better with a highly anticipated update to pin stacking ! With this enhancement, pins will now be more visible and easier to distinguish, even in busy or overlapping areas.

Quickly identify tasks and locations without getting lost in a sea of stacked pins. Spend less time deciphering maps and more time focusing on what needs to be done. This update is all about making your map interactions smoother, faster, and more intuitive. ��️

Maintenance Updates:

Task Dialog Button Updates: We’ve revamped the “Create” buttons in the Add Task dialog, making them more accessible and user-friendly for a smoother task creation process.

Connector Log Popup Upgrade: The Connector Log popup now features an increased dialog size, giving you better visibility and making it easier to review logs.

Scrollbar Enhancements: Wider scrollbars have been introduced for a smoother and more comfortable scrolling experience.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.

High-Altitude Desert, Hot New Features!

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 18:43:01 GMT

High-Altitude Desert, Hot New Features!

The Red Desert is a high-altitude desert and sagebrush steppe located in the south-central portion of the U.S. state of Wyoming, comprising approximately 9,320 square miles (24,100 square kilometers). Among the natural features in the Red Desert region are the Great Divide Basin, a unique endorheic drainage basin formed by a division in the Continental Divide, and the Killpecker Sand Dunes, the largest living dune system in the United States.

XERO Connector

At the forefront of this update is our latest integration with Xero, a top-tier cloud-based accounting platform.

With this Connector, you are able to:

Leverage the Accounting API to simplify invoicing, category monitoring, and contact organization.
Effortlessly manage and transfer documents using the Files API.
Utilize Payroll APIs to handle timesheets with ease.

We’re confident this integration will enable Xero users, both existing and new, to further automate their financial data processes—saving significant time and eliminating tedious manual tasks.

More Icons!

Up until now, you’ve had around 44 icons to work with, giving you a solid variety to enhance the visual appeal and usability of your forms. But we’ve raised the bar by adding 61 new, thoughtfully chosen icons, bringing the total to 105.

This means even more options to personalize your forms and make them uniquely yours.

With 105 icons at your disposal, you can now align your forms even more closely with their intended purpose.

Populate Gallery Field from Data Source

We’re excited to announce that the ability to link Gallery Fields to Data Sources for dynamic content updates!

Just like with Table Fields, you can showcase a range of images directly from a Data Source within your App.

In the past, adding or updating images required manual uploads and frequent adjustments to keep the content up to date. Now, your gallery will automatically refresh whenever your linked Data Source is updated—ensuring your App always displays the most current images without any additional work.

User Groups For Test Mode

Our platform already allows you to put your forms into test mode and assign individual users to ensure everything functions properly before going live.

Now, we’ve enhanced this feature! You can now include entire user groups in your tests, making it even easier to involve multiple users in the testing process.

This update is ideal for clients who want a thorough review of their forms before launch. Start with an initial group of developers to test basic functionality. Once they approve, bring in a second group to identify any issues during regular tasks. Finally, involve a third, larger group to ensure a broad and complete testing phase.

This step-by-step approach helps identify potential issues early, leading to higher-quality forms that are fully ready for real-world use.

Zoom & Pan

We’ve added a Zoom & Pan feature that makes navigating large or detailed images during data collection much more convenient.

For instance, when handling intricate blueprints at a construction site or reviewing expansive farm maps, you can zoom in to focus on specific areas, such as structural details or boundary lines, without sacrificing clarity.

Screen Changes Reporting

We’ve rolled out a fantastic new enhancement to the Form Settings page, offering deeper insights into your form version history.

In addition to seeing the Version , Status , Created Date , and Last Updated details, you can now view who made the changes with the new " Last Updated By " field, along with the exact timestamp of the update.

This update makes it easier to track not only when changes occurred, but also who made them, helping you stay on top of edits and boosting team accountability.

Paging Implemented for BigQuery

Google restricts the amount of data you can extract from a BigQuery Data Source Connector to 20 MB. To help you bypass this limitation, we’ve introduced Paging to the connector.

This feature allows you to retrieve larger data sets, ensuring more efficient data handling and reducing restrictions when accessing your information.

Update Specific Columns via Datasource API

We’ve introduced the ability to update specific columns in a row through the Datasource API without overwriting the entire row.

This enhancement lets you target particular fields for modification while keeping the rest of the data intact. Whether you're updating a status, assigning a task, or adjusting any other critical data point, the API allows you to make changes precisely where needed.

Retrieve Tasks by External ID via API

In addition, we’ve updated the Task API to allow you to retrieve tasks using the External ID. This provides faster access to the exact task you need without having to sift through your data.

For instance, if you’re managing multiple projects, you can quickly pull up a specific task by its External ID, ensuring smooth and efficient workflow management.

Maintenance & Bugs

Password Reset Improvements: We’ve updated the error messages for password resets to be easier to follow & navigate.

Example Form Import Template Update: Enhancements have been made to the Example Form Import Template, making the importation process much more straightforward.

MS Graph Connector Update: We’ve introduced a search feature that returns a list of available sites for your account, making it easier to find the correct site name for Excel Online and SharePoint connectors.

Background Uploads: We’ve made improvements to our App’s Background Upload feature to tackle issues mainly seen on Android devices.

Category Titles Fix: Titles in the Example Catalog categories have been fixed for consistency.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.

Email us anytime: support@eformsmobile.com

Why Are Electronic Audits the New Industry Standard?

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:28:08 GMT

Why Are Electronic Audits the New Industry Standard?

Auditing is a critical part of any successful business. It detects and prevents risky malfunctions, earns certifications that boost credibility, and provides companies with valuable insights that streamline processes and increase profits.

Companies have been performing audits for ages. While traditional auditing methods do work, new electronic auditing technology is transforming the way organizations perform and utilize audits. They yield more accurate results with greater efficiency and lower costs.

In this post, we’re covering why electronic audits are the new industry standard and what they can do for your bottom line.

What are electronic audits?

Electronic audits, or electronic auditing software, are technology tools used to review a company’s processes, data, financial records, etc.

Through electronic audits, organizations can maintain an electronic audit trail that allows them to track their progress and identify areas where further action may be needed. An electronic audit also provides more control over the auditing process, allowing organizations to maintain the highest levels of accuracy and efficiency. By leveraging electronic audits, organizations can increase their visibility across all branches and have better insight into their business operations. Electronic audits allow for streamlined reporting processes, helping business entities make quicker decisions with greater precision.

Internal electronic audit programs combine electronic networks with intelligent algorithms to automate the auditing process . The electronic audit system can detect inconsistencies and unusually high figures, which provides more reliable results than manual audits. Since electronic auditing software inspects data from various sources at once, it occurs rapidly without needing employee effort or input. Electronic audits provide companies with accurate, real-time feedback about their performance and flag potential risks to the organization.

Electronic audits vs traditional audits

Traditional audits are performed manually and require physical storage space for records, documents, processes, etc. This makes them time-consuming, tedious, and susceptible to human error. The shift to electronic audits is mainly due to their efficiency, accessibility, and reliability.

Electronic audits are much faster and more efficient than standard audit processes, saving businesses both time and money.

Employees can perform electronic audits from any device or location with an internet connection in a fraction of the time required by traditional audits.

Because electronic audits are performed digitally, all documents are stored and organized in a cloud and/or physical hard drive. This results in greater accuracy and security, as well as significantly fewer errors than traditional methods. Stakeholders can access the documents anywhere, anytime. You can set permissions to improve security while keeping documents accessible to those who need them, bypassing the security risk associated with physical files, local servers, and hard drives.

Electronic data storage enables in-depth monitoring of process changes over time. In addition to certifying compliance, organizations can use this data to track efficiency trends and observe the impact of specific corrective actions. Keeping a close eye on data helps businesses remain proactive, detecting and mitigating risks before they impact operations.

8 reasons why electronic audits are the new industry standard

While traditional auditing methods have worked in the past, new digital auditing technology has transformed the way audits are performed and utilized by organizations. This new and improved auditing method provides more accurate results with greater efficiency and lower costs. Here are the top reasons why electronic audits are becoming the new industry standard:

1. Efficiency

Auditing used to be a time-consuming process, with the risk of human error leaving the door open for inaccuracies – until data analytics technology revolutionized it. Electronic audits allow businesses to analyze vast amounts of information quickly and easily, saving both time and effort while delivering more accurate outcomes than traditional auditing methods.

Traditionally, auditors have to sift through every single verification document manually. Spotting errors and anomalies with this method requires a meticulous eye, which is why traditional audits are often less accurate than electronic audits.

Data analytics tools accurately identify malfunctions, errors, and anomalies in a fraction of the time, bypassing the risk of inaccuracy in the process.

2. Risk management

Electronic audits empower organizations to make data-driven decisions and manage risks more effectively. Sophisticated analytics identify weaknesses in operations, providing insight into data trends and flagging irregularities with better accuracy than traditional audits. This creates a smoother auditing experience that safeguards companies against risk and inefficiency, ensuring long-term success.

3. Credibility

The enhanced accuracy, reliability, and transparency electronic audits provide make them more trustworthy. Organizations that transition to electronic audits will appear more credible to investors, regulatory bodies, governmental agencies, and even customers.

4. Transparency

Electronic audits add a level of transparency that facilitates trust between organizations, auditors, policymakers, and regulators. The organization can use collaborative tools to follow audit progress in real-time, providing additional information as needed. This process also results in a clearer audit trail, simplifying the process of securing compliance with relevant company policies, industry regulations, and accreditation standards.

5. Cost-effectiveness

Electronic audits are more cost-effective than traditional audits for quite a few reasons. While there are upfront software costs involved, the total cost to perform a digital audit is far less expensive than that of traditional audits.

One study compared digital and traditional audit costs for two firms and found that they saved 100,608.00 USD and 57,488.80 USD per year by switching to digital, increasing profitability from 9 and 7 percent to 38 and 31 percent.

Because they are so much faster, labor costs drop significantly. Better accuracy lowers the risk of malfunction, noncompliance, and inefficient operations– all of which are costly to correct.

Companies can also store more data without the need to pay for physical storage. E-audits do not require any document handling or shipping fees.

Because audit data is stored in the cloud, it can be accessed by relevant stakeholders anytime, anywhere eliminating expenses from audit-related travel.

6. Accuracy

Electronic auditing systems are more accurate in every aspect. Sophisticated analytics and continuous auditing provide meticulous and consistent audit results.

Digital audits use an ongoing auditing process called continuous auditing designed to ensure an organization's internal operations adhere to relevant regulations and best practices at all times. The process runs on automation, continually analyzing operations, processes, data, reports, and system behavior for irregularities. Continuous auditing allows organizations to be more proactive in managing regulatory risk and identifying any potential issues before they become costly problems.

By automating repetitive tasks like data collection, analysis, reporting, and follow-up implementation, electronic audits come as close as you can get to completely eliminating errors. Software can identify trends manual audits miss, making results extremely reliable.

7. Accessibility

When you have a business to run, every bit of storage space is an asset– even down to the last filing cabinet. Managing physical audit documents is inconvenient. Getting them into the right hands at the right time is no small feat. Once they get unorganized, locating a single file becomes nearly impossible.

Electronic audits store data in the cloud, providing access anywhere at any time. Security permissions safeguard the data against unauthorized access and file sharing is easy and secure, even without the need for complex file transfer protocols.

Organizations with audits in multiple locations can view electronic audit data from anywhere, eliminating the need to travel for physical document review. This means users can monitor multiple areas of operations simultaneously, reducing audit fatigue while improving accuracy and efficiency.

8. Security

Electronic audit software uses data encryption to enable the secure transmission and storage of sensitive information. This precautionary measure protects audit data from data breaches and unauthorized access.

Additional security measures taken include user authentication and permission-based access. Digital audit data can be backed up and recovered in the case of a system failure.

In case of emergency, digital audit software lets users examine who accessed what data at what time.

Regulatory bodies that recommend using electronic audits

Many regulatory bodies recommend organizations use electronic audits for better accuracy, efficiency, and security. Here are a few examples:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS): encourages digital auditing for tax-related activities
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): encourages using electronic audits for more reliable, accurate financial reporting. They’ve also issued guidance on using electronic audit software and data analytics.
International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB): recommends auditors consider using electronic audit techniques like data analytics and continuous auditing for better efficiency and effectiveness.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC): supports electronically verified regulatory filings from telecoms businesses
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB): requires publicly traded companies to use an electronic audit system for accurate financial reporting with a lower risk of error and fraud.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): recommends auditors consider using electronic auditing tools and techniques for more efficient, effective, and secure audits.

In a nutshell

Auditing is a critical part of any successful business, and new electronic auditing technology is transforming the way organizations perform and utilize audits. While the adoption of electronic audits may require some initial investment in tools and technologies, the long-term benefits of e-audits are likely to far outweigh these costs. They yield more accurate results with greater efficiency and lower costs.

If your organization is not already using this new technology, you may be at a competitive disadvantage. Electronic auditors can help you earn certifications that boost credibility, prevent risky malfunctions, and provide you with valuable insights that streamline processes and increase profits.

It’s time to ditch paper audits. Our easy-to-use platform allows you to streamline your audit process, improve data accuracy, and reduce turnaround time. Sign up for a free trial today and see how eForms Mobile can revolutionize your audits .

What Is an Internal Audit and How To Conduct One

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:09:16 GMT

What Is an Internal Audit and

How To Conduct One

Auditing — just hearing the word can conjure up images of endless paperwork, scrutiny, and stress. However, internal audits don't have to be a source of fear or frustration. In fact, when done right, they are a powerful tool for improving business processes and ensuring compliance.

In this guide, we'll demystify internal audits by breaking down their types, roles, methodologies, and reporting procedures. We’ll explore how they differ from external audits and give you a simple roadmap for conducting your own.

Let’s dive in.

What is an internal audit?

An internal audit is a critical examination, monitoring, and analysis of an organization’s various functions and systems. Conducted internally by the company’s own audit team, its primary purpose is to assess the effectiveness of the organization's internal controls, risk management, and governance processes.

Conducting regular internal audits offers several benefits:

Risk mitigation: They help prevent and identify early signs of fraud, waste, or noncompliance with laws and regulations.
Improved processes: By evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of operational procedures, internal audits promote continuous improvement.
Enhanced accountability: Regular audits encourage both frontline staff and managers to maintain discipline in their processes.
Better assurance: They provide senior management and stakeholders with an assurance that the organization is operating as it should, with reliable financial reporting and compliance with the regulatory environment.

By identifying potential problems, internal audits ensure that the organization is not only complying with laws and regulations but also running as efficiently as possible.

Common types of internal audits

Internal audits can vary widely in their focus depending on the specific needs of the organization.

Here are the most common types:

Financial audits: Focus on the accuracy of the organization’s financial records and to ensure that transactions have been correctly recorded and reported.

Operational audits: Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of specific operating procedures and processes.

Compliance audits: Assesses whether the organization is adhering to external laws, rules, and regulations — as well as internal guidelines and policies.

Information technology audits: Examine the controls around the information technology infrastructure to ensure data integrity, security, and availability.

Integrated audits: Combine elements of the aforementioned audits to provide comprehensive insights into the operational, financial, and IT aspects of an organization.

The difference between an internal and external audit

In contrast to internal audits, external audits are often mandatory and have to be conducted by independent auditors. They provide critical assurance to external stakeholders that the company is compliant with various laws and regulations.

The following table outlines the key differences between internal and external audits.

Roles and responsibilities in the audit process

Internal audits can vary in scope depending on the size of the organization and the areas being inspected. Sometimes, it can be a single person doing all the heavy-lifting, while on other occasions, you might need a multidisciplinary team to carry it out.

In general, we can recognize three distinct roles in the internal audit process:

Internal auditor: Responsible for executing the audit plan by collecting and analyzing data, assessing risk, evaluating internal controls, and investigating any areas of concern. It should be a person who is familiar with the area being audited, but capable of staying objective.
Audit committee: Typically formed in large organizations as a subset of the board of directors. Their role is to oversee the audit process, review findings, and monitor how the recommendations are being implemented.
Management: While not directly involved in conducting audits, management is responsible for addressing and rectifying identified issues. Occasionally, they might be asked to allocate resources or provide documentation and insights during the audit process.

Internal audit methodology: How to do an internal audit

Organizing an audit can seem daunting. However, when you understand the methodology, you’ll see it's nothing to worry about.

An effective internal audit is structured around a series of sequential steps that ensure thorough preparation, execution, and follow-up. Let’s quickly go through each of these steps.

Step #1: Building the internal audit team

Whether it is a single person or a whole team, internal auditors should satisfy certain criteria:

They should have the necessary skills and knowledge relevant to the areas they will be auditing.
They should be independent , meaning they will not audit their own work or any projects in which they have a personal stake.
They should be capable of not only identifying issues but also discussing their findings clearly and diplomatically with various stakeholders.
They should have a basic understanding of digital tools so they can use mobile devices and software solutions to streamline the process.
If the internal audit is performed as a preparation for the incoming external audit, they should be familiar with the latest industry standards and regulations .

Step #2: Planning the audit

This step sets the stage for the entire audit process. Here’s how to plan an internal audit effectively:

Define the scope and objectives: Start by clearly defining what the audit will cover. Determine the areas of the business to be audited, the objectives of the audit, and what you hope to achieve.
Assess risks: Identify high-risk areas that require more attention during the audit. This helps prioritize audit activities and allocate resources more efficiently.
Develop the audit program: Based on the scope and objectives, create a detailed audit plan that outlines the audit procedures to be used, the timeline, and the allocation of resources.
Communicate with stakeholders: Before the audit begins, discuss the goals, scope, and expected outcomes with management and any departments involved.
Prepare audit tools and resources: Equip your team with the necessary resources they will need to conduct the audit. This might include dedicated audit software, tools for data collection and analysis, and access to necessary documentation and records.

These days, most organizations will use some type of digital tool to digitize and streamline the process through electronic audits .

Step #3: Performing the audit

Once your team is built and the audit plan is set, it's time to perform the audit. This phase is about gathering, analyzing, and evaluating information to assess the organization's compliance with a set criteria.

The auditors will gather data from various sources and carefully analyze it. If they are auditing internal controls (i.e. a digital authorization process or physical controls like key card access), they might perform sample testing to ensure control systems are operating as intended and are capable of preventing or detecting errors.

Throughout the audit, it is crucial to document findings and evidence in a systematic manner. Identified problems should be categorized according to their nature and severity.

Step #4: Internal audit reporting

The internal audit report should be clear, concise, consistent, credible, and correct .

For most intents and purposes, the internal audit report should include the following details:

scope of the audit
audit methodology
audit findings
recommendations for improvement

While presenting the report to management, encourage giving feedback. Open discussion about the findings can help clarify concerns and foster a proactive approach to implementing changes.

The finalized report should also include the management’s response — what actions will be taken, who will be responsible, and the timelines for implementation.

Step #5: Monitoring implemented changes

The effectiveness of an internal audit is ultimately measured by the improvements it generates.

Set up a schedule to review the progress of the recommended actions. This usually involves periodic check-ins with the individuals responsible for implementing the changes.

Lastly, senior management should be regularly updated about progress. These updates should highlight successes, any ongoing issues, and further actions needed if the initial changes have not fully addressed the audit findings.

Simplify internal auditing with eForms Mobile

Internal audits can be immensely beneficial, but they can also be painfully time consuming.

This is where eForms Mobile comes in. Our platform allows you to automate different parts of the audits process by building customizable forms and checklists which auditors can use on any mobile device.

The checklists streamline the process and promote consistency for repeated audits, while digital forms ensure the data is accurate, securely stored, and available in the format that is easily analyzed and reported.

With dozens of pre-made templates for various types of audits that come with our platform, your audits will take less time, be more accurate, and lead to better outcomes.

Learn more by taking our 14-day free trial or request a demo to get a personalized product walkthrough.

FAQ about internal audits

Workflow Automation 101: Examples, Tools & Implementation Steps

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:30:00 GMT

Workflow Automation 101:

Examples, Tools & Implementation Steps

Businesses automate workflows for 3 main reasons: to improve productivity and efficiency, reduce errors, and speed up processes.

In this article, we’ll explain when you should consider automating a specific task, show practical examples of workflow automation across various industries, and outline a straightforward guide on how to start automating workflows in your organization.

What is workflow automation?

Workflow automation is a way for organizations to streamline and automate repetitive tasks and processes.

The magic of workflow automation lies in its ability to take a predefined sequence of tasks — usually those that are predictable and repeatable — and automate them. This is accomplished through digitization, using software that integrates with existing tools to trigger actions based on certain criteria.

For instance, in a sales process, you can set up automation where your email marketing software automatically sends a follow-up email once a prospect fills out a contact form.

Deciding when to automate a workflow depends on several factors:

Repetition : The task occurs frequently and consumes a significant amount of time.
Standardization : The task can be performed the same way every time.
Volume : The task handles a large volume of transactions or data that would be cumbersome to manage manually.

When these elements are present, workflow automation can significantly boost productivity and improve the accuracy of internal data.

Examples of workflow automation

Understanding how workflow automation manifests in different industries can help pinpoint opportunities in your own business.

Here are a bunch of examples:

Healthcare : Patient scheduling, patient data management, prescription management, insurance claim processing, laboratory test automation.
Manufacturing : Supply chain management, inventory control, quality control processes, equipment maintenance scheduling, production scheduling.
Retail : Customer service via chatbots, order processing, inventory updates, pricing adjustments, loyalty program management.
Finance : Risk assessment, fraud detection, compliance monitoring, customer onboarding, transaction processing.
IT and telecommunications : Network management, ticketing systems, data backups, security monitoring, pushing software updates.
Education : Student enrollment, grade processing, course scheduling, resource allocation, attendance tracking.
Hospitality : Booking management, guest check-in automation, staffing, inventory management for food and beverages, personalized guest services.

There are two distinct approaches to workflow and automation:

You can buy an existing digital solution (i.e. project management software)
You can use tools like eForms Mobile to build a customized solution for a specific task or process

Both approaches come with their pros and cons.

The main advantage of a custom app & form builder like eForms Mobile is that you can build a solution that perfectly fits into your workflow. You can use it to automate any kind of task — from task scheduling to internal audits to inventory control.

Instead of buying 12 SaaS products and using 20% of their capabilities, you automate select processes with eForms Mobile and forward the data to any software you’re already using .

How to create a workflow automation

Successful workflow automation requires some planning and precise execution. We recommend following these steps:

Step #1: Identify repetitive and time-consuming task

The first step in automating a workflow is to pinpoint the tasks within your organization that are repetitive and time-consuming.

There are several ways to identify potential candidates:

Track time : Encourage employees to log their time on different tasks. This data will highlight tasks that consume disproportionate amounts of time.
Seek feedback : Ask your staff about the tasks they find most tedious or repetitive. Often, those working directly with the processes can best identify what wastes their time.
Analyze data : Examine processes that involve a lot of manual data entry or require moving information between platforms. These are typically ripe for automation.

Quick example:

In a marketing department, a repetitive task might be the weekly preparation of performance reports. This involves collecting data from various platforms, compiling it into a format that’s useful for decision-making, and distributing these reports to stakeholders.

Automating this task could involve setting up software that pulls data automatically at scheduled times, formats it according to predefined templates, and sends it out to the relevant parties.

Step #2: Map out the current workflow

Before you can automate a task, you need to have a thorough understanding of the current process. Mapping out the existing workflow allows you to visualize every step, identify bottlenecks, and determine where automation can be most effective.

Here’s how to map out the current workflow:

Document each step : Start by documenting every action taken, who is involved, what tools are used, and the average time each step takes.
Involve stakeholders : Engage with everyone who participates in the workflow. This includes those who perform the tasks, manage the processes, and rely on the outputs.
Visualize the process : Use flowcharts or diagrams to visualize the workflow. This can help everyone involved see the bigger picture and more easily identify redundant or unnecessary steps.

Example from one of our clients:

Cal-Maine Foods, a large producer of fresh eggs, faced significant challenges with their on-site hen-house inspections across various remote locations. The original hen-house inspection process involved several steps that could be roughly mapped out as follows:

Preparation : Inspectors gathered paper forms and equipment needed for the day’s inspections.
Travel : Inspectors traveled to various hen-house locations, some of which were in remote areas with limited connectivity.
Inspection : At each location, inspectors manually recorded data on paper forms, including environmental conditions, hen health, feedstock levels, and similar.
Data entry : After returning to the office, inspectors had to enter the data into the central database, a step that was often delayed due to travel and manual processing requirements.
Reporting : Reports were generated manually from the entered data for further analysis by the management team.

This detailed mapping highlighted the manual data recording and entry as major bottlenecks, presenting clear opportunities for automating data capture and synchronization using the platform's digital forms and offline capabilities. They ended up doubling their data collection and analysis efficiency.

Step #3: Set goals and decide how you will automate the process

Which specific outcomes do you want to achieve from automating this workflow? It might be reducing the time it takes to complete a process, minimizing errors, or improving data accuracy.

With a clear goal in mind, it is going to be much easier to choose the right automation tools, as well as set KPIs to measure the effects of the new workflow.

Keep these considerations in mind while choosing between different automation tools and platforms:

Scope: Do you want to streamline specific tasks or a bunch of interconnected processes that don’t require much personalization? If it is the latter, you are often better off with an existing SaaS solution.
Functionality : Choose tools that can handle the specific tasks you need to automate. For example, if offline capability and data synchronization are important, the tool must support these features.
Integration capabilities : The automation should integrate seamlessly with your existing systems to avoid data silos.
Scalability : Consider whether the tools can scale as your business grows and if they can adapt to future needs and technology integrations.
Process uniqueness: A highly personalized process is easier to automate through a custom app builder than trying to find workarounds in an existing software solution.

Example:

For Cal-Maine Foods, the goals for automating the hen-house inspection process were to reduce the time inspectors spent on paperwork, eliminate data entry errors, and speed up the reporting process.

Our platform ticked all of their boxes by offering a mobile, offline-capable, form-based system that could integrate with other systems they are using.

Step #4: Build/implement the automation

The next step is to actually build and implement the automation — create the automated processes and integrate them into your existing systems.

Based on your choice of automation tools, this can go in two ways:

If you go with off-the-shelf software, you’ll often have to do some minor configurations and integrate it with your existing system.
With a custom app builder like eForms Mobile, you can start building forms from scratch or use existing templates and modify them according to your needs.

Regardless of the approach, when the software is ready, you’ll have to train workers to understand the new system and follow the new workflow.

Example:

If we go back to the Cal-Maine Foods example, the implementation involved several key steps:

Configuration : The eForms Mobile platform was used to digitize the existing paper forms used in hen-house inspections. Features like photo uploads, barcode scanning, and signature capture were enabled to enhance the data collection process.
Integration : The platform was integrated with Cal-Maine’s central database to ensure that data collected in the field was automatically synced and stored securely when internet connectivity was available.
Training : Quick training sessions were conducted for all field inspectors to familiarize them with the new mobile application and give feedback.

Step #5: Track and iterate

After implementation, it’s important to track the effectiveness of the new workflow(s), especially in the early days. Changes in processes can result in new bottlenecks and other issues.

Monitor execution and ask for feedback. Now is the best time to make major changes if needed.

Whenever possible, continue this cycle of feedback, improvement, and implementation to refine the automation process over time.

Common pitfalls with workflow automation

While automating workflows can greatly improve efficiency and accuracy, it's important to be aware of common pitfalls:

Over-automation: Automating too much, too soon, can lead to complexity and reduce the flexibility of your processes. Start with automating simple, high-volume tasks and gradually move to more complex systems.
Lack of employee training and buy-in: It's crucial to involve employees from the beginning, educate them on the benefits, and train them thoroughly on the new systems.
Poorly defined processes: Automating a poorly defined or inefficient process can amplify existing problems. Flesh out how the process should run before you automate it.
Ignoring data security and compliance: Workflow automation often involves sensitive data. Ensure that the automation tools you use comply with relevant regulations and standards.
Failing to monitor and iterate: Automation should not be a set-it-and-forget-it solution. Continuous monitoring and iteration ensure that the automation systems don’t become outdated or misaligned with business goals.

The role of workflow automation software

Here is a quick overview of the most common software used for workflow automation:

Process Automation Tools : These tools are designed to automate standard business processes like data entry, invoice processing, and email marketing. Examples include Zapier, which connects different apps to automate workflows, and IBM Robotic Process Automation for more complex process integrations.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems : CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot not only manage customer interactions but also automate sales processes, marketing campaigns, and service operations, providing a holistic view of customer engagement.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems : ERPs such as SAP and Oracle integrate all facets of an enterprise into one comprehensive information system that can be used to manage all business operations, from production planning and inventory management to accounting and human resources.
Business Intelligence Tools : Tools like Microsoft Power BI and Tableau help automate the aggregation, analysis, and visualization of data, enabling businesses to make informed decisions based on real-time insights.
Custom Workflow Automation Platforms : Platforms like eForms Mobile offer customization options that allow businesses to create bespoke automation solutions tailored to their specific needs.

Automate your workflows with eForms Mobile

Whether you're looking to automate complex processes or streamline simple tasks, eForms Mobile provides a customizable solution that can be tailored to fit your specific business needs:

Need an easy way to convert traditional paper forms into digital formats? Check.
Need to build a custom workflow for a complex process? Check.
Need to collect data offline? Check.
Need the ability to use photos, GPS data, capture signatures, etc.? Check.
Need a tool that can integrate with your existing technology stack? Check.

We have hundreds of templates you can use to speed up the already simple drag-and-drop form creation process. Plus, our amazing customer success team is ready to guide you every step of the way.

Start digitizing your workflows today and let your team focus on value-adding tasks.

How to Write a Data Collection Plan (Templates and Examples Included)

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:44:18 GMT

How to Write a Data Collection Plan

(Templates and Examples Included)

In a world where data drives decisions, how do you make sure you're gathering the right information? With a clear data collection plan in place, you ensure that the collected data leads to actionable insights.

Effective data collection is key to smart decision-making, grounding strategies in solid evidence rather than guesses. A well-designed data collection plan guarantees that you're collecting not just any data, but the right data, crucial for spotting trends, refining processes, and deeply understanding customer needs in any sector.

By the end of this article, you'll understand the importance of planning your data collection and how to do it effectively.

What is a data collection plan?

A data collection plan is a roadmap for identifying what data you need, the ways in which you'll collect it, and how you'll analyze it. The core purpose is to ensure that your data collection is targeted, efficient, and reliable, providing meaningful insights for your project or study.

Data collection plans should be developed at the start of a project or study, before any data is collected. Typically, this responsibility falls to project leaders, researchers, data analysts, or a designated team member with expertise in data management.

What does a typical data collection plan document cover

From setting clear objectives to establishing robust communication channels, each section of the plan is a stepping stone towards having a thorough data collection strategy:

Objectives: Start with a specific goal for your data collection. Clearly state why this data is crucial and how it will impact your project or decision-making. This step ensures that every part of your plan aligns with your end goal.
Data typology: Decide whether you need quantitative (numerical) or qualitative (descriptive) data. Clarify the importance of each data type in the context of your objectives. This clarity helps in selecting the right tools and methods for data collection.
Collection methodology: Select appropriate methods like surveys, interviews, or analysis of existing data. Prioritize data quality; for surveys, this means clear, unbiased questions; for interviews, standardized interviewing techniques; etc.
Data management protocols: Plan for the storage, organization, and protection of your data. Address ethical considerations, especially for sensitive information. Include a system for updating and correcting data to maintain its accuracy over time.
Project timeline : Outline a realistic timeline with start and end dates, including key milestones. Incorporate flexibility for unforeseen delays or challenges.
Needed resources: Identify the team, tools, and budget required. Clearly define roles and responsibilities to ensure a smooth data collection process.
Data analysis strategy: Determine how you'll analyze the collected data. Include methods for dealing with unexpected findings, like ambiguous, conflicting, corrupted, or incomplete data.
Feedback mechanisms: Establish a mechanism for ongoing assessment and adjustment of your data collection methods. This allows you to adapt and refine your approach as needed.
Communication framework: Decide how and when you'll communicate your findings. Depending on the project, you might need to keep stakeholders updated throughout the process, not just at the end, to maintain engagement and transparency.

Try to meticulously address each of these elements to set the stage for successful data gathering.

Ways to collect data

Collecting data is akin to gathering and sorting the pieces for a puzzle. Each piece, or data point, is critical to form a complete and accurate picture of the subject under study.

To ensure that this picture is as clear and precise as possible, researchers and analysts employ a variety of data collection methods outlined in the image below.

Surveys and questionnaires: These involve asking structured questions to a large group of people. Consider the timing of your survey distribution — sending out surveys at a time when your target audience is likely to be available and attentive can significantly improve the response quality.
Interviews: One-on-one conversations that allow for deep dives into subjects' thoughts and experiences. Record interviews (with permission) and note non-verbal cues. These can provide context often lost in written notes, like the respondent's tone or hesitation.
Focus groups: Small groups of people discuss specific topics, providing qualitative data on opinions and behaviors. Use a skilled moderator who can encourage quieter members to speak up and keep dominant personalities from overtaking the conversation.
Observations: Watching and recording behavior or events as they naturally occur. If possible, conduct observations at different times or in varied settings. This helps in understanding if the observed behavior is consistent or situation-dependent.
Inspections and assessments: Examining objects, processes, or places in detail, often using a structured approach supported by pre-made checklists.
Document review and analysis: Systematically reviewing and interpreting existing documents to extract data. Cross-reference information from different documents for a more comprehensive understanding. This triangulation can validate findings and reveal deeper insights.

Each of these methods offers a unique way to gather data and comes with its own set of pros and cons. Take your time to decide which data collection methods are the best fit for your use case.

Steps for writing an effective data collection plan

With the theory out of the way, let’s see how to write a proper data collection plan, step by step.

1. Define objectives and research questions

Write down a statement of purpose that explains what you intend to discover, decide, or achieve. This statement will act as the compass for your data collection journey.

Your research questions must be clear, focused, and aligned with your stated objectives. For every objective, draft at least one research question that, when answered, will bring you closer to your goal.

When finalizing your list of research questions, don't overlook the "so what?" factor. For each one, ask yourself what the implications are if the question is answered or the objective is met. How will it change your understanding, decision-making, or actions? This ensures that your plan has practical value and isn't just an academic exercise.

2. Identify data requirements and availability

Identifying your data requirements is a two-part process: you need to understand the type of data you need and assess the data that is already available to you.

Here's how to understand the type of data you need:

Consider the nature of your research questions: What data will provide the answers? Is it demographic information, behavioral metrics, financial statistics, etc.?
Determine the data quantity: How much data is enough to make your results reliable? This can depend on the statistical methods you plan to use and the scale of your project.
Think about the data quality: What level of accuracy is required? Does the data need to be current, historical, or predictive?

Create a data inventory list. For each research question, list the types of data that could potentially answer it. Next to each type, note down the attributes of the data you need (timeframe, demographic details, granularity, etc.).

To assess the data that is already available to you, follow these:

Look internally first: Does your organization already have some of the data you need? This could be sales records, customer feedback, or past survey results.
Consider external sources: Is there public data available that fits your needs, such as government databases, research papers, or industry reports?
Evaluate accessibility: Can you easily access this data, or are there barriers (e.g., paywalls, privacy laws, data sharing agreements) that you need to consider?

For each piece of required data, try to record its source, format, any costs associated with obtaining it, and any potential challenges in accessing it. If data is not available, note down what proxies could be used or whether secondary data collection is necessary.

Completing this step will form the backbone of your data collection strategy, guiding you on where to focus your resources.

3. Choose how you will collect data

Based on your data requirements, select the most suitable collection methods. Will you use surveys, interviews, observations, experiments, or a combination of multiple methods?

Match data collection methods to the type of data you need. For quantitative data, you might use surveys or sensor data. For qualitative data, consider interviews or focus groups. Think about the context of your research — does it call for controlled experiments, or would field studies yield better results?

Once you've selected a method, it's time to think about who will shoulder the task. The 'who' could range from your own team members to external professionals, depending on the expertise required.

Incorporate quality control measures right from the start. This should include when and where data will be collected, the tools or technologies used, and the step-by-step process for gathering the data.

Finally, address ethical considerations, especially if you’re dealing with human subjects or sensitive data. Obtain necessary permissions and ensure you’re compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

4. Outline how you will measure data and ensure its integrity

Clearly specify what you are measuring and how it will be quantified. Are you looking at frequencies, averages, percentages, or growth rates? Ensure that the chosen metrics align directly with your research questions and objectives.

Develop and document standardized procedures for data measurement: define operational terms, detail measurement techniques, and specify the equipment or software used.

For each variable, write down a clear operational definition, which is a detailed description of the procedures used to measure it . For example, if you're measuring customer satisfaction, define what constitutes satisfaction and the scale you're using (e.g., 1-5 likert scale ).

To ensure data integrity, team members tasked with collecting and analyzing data really need to know what they’re doing. If you’re using instruments or software, ensure they are calibrated and tested before data collection begins. Consider running a pilot study or trial to test your measurement processes and make adjustments where necessary. This helps you catch potential issues before you roll out large-scale data collection.

Create a data log that records when and by whom data was collected, entered, and verified. Make sure to regularly check a sample of data entries against the original data to ensure accuracy. If you’re using mobile forms or other digital tools to collect data, most of this can be automated.

Lastly, decide in advance how you will deal with missing data or outliers. Will you use imputation methods , or will you exclude it? Make sure your approach is consistent and documented.

5. Decide how will data be analyzed and presented

Outlines each step of your analysis process: the methods you'll use, the required tools, and the sequence of analysis.

Choose analysis methods that align with your data types and objectives. For analyzing quantitative data , statistical methods like regression analysis, ANOVA, or cluster analysis might be appropriate. For analyzing qualitative data , try content analysis, thematic analysis, or discourse analysis.

If you have a complex project and plan to use specific software to analyze data, decide which one that is going to be. Options could range from statistical software like SPSS or R for quantitative analysis to software like NVivo for qualitative data analysis.

Think about how you will present your data. This could be in the form of reports, infographics, dashboards, or presentations. Choose the format with your audience in mind — what format will be most clear and persuasive to them?

Try sketching out a draft of your final report or presentation early in the planning process. This helps you visualize the end product and ensure that your data collection and analysis will support this outcome.

Data collection plan examples and templates

Below are four different examples and templates you can use to build your own data collection plans.

Streamline data collection process with eForms Mobile

eForms Mobile offers a flexible, accessible, and efficient platform for automating and simplifying data collection and management:

Customizable forms and mobile accessibility: Design forms specific to your needs and capture data on the go, even offline, with mobile device support.
Automated workflows and integration capabilities: Automate processes like notifications and data analysis upon form submission, while seamlessly integrating with over 1,500 systems.
Real-time data access and reporting: Access and analyze data instantly for timely decision-making, trend spotting, and addressing issues quickly.
Cloud-based data storage: Securely store all data in the cloud, ensuring safety and availability from any location at any time.
User-friendly interface: Enjoy an intuitive platform that requires no coding skills, making it easy for anyone in your organization to create and use forms.

Ready to transform your data collection process? Start a free trial here !

Simplify Offline Data Collection With Offline Mobile Forms

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:10:14 GMT

Simplify Offline Data Collection

With Offline Mobile Forms

More and more businesses are relying on digital apps and real-time data to plan and manage their business operations. Whether it's field researchers out in forests, construction managers on sprawling sites, or field technicians in remote areas, many professionals often find themselves in places with poor or limited internet connection.

How do they efficiently collect and share data with their teams? The simplest solution is to implement offline mobile forms and follow offline data collection best practices .

So, with that in mind, let’s see how offline data collection works, how to navigate common challenges, and how to streamline the process by using offline mobile forms.

How does offline data collection work

Offline data collection is a vital tool for any professional who operates in environments where internet access is unreliable or non-existent. Essentially, this method involves using mobile devices to gather and store data locally until an internet connection is available to sync the data to a central database.

This allows for continuous data collection with little to no additional administrative work in terms of data management.

Being able to collect data offline is particularly useful in industries like:

Field research: Researchers in remote areas rely on offline data collection to locally record their observations. This ensures that no piece of critical information is lost, even in the most isolated locations.
Construction: On large construction sites, managers and engineers use offline forms to track progress and report issues on the go, syncing data once they return to connected zones.
Agriculture: Farmers and agricultural technicians track crop growth, weather conditions, and resource allocation across vast areas where internet service is spotty at best.
Healthcare: In rural or underserved regions, health workers collect patient data during community visits and sync this information to medical records once back online.
Utility services: Technicians inspecting and maintaining infrastructure in remote areas use offline forms to track their work, perform inspections, and report findings.

By leveraging the power of mobile technology, these forms are not just simple digital replacements of paper; they can include complex features such as barcode scanning, photo uploads, GPS tagging, and more, all operational without a live internet connection.

This capability ensures that workers in all these industries can efficiently gather comprehensive data and easily forward everything to a central database.

Create offline mobile forms with eForms Mobile

e Forms Mobile is a no-code platform you can use to build any type of mobile form or application. Companies use it to create process and safety checklists, streamline inspections and audits, gather data, build timesheets, manage inventory, and much more.

We have hundreds of pre-made templates. If you don't find what you're looking for, our team can help you design nearly anything.

The process is simple.

You design your forms/app using our intuitive drag-and-drop interface. You can include various field types such as text, checkboxes, dropdowns, and more. The platform also supports advanced features like data validation and conditional logic, which improves data accuracy and enables the forms to adapt based on the data entered.

Once your forms are crafted, they can be quickly deployed to your team's mobile devices. We ensure that these forms are fully functional offline, storing collected data locally on the device until an internet connection becomes available.

Many clients that use eForms Mobile heavily rely on our offline mobile forms.

The challenges of capturing data in areas with poor internet connectivity

Here are some common issues encountered and how offline mobile data collection helps mitigate these problems:

Delayed data transmission : Without reliable internet, data collected in the field can't be shared in real-time, delaying critical updates and decisions. Offline mobile forms store data locally and sync it automatically once connectivity is restored, ensuring timely and efficient data transmission.
Increased risk of data loss : In areas with poor connectivity, the risk of losing data increases if mobile devices are damaged or lost before the data can be backed up. Offline forms reduce this risk by allowing for regular, automatic backups whenever a connection is available.
Challenges in collaboration and coordination : Planning and coordinating work is tough when team members cannot access information or share updates in real-time. Offline mobile forms include features for task assignments and updates that sync across devices, improving coordination even when offline.
Difficulty in monitoring and quality control : Monitoring the quality and consistency of data collection is challenging without the ability to closely oversee field activities. Offline forms can be equipped with built-in validation rules that ensure data integrity at the point of entry, irrespective of connectivity.

What to look for in software that offers offline mobile data collection

The following is a list of features managers and field workers find useful in their daily work:

Barcode scanning : Allows for quick data entry and reduces errors associated with manual input.
Photo integration : Enables field workers to capture images as part of the data collection, providing visual proof and context.
Signature collection : Facilitates authorization and validation of data through digital signatures, crucial for compliance and verification.
Geolocation services : Tags data entries with GPS coordinates to verify the location-specific information and track field operations.
Voice recordings : Offers an alternative data entry method that can be particularly useful in hands-free or documentation-heavy scenarios.
Freehand drawing : Useful for marking diagrams or sketches, which is especially valuable in construction, engineering, or design work.
Form activity tracking : Monitors when forms are opened, edited, and submitted, helping to manage workflows and ensure data timeliness.
Feedback sharing : Facilitates communication within the team by allowing comments and feedback directly on the form entries.
Customizable notifications : Sends alerts based on specific triggers or submission events to keep teams informed in real-time.
Regular back-ups : Ensures data is not lost by automatically backing up the data at set intervals or when a connection is detected.
Encryption and secure storage methods : Protects sensitive data stored on devices, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
Data synchronization capabilities : Once a connection is reestablished, data should sync smoothly without user intervention or data conflicts.
Multi-platform support : The software should run across various operating systems and devices (e.g., Android, iOS, Windows).
User access controls : Features that manage who can view, edit, or delete data based on user roles and permissions help maintain data integrity and security.
Customizability and scalability : The ability to customize forms and workflows to fit specific project needs is crucial for scalability.
Integration capabilities : Your offline mobile forms should be able to communicate with other tools (like ERP systems, internal databases, and cloud storage solutions).
Offline analytics and reporting tools : Tools that allow users to generate reports and conduct analytics offline help in making informed decisions on the ground without needing to sync first.

Now, different businesses will have different needs. Identify which of these features are important to you before evaluating potential solutions.

Sidenote: eForms Mobile supports everything on this list.

Six rules of offline data collection

When collecting data in environments with unreliable internet connection, it's crucial to adhere to a set of established practices that ensure the integrity, security, and efficiency of the data collection process:

Prepare thoroughly: Equip your team with robust training and clear guidelines to handle the data collection tools and understand the data they are gathering. If it is a research project, start with a data collection plan .
Choose the right tools: Select data collection tools that are designed to function effectively offline and are compatible with multiple device types to ensure flexibility in the field.
Test your technology: Before deployment, conduct tests to ensure your tools work smoothly and that your data collections forms are easy to use.
Synchronize your data as soon as possible: Regularly sync data to a central database whenever connectivity is available to minimize any potential for data loss. However, before doing that, make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Use data validation techniques: Implement form validations and checks to ensure accuracy and completeness of the data entered by field operators (i.e. entering text in the “Age” field should result in a warning prompt that the field should contain a number).
Ensure data consistency: Establish protocols to handle version control and ensure consistency when data is synchronized from multiple sources or updated offline.

If you can check off each of those rules, you can be confident that your data is both complete and reliable, regardless of where and when it was collected.

For a deeper dive, we expand on some of these rules in our beginner’s guide to field data collection.

Use eForms Mobile as your offline data collection app

Don’t search for the right tool for the job, build one that fits perfectly into your workflow .

Our customer support team will support you every step of the way — be that finding the right offline mobile form template and adjusting it, or building a simple app from scratch through our drag and drop interface.

eForms Mobile platforms offers all of the features you need for efficient and secure offline data collection we mentioned throughout the article. The apps and forms you create can integrate with basically any other tool you might be using.

It’s simple, it’s convenient, and saves tons of time for both field workers and their managers.

Everything You Need to Know About Audit Automation

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:43:05 GMT

Everything You Need to Know

About Audit Automation

Audit automation doesn’t erase the human’s role in auditing – it arms people with technology they can use to produce better, more efficient results. Implementing audit automation leads to quality improvements, time savings, risk reduction, and risk intelligence.

What is audit automation?

The days of manually sifting through documents are behind us, all thanks to audit automation. Audit automation is a term describing the use of cloud computing and database software to automate auditing tasks like data entry and analysis. Automated workflows drastically reduce the time and effort required to carry out audit-related workflows.

Automation software designed for auditing helps organizations maintain compliance with greater accuracy and efficiency. The technology works by sifting through data, organizing it, and analyzing it to detect risk.

Digital audit vs audit automation

A digital audit (aka electronic audit) uses software to carry out the auditing process. Audit automation is often one part of the digital auditing process. It’s typically accompanied by software solutions for process documentation, data analysis, and communication.

Audit automation specifically refers to the process of automating certain steps in the auditing process to streamline workflows and limit human error.

Types of audit automation

Within the world of audit automation lies a whole spectrum of technologies organizations use to improve efficiency and risk management. They range from predictive models and tools for data integration and visualization to advanced technologies with cognitive elements that mimic human behavior:

Data integration: create a consistent information foundation.
Predictive analytics: predicts risk with predictive models like compliance risk models.
Data visualization: visually contextualizes data, like in a GRC dashboard.
Robotic process automation: uses rules-based systems that mimic human behavior to automate parts of repeatable processes.
Natural language generation: accept structured data inputs to generate unstructured narratives.
Natural language processing: applications that process unstructured data and enable querying and generation of structured data.
Machine learning: improves predictability and operations based on data received over time.
Artificial intelligence: mimics human behavior like visual perception, speech recognition, division-making, and language translation.

Benefits of audit automation

Audit automation is revolutionizing the way audits are conducted across all industries. Using automation, auditors can reduce workloads, lower labor costs, and improve efficiency– ultimately producing more accurate data sets in a fraction of the time.

That speed is a huge asset considering regulations are shifting faster than ever. Swift auditing is essential for maintaining compliance in fast-paced industries. In addition to saving time, audit automation streamlines workflows and reduces the number of resources necessary to achieve compliance.

Let's dive a little deeper into each of those benefits.

Efficiency

The most obvious benefit for organizations automating their auditing processes is the drastic boost in efficiency. Much of the actual labor involved in carrying out an audit involves tedious, meticulous, mind-numbing tasks. With audit automation, hours spent on data entry and analysis can be replaced with the click of a button.

Businesses can automatically pull data from multiple sources, analyze, and get results in a fraction of the time they would normally spend on data from just one source. Bots are programmed to follow prescribed procedures, capture and maintain complete audit logs, and automate reporting.

Automation can even streamline collecting audit evidence by enabling users to upload documents and photos directly to the audit checklist.

Accuracy

Slow and steady might win the race if you’re running on human feet, but automation can’t relate. It’s easy to assume that greater speed will produce more errors. Audit automation isn’t affected by human error the way manual auditing is. Automating data collection and analysis reduces the risk of error and improves consistency, resulting in more accurate, reliable results.

Cost savings

Audit automation creates a ripple effect of efficiency and accuracy that reduces expenses and even increases profits across the entire organization. Automating manual tasks reduces the number of paid hours required to perform an audit. In addition to this drastic reduction in labor costs, automation bypasses costs associated with errors that go undetected.

Because automation gives organizations access to more audit data that is also standardized, consistent, and accurate, auditors can focus efforts on analysis and decision-making rather than grunt work like data collection and consolidation. This drives innovation and improves business processes, which translates to their bottom line.

Consistency

Automated auditing tasks are inherently consistent. They repeat the same predetermined processes and procedures to ensure audits are conducted the same way each time. These uniform processes are easily traceable, producing clear audit reports that simplify compliance. Mistakes are easily detected and addressed in a standardized system.

Automation software also ensures results are accurate and reliable. In conjunction with the standardized auditing process, automation software’s ability to create accurate and reliable audit results creates a bulletproof level of consistency.

Risk management

Audit automation identifies irregularities, malfunctions, and potential risks faster and more accurately than manual auditing. As a result, risks are identified sooner and can be mitigated before they become a problem.

Stakeholder communication

Audit-related information is easily shareable between stakeholders. This opens a secure channel for collaboration and communication, improving auditor/investor/client relationships in the process.

Audit automation use cases

Audit automation helps companies optimize scarce resources. Automating manual activities frees up employee capacity. Focus can then shift to higher-impact activities like process improvement. Greater investment in higher-value tasks accelerates and improves operating effectiveness.

Automation is especially beneficial for cases that require:

A high degree of accuracy and consistency
Repetitive, manual processing
Pulling information from scattered sources
Heavy data entry, data manipulation, and report generation

Here are some examples of how audit automation can seamlessly integrate into the various stages of the auditing process.

1. Risk assessment

The main goal of this phase is to establish the audit entity universe, assess its completeness, analyze the risk profile, identify audit needs, develop the audit plan, and conduct business monitoring.

Organizations can streamline the risk assessment workflow by using analytic techniques and dashboards, robotic process automation, and natural language processing.

These automation tools are used for:

Compliance risk assessment
Location risk assessment visualization
Cross-business unit/region comparative and flux analysis
Continuous business operations monitoring
Risk assessment dashboard

Tracking the changes that result from automating processes is crucial to successful implementation. Risks must be re-evaluated as changes occur. Organizations must also track technology reliability within business processes over time. Future audits should pay special attention to:

Information controls, especially those for access and bot credentialing, change related to maintaining bots, and business continuity planning
Accuracy, security, and completeness of stored data
Potential risk for data leakage and privacy threats
Cybersecurity incident response
Distinction of duties between bot IDs and end users
RPA governance that monitors bot throughput, processing errors, and exception handling through human intervention

2. Audit planning

The audit planning phase involves communicating the intention to audit, conducting the introduction and scoping meeting, completing the audit planning memorandum (APM), developing process understanding, identifying inherent risks and key controls, completing a risk control matrix, and completing the audit announcement memo.

Analytics techniques and dashboards, robotic process automation, and natural language processing optimize this phase by:

Automating documents with lots of text
Profiling business operations
Conducting exploratory analytics and “what-if” analysis

3. Design effectiveness assessment

Assessing design effectiveness involves detailed audit planning, developing a testing strategy, and reviewing and approving the design effectiveness assessment (DEA). Analytics techniques and dashboards combined with robotic process automation facilitate:

Automaton of internal audit tasks
Data modeling
Batched reporting

4. Fieldwork

Fieldwork is where auditors hold opening meetings, create operational effectiveness testing (OET) work papers, execute testing in accordance with the OET strategy, evaluate the operating effectiveness of key controls, and draft issues.

This phase of the auditing process can utilize every single audit automation tool– analytics techniques and dashboards, robotic process automation, natural language processing, and even natural language generation. These technologies are used to streamline:

Population testing
Data aggregation and integration
Intelligent detection of suspicious logs associated with IT systems

5. Reporting/closing phase

This is the phase that produces the audit report. It covers an overview of the audit findings, reviews any issues identified during the auditing process, and assesses the organization’s overall operational health. Auditors draft the report, outlining observations and recommendations, have it reviewed and approved, then issue the final report to the organization being audited. The auditors then perform the audit folder closure, which involves organizing and storing audit-related documents. This phase also includes a cost-budget analysis, an audit team debrief, and an updated risk assessment.

The reporting phase utilizes analytics techniques, robotic processing automation, and natural language generation to:

Automatically generate text-based audit reports
Enable data visualization and an audit storyboard
Perform impact quantification

6. Issue tracking/ongoing monitoring

Last up, we have the issue tracking/ongoing monitoring phase. This stage of the process relies on the history of issues tracking to develop insights through trends analysis and key performance indicators (KPIs). It can also establish the continuous auditing model.

Issue tracking utilizes analytics techniques and dashboards, robotic process automation, and natural language processing for:

Real-time anomaly reporting
Enhanced dashboarding and reporting
Thematic risk identification
Computer-aided engineering (CAE) dashboard
Issue tracking visualization

Audit automation challenges

There is a potential risk of improper initiation or alteration of information. This may go undetected when recorded, processed, and reported electronically. Coding errors may occur when developed, or intentional and unintentional changes occur after the technology is deployed.

Changing environments can degrade the computer code’s underlying technology, rendering it less responsive.

To address these risks, organizations need processes that continuously monitor and confirm that output meets expectations.

Improper implementation or automation of the wrong processes can result in financial losses. Bot-related errors also hurt the integrity of cybersecurity programs or compliance with data privacy regulations, which results in monetary and reputational repercussions.

Avoiding this requires careful assessment of how changes inform IT risk assessment and how pre-existing standards, processes, and structures should be adjusted accordingly. Businesses must perform their own risk assessments associated with automated processes, design internal controls, and produce appropriate audit evidence.

How to implement audit automation

Below are some important considerations to help audit automation work for your organization.

Step 1: Define your audit automation vision and strategy

Start by assessing where and how automation can be implemented into your auditing processes, as well as why each process should be automated.

Some organizations begin by automating test steps within a single audit, a data extraction process to supply standardized information for multiple other audits, or operational activities like hours tracking, reporting, certification management, etc.

Step 2: Build a foundational infrastructure to support your audit automation

Once the vision and strategy are clear, the next crucial step is to create a foundational infrastructure that facilitates implementation and future maintenance, while also mitigating risks. The governance model must weave accountability throughout the automation cycle, from creation all the way to monitoring its effectiveness. This involves the following:

Enhanced governance: establishing the roles, responsibilities, and structures for identifying which tests and processes align with automation, as well as processes for handling designs, deployment, and documentation.
Change management: create protocols for monitoring and addressing changes to the automation processes.
Testing and monitoring: establish processes for quality assurance testing and monitoring.
Exception handling and processing: outline a framework for triaging potential issues, and distinguishing/routing operational and technical expectations.
Employee training: conduct capability assessments and training modules to supplement gaps in IT and data science knowledge.

Government agencies recommend RPA governance models address the following tasks:

Name one executive sponsor who understands emerging automation technologies to spearhead implementation.
Define RPA standards and policies
Adapt existing internal controls to the automated environment
Create access management policies and internal controls for bots to monitor the work of other bots
Adapt bots to detect and report errors, signaling the need for human intervention when necessary
Implement controls that manage bots through environment changes
Create compliance policies and tools that track bot output
Form cross-functional working groups and place certain individuals in charge of maintaining and managing bots

Step 3: Develop a target-state operating model that supports and sustains automation

Develop a target-state operating model as a natural extension of the current operating model, with adjustments to the interplay of people, processes, and software. This addresses how automation may reshape the current model, as well as how the target state supports the organization's overall automation goals. Use this step to identify opportunities for sharing service models between department functions.

Final thoughts

Audit automation improves audit efficiency and effectiveness, increases capacity, and produces more accurate, quality results. These are big changes, but they don’t affect operating models as much as you would expect.

Your target state operating model post-automation implementation remains the same– it simply tweaks the interplay of people, processes, and technology. At the end of the day, organizations can run audits without forcing employees to suffer through hours of mindless manual processes, redirecting intelligent human talent to high-impact activities.

The Ultimate Guide to Audits in 2023 and Beyond

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:33:59 GMT

The Ultimate Guide to

Audits in 2023 and Beyond

Auditing a business is like going to the doctor. The more your health declines, the more you find yourself trudging into a sterile-smelling (but likely germ-infested) waiting room.

Unfortunately, 2023’s economy isn’t looking so hot. Economists predict a 65% chance of a US recession and a 49% chance of a European one. If a recession does occur, lingering inflation, talent shortages, and supply chain issues will make it harder to navigate. Staying resilient throughout the impending recession means closing the growing gap between audit efforts and potential risks.

The state of audits in 2023

Despite gloomy economic predictions, 53% of survey respondents expect budgets to increase in 2023 and 39% expect staffing improvements. Still, more than half of respondents report having fewer resources than necessary to address risks within their organizations. This is the case for organizations that have recently increased resources as well. When increases are not enough to address risks, organizations must utilize technology to expand capacity and make the most of the resources that are available.

Gartner groups the risks audit teams must identify and mitigate this year into three themes:

Triple squeeze

If a recession does occur this year, it will be accompanied by high inflation, talent shortages, and supply chain constraints and will have an uneven impact across regions, industries, and even companies in the same industry. These pressures may trigger upward cost pressure for businesses, more supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages. Labor shortages will hit IT the hardest, due to trouble hiring and retaining IT talent.

Risks to expect include upward cost pressure, workforce management, IT governance, and supply chain stability. 82% of executives report they currently face upward price pressure for inputs. Half expect that pressure to continue through the first half of 2023. Contrary to typical expectations, the upward pressure is on product inputs, talent costs, and borrowing costs. Coupled with shifting tax codes, this will raise tax burdens. Organizations can get in front of these issues by sourcing IT talent, creating more geopolitically stable supply chains, and investing in relevant software solutions.

Renationalization

The days of comfortably relying on a global, just-in-time market are long gone. Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine have pushed multi-polarization and geopolitical assertiveness to the forefront.

92% of organizations either have faced or expect to face a state-sponsored cyber-attack. This threat has peaked regulators’ attention, driving new disclosure rules for the United States and the United Kingdom.

ESG opinions vary drastically from country to country, creating inconsistent reporting requirements and regulations.

This reverse globalization also impacts data governance. As business data becomes more centralized, countries across the world are implementing contradicting data regulations.

Resilience

With extreme weather events, economic strife, and more global conflict on the horizon, businesses are better off owning their increased fragility than waiting for a “new normal”. Internal audits should spend 2023 building organizational resilience that can withstand whatever the future may hold, with very little warning.

Top risks in 2023

The risk landscape did not change significantly throughout the year 2022. No risks declined significantly, and only these few categories experienced minimal increases:

● Business disruption

● Environmental, social, and governance (ESG)

● Attracting/retaining talent

● Organizations’ use of advanced technology

● Organizational culture

Organizations will battle disruptive events in 2023. Cyber and data security and talent shortages are the top risks organizations will face in 2023. Over 80% of survey respondents marked cyber/data security as a “very high” or “higher than average” vulnerability. Nearly 75% of respondents said the same about talent.

Macroeconomic volatility broadens the scope of disruptive events organizations must prepare for even further. Interest rates are still on the rise, inflation is raging, and global demand is unstable. More comprehensive audit planning is crucial to surviving whatever hurdles the economy produces this year.

Environmental, Social, and Governance

ESG is one of the fastest-growing risk categories surveyed in 2022. Two-thirds of respondents deemed ESG a top risk in 2023. Still, ESG risk gets a consistently divided response. 2022 experienced multiple warnings urging the world to accelerate climate change efforts, including those by the World Economic Forum.

Increased climate degradation is pushing organizations to prepare for extreme weather events and the potential loss of critical infrastructure– a huge escalation from previous efforts to identify potential operational risks and craft a sustainability strategy.

Despite all of this, all three ESG components were ranked in the bottom half of 2023 risk areas by the same pool of survey respondents.

Kicking ESG to the bottom of the priority list is not an option in 2023. Better ESG risk management and reporting is a top priority for consumers, shareholders, and other stakeholders. The risk is increasing– auditors need to respond to the demand in 2023, lest they fall behind. The consequences of not doing so could mirror those experienced by auditors who avoided addressing cyber and data security risks.

Third-party reliance and workforce culture

Reliance on third-party risk management is also impacting organization fragility. While reliance on third-party ecosystems has not been crash tested against the degree of volatility organizations face this year.

Culture has long since laid the foundation for an organization’s resilience. The new hybrid and remote working model introduces the risk of employee disconnectedness. Organizations that do not prioritize employee engagement this year, no matter the working model, risk losing their foundation.

The recession could trigger a shortage of resources, hiring freezes, and cutbacks for optional expenditures– in other words, audit departments could be heading for a trifecta of doom in 2023. Risks are growing more complex and CAEs already feel they lack the resources necessary to address them.

While it’s likely that internal auditors will encounter pressure to lower expenditures, maintaining adequate resources is crucial to surviving the impending recession.

Adopting new technologies that maximize current resources and improve efficiency throughout the audit department is the best way to remain resilient through the impending economic downturn.

Risk areas expected to increase by 2026

ESG risk expectations trend upward in the coming years, but not enough to align with the severity of environmental risk projected by the world economic forum.

The risk expectations for the use of advanced technologies are trending upward at a faster rate, due to the rapid pace at which businesses are integrating these technologies into operations.

Risk areas expected to decrease by 2026

Slight decreases are expected for cyber and data security risks, talent-related risks, and macroeconomic related risks. These survey results show that auditors feel the economy and labor market will level out within the next few years.

Risk/effort gap

One pressing issue to be aware of this year is the gap between risk level and planned audit effort. This gap is most noticeable in relation to:

● The ability to attract and retain top talent

● Macroeconomic factors and geopolitical uncertainties

● Business model disruptions

While 77% of respondents listed the talent shortage as a critical risk, only 16% are addressing the risk with significant resources. Macroeconomic factors follow a similar trend, with 68% of respondents deeming the risk critical and only 13% addressing it with substantial resources. Business model disruptions due to the evolving digital risk landscape have the smallest gap, with 50% of respondents marking the risk as critical and only 20% making moves to address it.

45% of chief audit executives surveyed named inadequate resources in quantity and/or expertise as the primary reason for misalignment between risk and the level of effort. 20% of CAEs say that internal audit coverage falls short in high-risk areas because assurance is provided by a second-line function.

Steps must be taken to bridge the gaps between internal audit coverage and high risks. Organizations can achieve this through upskilling talent, developing strategic sourcing strategies, improving staff efficiency, creating agile processes, and implementing advanced technologies.

Risk monitoring recommendations

90% of respondents do not use independent efforts to gather data and analyze risks objectively, relying instead on other risk-related functions.

A continuous audit model monitors risks on a rolling basis, giving organizations the foresight necessary to adjust to rapidly changing conditions. Many internal audit teams are collaborating with business management and other risk-related functions within the organization.

While support from other functions within the organization is beneficial, internal auditors must complete assessments with objectivity, filtering ideas from those functions with adequate scrutiny. When the internal audit team lacks the talent and/or skills to analyze an issue, they should make efforts to upskill and/or request third-party support.

Key risk indicators enable efficient continuous monitoring. They are another underutilized risk monitoring strategy, utilized by only half of survey respondents.

Internal auditors also benefit from engaging with internal auditors from other organizations. This type of networking keeps auditors from operating in a vacuum, helping them understand and prepare for emerging risks. Internal auditors can help each other assess risk assessments and audit plans and fill any risk gaps. Industry reports from credible third parties can also help auditors identify new trends and risks.

According to the survey, less than half of internal auditors partake in the networking mentioned above.

Proactive risk-monitoring checklist

Ever since the beginning of 2020, businesses have faced one disaster after another. Relax now, and you may not survive whatever threats surface this year. Below is a proactive risk monitoring blueprint that can help your organization thrive in 2023:

Address your resource challenges now: You can’t recognize risk without resources. If you’re struggling to find adequate talent, now is the time to solve that problem. Effective risk management in 2023 requires talent, technology, and process. If you can’t get enough good talent, invest in technology to fill the gaps.
Prioritize ESG risk areas now: ESG risks are no longer the future– they’re the present. Expect dangerous weather events and new reporting regulations in the coming year.
Uphold the internal audit basics: When the organization leans on risk monitoring functions, revisit internal auditing basics and restate the value of the internal audit’s objective perspective.
Expand risk monitoring: Utilize upskilling and seek third-party resources when necessary. Utilize key risk indicators, engage with peers, and consume relevant content from credible sources to keep your finger on the pulse of potential risk within your industry.
Close effort gaps and avoid complacency: Old methods can’t fix new problems. Businesses are currently operating in a volatile environment. New risks need new solutions. Gaps between top risks and audit efforts must be closed to survive whatever 2023 throws our way. Fresh auditing technologies, perspectives, and methods are key to enduring unpredictable moments of disruption.

Threat-specific recommendations

Cyberthreats

● Revisit cybersecurity program definitions, framework, and the quality of risk assessment, mitigation, and controls.

● Review IT and information security's risk and threat discovery practices.

● Examine how IT monitors applications, databases, networks, and other assets to detect unusual activities.

● Prioritize assessing critical or sensitive assets.

● Evaluate current incident response plans to ensure effective, timely escalation, coordination, and communication with relevant stakeholders.

● Assess how roles and responsibilities are defined in relation to cyber incidents.

● Evaluate the baseline for current cybersecurity reporting capabilities, including those for incidents and cyber defense posture

IT Governance

● Implement technologies and procedures for monitoring the network for unauthorized software and interfacing between authorized and unauthorized software.

● Review and update information security policies to ensure they prohibit unauthorized software use, provide effective employee training and awareness, and outline procedures for requesting new software.

● Develop a written directive on SaaS ownership with governance rules and enforcement mechanisms.

● Conduct assessments of IT and technical talent to identify skills and potential gaps.

● Define core competencies and skills needed to meet security and IT objectives.

● Monitor progress on workforce plans and IT talent risk mitigation strategies.

● Keep plans up-to-date as business circumstances evolve.

Data governance

● Review documentation for AI projects to identify risks and potential controls and mitigations.

● Establish standards for AI deployment that mitigate identified risks.

● Assign responsibility for oversight and implementation of controls.

● Assess the criticality of AI-related applications, data, and assets.

● Implement appropriate controls.

● Evaluate practices for monitoring AI and related data for signs of bias or malicious interference.

● Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory mandates.

● Review and update policies that govern data access and storage.

● Assign responsibility for regular review, evaluation, and updating.

● Identify and track relevant regulations on the use of personally identifiable information (PII) and maintain compliance.

Third-party risk management

● Review ESG assessments to determine how the organization assesses scope 3 emissions.

● Assess the organization's process for identifying and interpreting ethical supply chain regulations in all applicable jurisdictions.

● Determine whether the organization's ethical supply chain practices address these requirements.

● Assess the extent of continuous monitoring of key third-party relationships.

● Review the frequency of which risk profiles are reassessed and updated

● Assess whether third-party risk management is integrated into a business continuity management plan

● Review the third-party portfolio to ensure that there is a strategy for managing business interruptions if a single third party fails to deliver

● Assess contracts, evaluating the process for writing and approving contracts with third-party vendors and contractors

● Ensure that contracts adequately stipulate information security, data privacy, and other requirements

● Assess activities ensuring third-party adherence to contracts, particularly for high-risk entities.

How audit technology can help you withstand a recession

To survive a recession, organizations need tools that can maximize the resources they do have. Digital audits streamline the efficiency and effectiveness of internal audit programs, allowing organizations to perform better-quality audits with fewer resources available. Here’s how:

Greater efficiency

Electronic audits allow businesses to process large volumes of data in a fraction of the time manual audits require. Data analytics tools identify irregularities with precision, ensuring audit results are accurate and comprehensive.

Advanced risk management

Sophisticated algorithms identify weak points in operations, automatically flagging malfunctions and risks with greater accuracy than traditional audits allow. Continuous auditing can be implemented so that risks are identified on a rolling basis. This auditing model safeguards the company against risk, promoting resilience in the process.

Credibility

Electronic audit results are more trustworthy, which makes them appear more credible to investors, regulatory bodies, government agencies, and even customers. This can go far in combating recession-related apprehension.

Cost-effectiveness

Electronic audits are less expensive than traditional audits. Organizations can maximize talent by allocating hours previously spent manually sifting through documents to more impactful activities.

Organizations can then save on labor while maximizing talent output, all without subtracting from internal audit effort and quality.

Security

Physical document storage is inconvenient and inaccessible. Electronic audits allow users to view data anywhere, anytime– so long as they have the necessary permissions.

Data is encrypted to allow secure transmission and storage of sensitive information. This protects audit data from breaches and unauthorized access.

Digital audit software also captures every time someone accesses a file. Organizations can use this to track actions back to a certain individual, time, and date if necessary.

Give electronic auditing software a try

If you haven’t made the switch to electronic audits, now is the time. Organizations face a unique set of risks this year– too little talent, too few resources, and a recession to boot. While it won’t make the recession go away, efficient, accurate auditing can help your organization brave whatever storms 2023 throws our way.

Ready to give electronic auditing a try? Give eForms Mobile a try for 14 days, no credit card required.

What is the Difference Between Inspections, Audits, and Assessments?

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:21:12 GMT

What is the Difference Between

Inspections, Audits, and Assessments?

Audits, inspections, and assessments are all recurring activities designed to, in one way or the other, improve operational performance. They’re vital to any organization that hopes to ensure safety and compliance, and maintain efficient operations.

Because they all support the same end goal, the lines between these processes can get blurry at times.

In this post, we’re giving you everything you need to know to optimize your evaluation processes and understand when to apply each. That includes clear definitions of each method, their differences, and plenty of use case examples.

If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick graphic that summarizes their main differences.

What is an audit?

An audit is defined as : “The systematic, independent, and documented process for obtaining objective evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which audit criteria are fulfilled.”

Audits are performed to ensure that a company’s internal processes, controls, and systems are compliant with established standards, industry regulations, or company policies. They are often used for quality management, environmental performance, and documentation of health and safety.

Depending on its purpose and who performs it, we can differentiate between four specific types of audits:

Internal audits: Internal audits (aka first-party audits) are conducted by qualified in-house personnel in order to improve processes and performance. They do not result in certifications but can serve as the basis for an organization’s declaration of conformity.
External audits: External audits can be second or third-party. Second-party audits are performed by parties who have some interest in the organization (like customers). Third-party audits are completed by independent auditing organizations that often provide official certifications.
Combined audits: A combined audit is used to simultaneously audit two or more management system standards, product standards, service standards, or process standards at a single organization.
Joint audits: A joint audit is an audit carried out at a single organization by two or more auditors.

Audits may be scheduled annually , semi-annually , or as required by specific regulations or stakeholders. Since they are often comprehensive and time-consuming, more and more organizations are looking to digitalize and automate their audit processes.

What is an inspection?

ISO standards define inspections as “a determination of conformity to specified requirements.”

Inspections involve a thorough examination of a process, system, product, or facility to ensure compliance with specific criteria or standards. The primary aim is to identify defects, deviations, or non-compliance that can impact the quality, safety, or functionality of the item being inspected.

There are many types of inspections an organization can perform. Here are the most common ones:

Safety inspections: Conducted to ensure that workplaces meet the necessary environmental, health, or safety standards. Examples include fire safety inspections, construction site safety inspections, and chemical storage inspections. Typically performed by Occupational health and safety officers or relevant governmental agencies.
Equipment inspections: Used to check the condition of machinery, tools, and other equipment. Examples include inspections of manufacturing machinery, vehicles, and HVAC systems. Typically performed by maintenance technicians and machine operators.
Quality Control inspections: Conducted at various stages of the production process to ensure that products meet specified quality criteria. Examples include raw material inspections, in-process inspections, and final product inspections. Typically performed by quality control personnel or third-party quality assurance agencies.
Environmental inspections: Conducted to ensure that organizations comply with environmental regulations. Examples include water quality inspections, emissions testing, and hazardous waste disposal inspections. Typically performed by environmental agencies, regulatory bodies, or specialized environmental consultants.
Health inspections: Prevalent in sectors where public health is a concern, like the food and hospitality industries. Examples include restaurant health inspections, hotel hygiene inspections, and food processing facility inspections. Typically performed by public health officials or relevant health departments.
Compliance inspections: Designed to ensure that organizations or individuals are adhering to specific regulatory or legal requirements. They can overlap with some of the other categories but focus primarily on legal adherence. Examples include building code inspections, tax inspections, and trade compliance inspections. Typically performed by regulatory agencies, government officials, or specialized compliance consultants.

The frequency of inspections will vary depending on the industry, product, or process being inspected. For instance, a manufacturing facility might have daily inspections for certain equipment, whereas an environmental inspection might be done only once or twice a year .

What is an assessment?

Unlike audits and inspections which primarily focus on compliance, assessments are often more holistic, gauging the effectiveness or performance of a system, process, or individual.

They can be qualitative or quantitative in nature and — based on their purpose and the context in which they're applied — can be used for a myriad of purposes.

Common types of assessments include:

Performance assessments: Designed to evaluate the performance of employees or teams in an organization. They may focus on skills, competencies, achievements, and contributions to the organization. Typically conducted by human resource departments, managers, or external consultants.
Risk assessments: Used to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential risks in a given context. They're essential in determining preventive measures and mitigation strategies. Typically conducted by risk management teams, safety officers, or specialized consultants.
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Evaluate the potential impacts of a project or action on the environment. EIA is essential for ensuring sustainable development practices. Typically conducted by environmental consultants, regulatory agencies, or internal environmental teams.
Educational assessments: Designed to measure students' knowledge, skills, aptitudes, and other academic capabilities. They can be formative (ongoing) or summative (final evaluation). Primarily used by teachers and specialized testing organizations.
Financial assessments: Focus on an organization's or individual's financial health, examining elements like creditworthiness, assets, liabilities, and overall financial stability. Conducted by financial institutions, credit agencies, or internal financial teams.
IT security assessments: These assessments gauge the security posture of an organization's IT systems. They identify vulnerabilities and threats and recommend mitigation strategies. Used by IT security teams, cybersecurity consultants, or third-party security firms.

Naturally, the timing of assessments will vary wildly based on their type and purpose. Some are periodic (annual employee performance assessments), while others may be ad-hoc (post-incident risk assessments). Most of them do not adhere to a rigid schedule .

Key differences between inspections, audits, and assessments

While they all strive for enhanced efficacy and compliance, their methodologies, depth, and outcomes differ. Understanding these differences is crucial in implementing the correct approach for your organizational needs.

Scope and structure

Inspections: Typically narrower in scope; generally item-specific, examining particular equipment, products, or procedures. Structurally, they are more about direct observation and verification.
Audits: Broader in scope, examining entire systems, processes, or departments. They provide more of a big-picture evaluation by delving into systemic issues. Structurally, they can involve sampling, interviews, and document reviews.
Assessments : Can range from narrow to broad in scope, depending on the goals and objectives. They can incorporate elements of both inspections and audits.

Tools

Inspections: Primarily utilize checklists, direct observations, and testing equipment.
Audits: Use a combination of checklists, sampling methods, interviews, and document reviews.
Assessments: Can employ surveys, questionnaires, observational tools, or specialized software, depending on the assessment's nature.

Complexity

Inspections: Often straightforward, aiming to check compliance with standards or identify defects. The person performing the inspection should be familiar with the item they are inspecting.
Audits: More complex, examining compliance, effectiveness, and potential improvements in systems or processes. Can involve multiple teams, data sources, policies, and documentation.
Assessments: Complexity can vary, from simple evaluations to intricate explorations of multiple domains.

Duration

Inspections: Typically shorter in duration, often completed in a single visit or short time frame.
Audits: Tend to be lengthier, sometimes spanning several days or weeks, given their comprehensive nature.
Assessments: Duration can range widely, from a quick evaluation to a prolonged analysis, depending on depth and breadth.

Outcomes

Inspections : Result in a report show conformity, nonconformity, or a degree of conformity; can also list found issues or potential hazards.
Audits: Produce a more detailed report or findings that encompass compliance, recommendations for improvement, and potential risks. They can also result in official certification.
Assessments: Yields insights, recommendations, or evaluations based on the specific objectives, which can be broad or narrow.

By distinguishing between these evaluations based on the outlined factors, organizations can better decide which method is most suitable for their specific use case.

Simplify your audits, inspections, and assessments with eForms Mobile

These processes, each with its unique characteristics and applications, are crucial for enhancing efficiency, ensuring compliance, and driving organizational growth. But the true potential of these evaluations is unlocked when they are streamlined and digitized.

Whether you're conducting a thorough audit, a meticulous inspection, or a detailed assessment, eForms Mobile ensures that every piece of information is seamlessly captured, securely stored, and readily accessible.

Learn how by starting a free trial.

Types of Forms and Their Use Cases

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:11:28 GMT

Types of Forms and Their Use Cases

Digital forms play a pivotal role in streamlining data collection, enhancing workflow efficiency, and improving decision-making processes across various industries. From capturing critical information to facilitating complex business operations, nowadays, you can find a form for virtually any use case.

Now, before you start searching for or building your own checklist and templates, let’s review which types of forms are out there, and how to build one without missing any important elements.

What is a form?

At its core, a form is a tool for collecting and organizing information. It is a structured document with spaces allotted for entering data, whether it's for administrative purposes, data gathering, or record-keeping.

Forms have an awesome ability to standardize and streamline data collection. By presenting questions or fields in a consistent format, they ensure that information is gathered systematically, making it easier to process, analyze, and store . This doesn’t just boost efficiency — it also reduces the likelihood of errors that can occur with unstructured data collection.

Digital forms offer significant advantages over traditional paper forms, enhancing efficiency and accessibility by allowing quick and simple data collection from anywhere, at any time. They ensure data integrity and accuracy while staying scalable, adaptable, and eco-friendly.

There are many different types of forms

Forms are the backbone of data collection and process management in countless sectors. This diversity defies a one-size-fits-all classification.

Here are 15 common types of forms used across numerous industries:

Inspection Forms: Used for safety checks, facility inspections, etc. They can feature photo capture, annotations, and digital signatures for verification.
Audit Forms: Essential for compliance, financial, and operational audits. These forms allow for real-time data collection and analysis, streamlining the audit process.
Survey Forms: Used to gather feedback from customers or conduct employee satisfaction surveys. They can include various question types like multiple-choice, Likert scales, etc., for comprehensive feedback.
Incident Report Forms: For reporting workplace accidents or safety incidents. These forms ensure immediate and accurate reporting for swift action and resolution.
Order Forms and Invoices: Automate sales orders, service requests, and billing processes. They feature automated calculations and inventory tracking, simplifying the sales cycle.
Risk Assessment Forms: Crucial for identifying and evaluating potential risks in various settings. These forms help proactively address hazards and ensure compliance with HSE regulations.
Registration Forms: Used for event sign-ups, new account creation, etc. These forms collect essential participant or user information efficiently.
Application Forms: Ideal for job applications, loan requests, permits, etc. Tailored to collect specific information required for each application type.
Feedback and Evaluation Forms: For performance reviews, product evaluations, service feedback. Allow for both qualitative and quantitative feedback, essential for continuous improvement.
Checklists: Useful for task management, procedural checks, or preparation tasks. Help ensure all necessary steps or items are accounted for, enhancing organization and efficiency.
Consent Forms: Critical for obtaining legally acknowledged consent for medical procedures, data collection, or activities requiring permission.
Inventory Forms: Used to track assets, stock levels, and manage inventory. Can be integrated with inventory management systems for real-time tracking.
Time Sheets and Log Forms: For recording work hours and project time tracking. These forms are crucial in payroll processing and project management.
Expense and Reimbursement Forms: Streamline the submission and tracking of employee expenses. Facilitate faster approval and reimbursement processes.
Maintenance and Service Request Forms: Track and manage maintenance requests and service orders. Coordinate schedules and ensure timely service delivery.

In industrial space, forms are predominantly used to streamline various types of inspections, audits, and assessments . However, they can be applied in virtually any context that revolves around data collection.

As you can see from the list above, each form serves a unique purpose. This is why, while you can find many form templates out there, you will still often need to adjust them to match your exact operational needs.

Industry-specific use cases

To be a little more specific, here are some examples of specific forms used in different industries:

Construction industry: Site audits, safety checklists, project management forms, equipment inspection reports, change order requests
Manufacturing: Quality control checklists , inventory management forms, preventive maintenance checklists, incident reporting forms, production scheduling forms
Healthcare: Patient intake forms, medical history forms, compliance documentation, appointment scheduling forms, patient satisfaction surveys
Government and Public Sector: Permit applications, inspection forms, public surveys, incident reporting forms, employee onboarding checklists
Education: Feedback forms, event planning forms, instructor evaluation forms, student registration forms, course evaluation surveys
Field services: Work order forms, work request forms, customer satisfaction surveys, inventory request forms
Retail: Shift scheduling forms, inventory management forms, customer feedback surveys, sales tracking forms
Transportation and logistics: Vehicle inspection checklists, freight and shipping forms, maintenance request forms, driver log books, inventory tracking forms

Managers in all of those industries use eForms Mobile to get access to our huge database of different templates and checklists, which they can then tailor to their operational requirements.

The anatomy of a standard digital form

Understanding the components of a standard digital form is crucial for creating effective and user-friendly forms. Here's a quick breakdown of the most commonly used elements:

Title and Description: The title clearly identifies the purpose of the form, while the description provides additional context or instructions.
Input fields: These are areas where users enter data. Common types include text boxes, radio buttons, and checkboxes.
Mandatory fields: Marked with an asterisk (*) or other indicators, these fields must be completed for the form to be submitted.
Optional fields: These fields are not required for form submission, allowing users to provide additional, non-essential information.
Dropdown menus: Used for selecting one option from a predefined list, making data entry quicker and more consistent.
Date and Time pickers: Allow users to easily select dates and times, ensuring standardized input formats.
File upload fields: Enable users to attach files, useful for submitting documents or images.
Data validation rules: These rules ensure that the data entered matches the required format (like email addresses or phone numbers).
Conditional fields: Appear only when certain conditions are met, based on previous user inputs, keeping the form relevant and concise.
Submit button: The final action button, typically labeled 'Submit', 'Send', or 'Finish', to complete the form submission.
Reset button: Allows users to clear all fields and start the form anew, useful in longer forms.

While the structure and content are vital, there are also some design considerations to keep in mind while creating your own form.

Pay close attention to the layout of the form — it must be intuitive and easy to navigate, with a logical progression and grouping of related fields. To ensure readability across all devices, utilize colors with high contrast between text and background and use simple fonts with appropriate text size and spacing.

Last but not least, if you collect personal information, you’ll want to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations (like GDPR for data protection or HIPAA for healthcare information in the U.S.) to avoid any legal issues.

Create any type of form with eForms Mobile

The power of effective data collection and process management lies in well-structured and thoughtfully designed mobile forms. That is why we built eForms Mobile — to offer a versatile drag-and-drop platform that covers all your form creation needs.

Whether it's streamlining inspections in the construction sector, managing patient data in healthcare, or tracking inventory in retail, our extensive range of templates and customizable options ensures that you have the right tool for every job.

With eForms Mobile, you're not just collecting data; you're unlocking the potential to transform your operational processes, enhance efficiency, and drive decision-making.

Field Data Collection 101: Methods, Challenges, and Best Practices

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:04:05 GMT

Field Data Collection 101:

Methods, Challenges, and Best Practices

Field data collection is a complex task, integral to a wide range of sectors, from environmental research to urban planning. This practice, while vital, is fraught with logistical challenges that require some navigation and expertise.

In this guide, we will look at the field data collection from various angles, discussing collection methods, common obstacles, and ways to streamline the process.

What is field data collection?

Field data collection is the process of gathering raw data directly from its source, typically in an external, uncontrolled environment. It enables the acquisition of firsthand, context-specific information that is crucial for accurate and informed decision-making.

Professionals from a wide range of industries rely on field data collection to capture real-world data. Here are some examples:

Environmental scientists collect soil and water samples to study ecological changes.
Disaster management teams gather field data to understand the extent of damage and to plan effective responses.
Agricultural experts use field data to record crop growth patterns.
Urban planners assess traffic flow in busy city areas through field data collection.
Public health officials track disease spread and community health trends using field data.
Archaeologists conduct site excavations and meticulously record each artifact.
Wildlife biologists monitor animal populations and habitats in conservation efforts.
Construction engineers and surveyors collect on-site data for building design and compliance.
Market researchers gather consumer feedback directly in shopping centers and public areas.
Technicians collect field data under various conditions to improve the real-world performance of products like GPS devices or mobile networks.

Field data collection, depending on the use case, can be performed with a range of tools and equipment:

Handheld GPS devices: Essential for precise location tracking and mapping.
Survey tools and questionnaires: Both digital and paper-based, for gathering qualitative data.
Mobile devices, tablets, and laptops: Used for digital data entry, surveys, and capturing photos.
Drones: For aerial surveys and mapping, especially in agriculture and construction.
Sampling equipment: Tailored to specific industry needs, like soil corers for environmental science.
Environmental sensors: To measure factors like temperature, humidity, and water quality.
Field notebooks: Traditional yet essential for note-taking and initial observations.
Binoculars and cameras: For observation and documentation in wildlife and environmental studies.
Specialized software: Including GIS for mapping and industry-specific analysis applications.

Common field data collection methods

Field data collection encompasses a variety of methods, each suited for different types of data and objectives. Understanding these methods is crucial for choosing the most appropriate approach for a specific project.

Here are some of the most common field data collection methods:

Surveys and questionnaires: Gather data through structured questions, often using mobile forms. They are widely used in market research, social sciences, and public health to collect qualitative and quantitative information.
Observations: Used to record behaviors, physical conditions, or events as they naturally occur. It's a key method in environmental studies, wildlife research, and anthropology.
Inspections: This method involves a detailed examination and analysis of objects, structures, or systems in fields like engineering, construction, and public safety. Inspections are critical for ensuring compliance with standards, identifying defects, and assessing risks.
Sampling: In this method, a small, manageable portion of a substance or a group (like soil, water, or a population segment) is taken and analyzed to make inferences about the larger whole.
Interviews: These can be structured, semi-structured, or unstructured, providing rich, qualitative data. Commonly used in social sciences, market research, and journalism.
Experiments and field trials: Conducted in a natural setting, these involve manipulating variables to observe effects. This method is often used in agriculture (testing crop varieties), medicine (clinical trials), and ecology (studying ecosystem responses).
Document review and analysis: This involves collecting data from existing documents, forms, records, and publications. It's a common method in historical research, legal studies, and policy analysis.
Use of technology (apps and software): Specialized apps and software are increasingly used for data collection, especially in fields requiring real-time data, like traffic analysis, crowd management, and equipment maintenance.
Inspections and assessments: Involve detailed examinations and systematic evaluations. Inspections are key in engineering, construction, and public safety for compliance and risk assessment, while assessments are pivotal in fields like education, healthcare, and business for evaluating impacts, health statuses, or needs.

Each of these methods has its strengths and limitations. To get comprehensive results, you might need to combine multiple approaches.

The final choice will depend on the research question, the nature of the data being collected, and the tools and resources at your disposal.

Explaining the standard field data collection process

Embarking on a field data collection project is a journey that requires careful planning and execution. Each step in the process builds upon the previous one, ensuring that your data is as insightful as possible.

Field surveys are a common and integral part of the field data collection. They encapsulate many of the key steps and considerations that are relevant to the process.

1. Planning and design

First up is setting the stage for your data collection. This is where you define your objectives and decide on the methodology. Think of it as setting the coordinates for your journey. You’ll need to determine what data is required and the best methods to collect it.

This stage involves creating things like questionnaires or observation formats, ensuring they align with your goals.

2. Preparation

Next, you're gearing up for the actual collection. You’ll want to ensure that your team is well-trained and that all logistical aspects are sorted. If you’re using a survey, consider conducting a pilot test to fine-tune it. It’s akin to double-checking your equipment before setting off on an expedition.

Being prepared and having the right tools is key to a smooth data collection process.

3. Data collection

This is the core of your project - the data collection itself. Whether it’s conducting interviews, observing situations, or taking physical measurements, try to adhere to your plan as much as possible.

Your role is akin to that of a navigator, carefully guiding the data collection to ensure accuracy and reliability.

4. Data management

Once your data is collected, it’s time to organize and process it. This involves data entry, initial processing, and ensuring the data is stored securely. Proper data management is essential, serving as the backbone for your analysis phase. It’s comparable to cataloging your findings systematically for ease of reference.

5. Data analysis

This phase is where you transform your collected data into meaningful insights. It’s about examining the data, applying analytical techniques , and drawing conclusions relevant to your objectives.

Much like piecing together a puzzle, this stage reveals the bigger picture and the story your data tells.

6. Reporting

This is where you present your findings. While compiling the data into reports or presentations, focus on clearly and effectively communicating the methodology used and the insights acquired. Tailor the reporting to your audience, making the information accessible and understandable.

When everything is wrapped up, it’s a good practice to gather and evaluate feedback from everyone involved — so you can improve future data collection efforts.

The challenges you’ll encounter when collecting field data

Be it time constraints, equipment issues, or logistical hurdles, fieldwork always comes with its fair share of challenges that can impact the success of your project:

Environmental and physical challenges: You may encounter extreme weather, challenging terrain, or hard-to-reach locations. These conditions can hinder data collection efforts and pose safety risks to your team. Adequate preparation with the right gear and safety measures is key to tackling these issues.
Data quality and consistency: Challenges such as human error, varying data recording methods, and subjectivity can affect data reliability. Implement standardized procedures to ensure data integrity.
Technological issues: Technology enhances data collection but also brings challenges like equipment failures, battery limitations, and data storage problems. Having backup systems, extra power sources, and robust data backup plans are crucial to mitigate these technological hurdles.
Cultural and ethical considerations: When your data collection involves interacting with people, especially in diverse cultural contexts, you are bound to encounter language barriers, cultural sensitivity, and ethical issues around consent and privacy. Approach these situations with respect and adhere to ethical standards.
Logistical and organizational hurdles: Managing a field data collection project involves coordinating teams, budgeting, and logistics planning. These tasks can be daunting, requiring efficient project management skills and clear communication.
Time constraints and scheduling issues: Fieldwork is often time-sensitive. Delays can arise due to various unexpected factors, such as weather or equipment issues. Building flexibility into your project timeline and having contingency plans can help manage time-constraints.

Recognizing and preparing for these challenges is crucial for conducting a smooth and successful field survey

Streamline field data collection with eForms Mobile

If you plan to collect field data with any type of digital form , then we have a solution for you.

Here are just some of the features that the eForms Mobile platform offers that you can leverage to enhance efficiency and accuracy of field data collection:

Customizable mobile forms: Design forms that fit your specific needs with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This shift from paper to digital forms not only reduces the risk of errors but also streamlines data collection, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
Real-time data synchronization: As data is collected in the field, it’s instantly available for analysis. This feature is particularly beneficial in time-sensitive environments, enabling swift decision-making and prompt action.
Offline data collection: eForms Mobile allows you to collect data in an offline mode, with automatic synchronization when a connection is reestablished. This simplifies data collection in remote locations with poor internet connectivity.
Data quality and compliance: The platform’s standardized forms and automated validation checks ensure data integrity, crucial for accurate analysis and regulatory compliance.

Start a free trial of eForms Mobile and open up new avenues for data-driven insights and decision-making.

Quickly Create an Effective Data Collection Form

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:55:24 GMT

Quickly Create An Effective Data Collection Form

Quality data is the cornerstone of informed decision-making. Whether you're a business owner, a researcher, or a data enthusiast, the way you gather information will significantly impact the success of your projects.

The best way to ensure the quality and reliability of your data is to collect them via carefully crafted data collection forms.

So let’s see how to do just that.

What is a data collection form?

In the simplest terms, a data collection form is a tool used for gathering and recording information in a standardized manner. This standardization is crucial for ensuring that the data collected is useful , accurate , and easy to analyze .

Whether it's used in market research, patient intake in healthcare settings, customer feedback surveys, equipment inspection processes, or employee data collection, the goal remains the same: to gather information in an organized and coherent way .

Data collection forms can come in both paper and digital form, with the latter having ginormous advantages.

Naturally, data collection forms come in various types, shapes, and sizes.

From simple questionnaires to complex forms with conditional logic, each type of form should be designed with its specific use case in mind, ensuring that the right data is captured in the right way .

What is the quickest way to create a data collection form?

The quickest way to create a data collection form is to use a capable online form builder. We obviously think eForms Mobile is the best tool for the job, but there are other solutions out there that can do it (almost) as well.

Here is a rough outline of the process if you go down this route:

Define your objectives: Start by clarifying your end goal. What is the purpose of collecting this data, and how will it be used?
Begin with a template: Start a free trial of eForms Mobile and use a pre-designed data collection form template as your foundation. Add your branding and customize it to fit your specific needs.
Craft your questions: Carefully compose your questions. Aim for clarity and brevity to ensure respondents understand and can easily answer. Utilize appropriate question types available to capture the most accurate and useful responses.
Publish and share: Once your form is ready, publish it with a simple click. You’ll receive a direct link to share your form across various platforms or embed it on your site.

One of the biggest advantages of using online form builders is their simplicity. Users can create forms quickly by simply dragging elements (like text boxes, radio buttons, checkboxes) into their desired position on the form. This way, you can create complex forms without writing a single line of code.

Moreover, many of these tools offer additional functionalities such as the ability to integrate with other software (like CRM systems, email marketing services, and databases), the capacity to analyze and export data, and features to ensure the security and privacy of the data collected.

In other words, they provide everything you need to efficiently collect data in the field.

Five rules for making effective data collection forms

A well-designed data collection form is clear, concise, consistent, and user-friendly. It captures the necessary data efficiently, without overburdening or confusing the respondent.

In the upcoming sections, we’ll explore key rules that encapsulate these principles, guiding you to design practical and effective forms.

1. Start with an explanation

Having a quick introduction serves multiple purposes: it informs the respondent about the purpose of the form, the importance of their input, and how the collected data will be used. This transparency not only builds trust but also increases the likelihood of getting high-quality responses.

Here are key elements to consider including in the intro of your data collection form:

Purpose of the form: Clearly state why you are collecting this data. Whether it’s for market research, feedback, or academic study, an upfront declaration of intent sets the right context for respondents.
Estimated completion time: Informing participants about how long the form is likely to take respects their time and reduces the chance of incomplete submissions.
Data usage and privacy: Address how you plan to use the data and ensure respondents that their information will be handled with confidentiality and privacy.
Instructions for completion: Briefly guide the respondents on how to fill out the form. This includes any specific instructions about question formats or mandatory fields.

2. Make the form only as long as it needs to be

Statistics consistently show that form length is one of, if not the top reason, why people don’t complete online forms.

This is why a form should be long enough to gather all necessary information, but not so lengthy that it becomes a burden to complete. Here's how to achieve this balance:

Prioritize questions: Focus on essential questions; avoid the temptation to gather unnecessary data just because it might be interesting.
Limit open-ended questions: While valuable, open-ended questions are time-consuming. Use them sparingly.
Use logical and sequential structure: Arrange questions in a logical order, moving from general to specific areas or following a natural progression.
Use skip logic: Implement skip logic to streamline the experience for respondents. This feature allows them to skip irrelevant sections based on their previous answers, saving time.
Group related questions: This will make the form seem shorter and more coherent.
Provide progress indicators: If the form is on the longer side, include a progress bar or indicators. This helps respondents know how much they have completed and how much is left, reducing form abandonment.
Test and iterate: Pilot your form with a small group before full deployment. This can reveal if certain sections are too long or confusing, allowing you to make necessary adjustments.

3. Keep the variables and scales consistent throughout the form

Keeping the variables and scales consistent throughout the form eliminates potential confusion and ensures that the collected data is coherent and easy to analyze.

Here are a few recommendations:

Standardize answer formats: If you’re using scales (like Likert scales for satisfaction), keep them consistent throughout the form. Don’t use a 1–5 scale in the beginning and then suddenly switch to a 1–8 scale.
Use consistent measurement units: Stick to one set of units (e.g., seconds vs. minutes, feet vs. meters) throughout the form to avoid confusion and ensure data comparability.
Uniform language and terminology: Use the same terminology and language style throughout the form.
Maintain consistent question structure: Try to keep a uniform structure in your questions. If you start with multiple-choice questions, avoid abruptly switching to essay-type questions unless necessary.

4. Implement validation rules for specific questions

Validation rules prevent common errors and ensure that the data gathered is accurate, complete, and usable.

Here are some tips on how to effectively implement validation rules:

Mandatory fields: Clearly mark fields that are essential for the form’s purpose. This ensures that you don’t receive incomplete submissions.
Input format validation: If specific formats are required (like dates in MM/DD/YYYY format or phone numbers in a particular layout), set up the form to accept only those formats.
Range checks for numerical inputs: For numerical questions, define acceptable ranges (e.g., age should be between 1 and 100). This prevents unrealistic or erroneous inputs.
Email and URL verification: Use validation for email addresses and URLs to ensure they are in the correct format. This is crucial for follow-up communications or data verification.
Conditional validation: For questions that depend on previous answers, use conditional validation. For example, if a respondent indicates they have a pet, subsequent questions about the pet should become mandatory.
Error messages: Provide clear, helpful error messages. Instead of just "Invalid input," specify what went wrong and how to fix it (e.g., "Date format should be MM/DD/YYYY").

Having proper validation rules significantly reduces the need for post-collection data cleaning. The best part? Online form builders can automatically implement most of the rules listed above.

5. Follow best design practices

Adhering to best design practices not only makes the form aesthetically pleasing but also intuitive and easy to navigate. Here are some key design principles to consider:

Clear and readable font: Use a font that is easy to read. Ensure good readability by avoiding overly stylized fonts, maintaining a comfortable font size, and utilizing colors with high contrast between text and background.
Minimalistic design: Avoid clutter. Use white space effectively to create a layout that doesn’t overwhelm or distract the respondents.
Responsive design : With many users accessing forms on smartphones, a responsive design is critical.
Consistent aesthetic: Maintain a consistent color scheme and style throughout the form. This conveys professionalism and improves the overall user experience.
Intuitive navigation: Design the form so that it’s easy to navigate. This includes clear directions, an evident submit button, and the ability to review or change answers.
Sufficient space for the answer: Provide enough room for responses, especially for open-ended questions, so respondents can answer comfortably without space constraints.

Again, online form builders are aware of these principles, which are already integrated into the software — so you can focus on asking the right questions .

Create digital forms in minutes with eForms Mobile

eForms Mobile offers a robust, no-code platform that streamlines the way you create, share, and manage data collection forms. Whether you are a business professional or a researcher, our platform is ready to help you get more and better data with less effort.

With an intuitive design interface, hundreds of data collection form templates, detailed customization options, over 3000 integrations, and SOC type 2 security, eForms Mobile has everything you need to turn raw data into actionable insights.

Request a demo or start a free trial and transform the way you collect and manage your data.

Unraveling the Confined Entry Space Checklist: A Comprehensive Guide

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 13:59:47 GMT

Unraveling the Confined Entry Space Checklist:

A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

A Confined Entry Space Checklist is a vital tool in ensuring the safety and well-being of workers who are required to enter and work in confined spaces. These spaces can be hazardous due to factors such as limited access and egress, poor ventilation, and the presence of toxic substances. A well-prepared checklist can help mitigate risks by providing a systematic approach to identifying and addressing potential dangers. This blog post will delve into the importance of a Confined Entry Space Checklist, its components, and how it can contribute to a safer work environment.

What is a Confined Entry?

A Confined Entry is a term used to describe a space that is large enough for a worker to enter and perform tasks but has limited means of entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Examples of confined spaces include tanks, silos, pipelines, and sewers. Due to the inherent dangers associated with these spaces, it is crucial to follow a comprehensive checklist to ensure the safety of workers.

Why is a Confined Entry Space Checklist Necessary?

The primary purpose of a Confined Entry Space Checklist is to ensure that all necessary precautions have been taken before entering a confined space. These spaces can pose various risks, including:

Toxic gases or fumes: Confined spaces may contain hazardous gases or fumes, which can lead to serious health issues or even death.
Oxygen deficiency: Insufficient oxygen levels can cause workers to lose consciousness or suffer from respiratory problems.
Flammable or explosive atmospheres: The presence of flammable gases, vapors, or dust can create a fire or explosion hazard.
Engulfment or entrapment: Workers may become trapped or engulfed by loose materials such as sand, grain, or coal.
Physical hazards: Confined spaces may have limited visibility, extreme temperatures, or dangerous machinery.

A well-designed checklist can help minimize these risks by ensuring that all necessary safety measures have been taken and that all personnel involved are aware of the potential hazards.

What Does a Confined Entry Space Checklist Look Like?

A Confined Entry Space Checklist typically includes the following questions:

Risk Assessment completed?
Safe Work Method Statement completed?
Do all Spotters and CSE Entrants hold current approved Confined Space Competency training?
Safety harness & rescue lanyards/extraction devices checked and appropriate for task?
Appropriate PPE available and worn?
Are all personnel trained (CPR, Fire)? Advisable not mandatory
Gas detectors check/calibrated?
Atmospheric test carried out and recorded?
Water hose run to job on site & tested/left running?
Earth leakage device used?
Ventilation/extraction supplied?
Telephone/two-way radio required / available?
Safety Watch posted while person in restricted area/confined space entry?
Traffic segregation at least 3m away from entry/exits to confined space.
Is portable electrical equipment tagged and current date?
Stand-by person identified, trained, and a system for relief in place?
All equipment intrinsically safe?
Are there any harmful materials?
Safety Rescue equipment in place?
Is Hot Work going to be carried out?
Respiratory equipment checked and charged?
Welding Machine/gas cylinders located (not within 8m of any drain)?
Is there safe access/egress?
Fire watch required?
Is fixed lighting systems in service / available?
Locks, tags & warning notices have been fixed to means Isolation?

The checklist should also include the following information about the person who performed and approved the checklist:

Name
Contact Number
Signature
Place
Date of Checklist

This information ensures accountability and allows for easy follow-up in case of any issues or concerns.

What is a Confined Entry Space Checklist Report?

A Confined Entry Space Checklist report is a comprehensive document that details the results of the checklist, including any identified hazards, corrective actions taken, and any additional recommendations. This report serves as a record of the safety measures taken and can be used for future reference or to demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations.

Where Can I Get a Confined Entry Space Checklist?

You can obtain a Confined Entry Space Checklist from various sources, including industry associations, safety equipment suppliers, and online platforms such as eForms Mobile where you can start a free trial to access their comprehensive checklist templates.

How Does a Confined Entry Space Checklist Encourage Following Rules and Regulations?

By providing a structured approach to identifying and addressing potential hazards, a Confined Entry Space Checklist encourages adherence to rules and regulations. It helps ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place and that workers are aware of the potential risks involved in entering a confined space. This promotes a culture of safety and helps prevent accidents and injuries.

What is the Difference Between a Confined Entry Space Checklist and Other Safety Inspection Checklists?

A Confined Entry Space Checklist is specifically designed to address the unique hazards associated with confined spaces. While other safety inspection checklists may cover general workplace safety, they may not address the specific risks and challenges associated with confined spaces. A Confined Entry Space Checklist focuses on factors such as ventilation, gas detection, and rescue procedures, which are essential for ensuring the safety of workers in these environments.

Conclusion

A Confined Entry Space Checklist is an essential tool for ensuring the safety of workers who are required to enter and work in confined spaces. By providing a systematic approach to identifying and addressing potential hazards, this checklist helps prevent accidents and promotes a culture of safety. It is vital for companies to invest in the proper training and resources to ensure that all employees are familiar with the checklist and its importance. By doing so, they can create a safer work environment and minimize the risks associated with confined spaces.

New SSL Certificates

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:34:11 GMT

New SSL Certificates

At eForms Mobile, we take your security seriously and we're constantly looking for ways to improve. We plan to upgrade our Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates on all servers over the next couple of months. Most people will not notice any difference. However, users of various older (6+ years old) Android devices may find that the Forms On Fire app can no longer reach the server. If you find that you cannot submit a form, or that you cannot login, this could be affecting you.

If so, we have a fix outlined in this support article, "Why can't my Android devices receive data?" Just follow the instructions in this article to get back up and running using a more secure SSL certificate on your device.

For those organizations running a private label version of our app using Website-as-a-Service (WaaS), your sites will also be upgraded. You can click on the lock next to your site to look at the certificate. If it is a GoDaddy certificate, you have not yet been upgraded. If the certificate is from Let's Encrypt, you have already been upgraded.

Feel free to open a support ticket with any problems you may discover.

DATA Control Adds Virtual Data Source Option

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:30:38 GMT

DATA Control Adds Virtual Data Source Option

As you know, the DATA control allows you to pull column data into a form directly from a data source. The table data can then be used as options within a Choices field.

We're excited to announce a new feature called FORMULA DATA! Think of it as an onboard, virtual data source that can be created within the form, independent of an external Data Source.

As you know, the DATA control allows you to pull column data into a form directly from a data source. The table data can then be used as options within a Choices field.

We're excited to announce a new feature called FORMULA DATA! Think of it as an onboard, virtual data source that can be created within the form, independent of an external Data Source.

New Features!

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:23:09 GMT

New Features Alert!!

At eForms Mobile, want to extend our warmest greetings and a heartfelt thank you to all our valued clients. Your continued trust and engagement with our services have been the cornerstone of our journey. This new year symbolizes not just another period in time, but a new chapter filled with opportunities to serve you better, innovate further, and build stronger relationships. We're excited about the advancements and new features we have planned to enhance your experience with us. Your support and feedback have been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing this journey with you. Here's to a prosperous and fulfilling new year ahead!

Media Field Overlay is Here!

We are thrilled to announce a dynamic new feature for eForms Mobile: the ability to pre-define overlays for the Media Field. This groundbreaking addition revolutionizes the way field workers capture images, providing them with precise, on-screen guidance to take the perfect photo every time. This feature is incredibly versatile, with applications ranging from dentistry to heavy industry, ensuring that photographs are taken with consistency and accuracy.

Here's how it can transform various sectors:

1. **Safety Inspections**: By highlighting specific zones or equipment within the overlay, workers can meticulously document potential hazards, verify safety compliance, or assess equipment conditions with greater precision.

2. **Quality Control**: The overlay can guide users to frame images perfectly, capturing essential product details or defects. This ensures uniformity in documentation, which is critical for thorough quality assurance processes.

3. **Maintenance and Repairs**: For intricate machinery, the overlay can pinpoint exact components or areas needing attention, aiding in detailed and accurate maintenance or repair documentation.

4. **Asset Management**: Tailored overlays can assist in capturing images that accurately represent assets, ensuring that the framing and positioning are consistent across all documentation.

This new feature is more than just a tool; it's a solution that empowers your workforce to capture images exactly as needed, enhancing the quality and consistency of data collected in the field. Whether it's for detailed inspections or standard asset management, these pre-defined overlays ensure that every photo taken serves its intended purpose effectively and efficiently.

Igniting a Human-Centered Approach

At eForms Mobile, we deeply understand that behind every query and every screen, there is a human seeking assistance. That's why we are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that our support is not just efficient and reliable, but also genuinely human in its approach. We believe in the power of personal touch, empathy, and understanding in all our interactions. Our dedicated team is trained not just in technical expertise, but also in the art of listening and responding with care and consideration. We strive to make each of your experiences with us feel personalized, valued, and understood. Our goal is to build lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect, ensuring that you always feel supported and appreciated. Remember, at eForms Mobile, you're not just a client, you're part of our community, and we're here to support you every step of the way with a human touch.

Maintenance- With a Dash of Color

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 16:00:51 GMT

Maintenance - With A Dash of Color!

The Art Deco District in Miami is a lively and colorful neighborhood that celebrates Miami's golden age with its sleek lines, bold colors, and stylized motifs. It's a place that transports you back to the 1930s, where every building tells a story of Miami's past. The buildings are like a rainbow of candy, with pastel pinks, blues, and yellows juxtaposed against bold black and white stripes. The neighborhood invites you to indulge in a culinary journey that spans the globe and to discover the magic that makes it one of the most vibrant and captivating places in the world.

The Art Deco District release will be largely focused on maintenance to provide long-term stability and success for all clients. That doesn’t mean we want be dropping in some goodies here and there.

Quick Sync & Connect Status On App Tile Bar

Soon you will see a Quick Sync and Connection Status icon in the App title bar to help make the development process much easier for Screens.

Currently, you have two ways to force sync or get data from server to app:
- The “Force Sync” button on the Settings page.
- Adding shortcuts to Screen designs (title bar or Form Screens) that trigger the “Force Sync” action.

On the Settings screen, users can see when their app "Last Synced". However, it does not indicate whether an offline/online connection status.

The good news is the new Quick Sync & Connect Status icon in the app title bar of most Screens. This dynamic icon can be pressed to force a sync and also reflect the connection status!

You will no longer have to navigate to the settings page. This will help when you are making changes in the web designer and want to quickly test them in the app.

Enhance BigQuery Connectors To Update Rows

The BigQueryConnector is currently limited to inserting new rows for each form entry. That's about to change.

Our Connector with SharePoint Lists allow field mapping and the ability to define a key. Soon, the BigQuery Connector will work in a similar way to update an existing row from a form submission.

Add Horizontal Scrollbar To Table Fields Overview

Tables currently only show 5 or 6 columns depending on the type of device and we know many of you would like to see more. Rather than cramming more in the limited space, we decided to add a scroll bar! You will be able view as many columns as you want by scrolling through the data horizontally.

Add Full Formula Support For Navigation Bar Buttons

The Big Bend update implemented the feature “Full Control Over the App Title Bar”. Currently, only basic functions can be used and is unable to reference fields.

Many clients reached out asking for this to become more dynamic. Well, here it is. We're extending the functionality to become completely dynamic by allowing formulas! ✊

Session Timeout Functionality Coming To The App

In an earlier release, we added a session expiry time on the web dashboard to increase security. This allowed you to choose a session timeout to be enforced on admins.

You’ll soon have the option to implement an expiry time on the app as well. Much like the web session expiry, you’ll be able to choose timing.

Display Data Source Driven Repeating Table Images In Output

Currently, when you pre-populate a repeating table with images, the user has to click into each row in order for it to appear in the output. We've been working on this based on your feedback and happy to announce that the images will soon display.

Maintenance

Allow backup of a Data Source before importing rows from a file
Changes required for Dropbox API integrations to support the team space
Custom error messages to reduce logging and provide more context on errors
Require Login for File Links for App Only Users
Add New 2FA Properties to API
Renew Windows App Signing certificate
User Details – Access Permissions error message
‘Send Invite Emails To’ issues since password reset changes
Move the settings icon on Folders & User Groups

Monument Valley Update

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:32:57 GMT

Overlay Images, Isolate Text on OCR Field, & More!

Monument Valley, a red-sand desert region on the Arizona-Utah border, is known by the Navajo as Tse'Bii'Ndzisgaii, and is said to be one of the most photographed places on Earth. The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor.

Monument Valley showcases eons of nature's erosive power, yet has distinctive formations unlike anywhere else in the world. For millions of years, layers upon layers of sediments settled and cemented in the basin. The basin lifted up and became a plateau; then the natural forces of water and wind slowly removed the softer materials and exposed what we see before us today. The spires, buttes, and other formations are still slowly chipping away but will be around long after we are gone.

Now for the best part, what's new for eForms Mobile? Let's take a look!

Overlay An Image On The Media Field

Exciting news awaits! You'll soon have the ability to create pre-set overlays for a Media Field. This enhancement means that when your team members out in the field need to photograph something specific, they'll have a guiding template to help them capture the image perfectly.

This innovative feature could be beneficial in a multitude of environments, ranging from the tranquility of a dental office to the bustling atmosphere of an industrial workspace. Let's dive into a few inspiring examples:

1. Safety Inspections: Use overlays to underscore particular areas or pieces of equipment. This will lead to precise documentation of potential risks, compliance with safety protocols, and the conditions of your equipment.

2. Quality Control: Set guidelines for optimal framing or angles that can capture every detail of a product or potential defects. This strategy ensures a standardized, in-depth documentation process for quality assurance initiatives.

3. Maintenance and Repairs: Use overlays to earmark specific parts or sections of machinery or equipment that need attention.

4. Asset Management: Create overlays that depict the preferred framing or positioning for a faithful representation of your assets.

By leveraging overlays as visual cues for photo captures, your field staff can consistently obtain images just as intended. This aids in improving the quality of your operations and output.

Isolate Text On OCR Field

Our Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Field is set for an upgrade! This enhancement will empower you to zero in on specific text within your scanned images. Gone are the days of laborious manual removal or isolation of unneeded text.

Consider this scenario: if all you require is a serial number, you can scan the entire label and selectively focus on just that number. As the serial number is seamlessly converted to text, this minimizes the potential for manual errors, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

Populate Gallery Field From Data Source

We have an exciting update on the horizon! Soon, you'll be able to fill the Gallery Field directly from a Data Source, mirroring the functionality of the Table Field.

Let's illustrate this with an example. Suppose you have a Data Source brimming with diverse images that you'd like to display within the app in a tidy and user-friendly manner. With this new feature, you can effortlessly populate the Gallery Field straight from your Data Source. This streamlined process will offer your users a swift and comprehensive glance at all the images, enhancing their experience and interaction with your app.

Improvements To Our Notifications Area

We're thrilled to announce an upgrade to our notifications system, especially concerning stalled or pending Connectors. This enhancement aims to improve your management experience and provide you with timely updates on any arising issues. No more feeling left in the dark! ��

The improvements will specifically address the following two scenarios, which we detail below.

Notification When Connectors Are Stuck

Due To Media Files

When media files fail to upload correctly, it can lead to a series of complications. The foremost concern is that users may never receive the files, causing these important documents to inadvertently go unnoticed.

In addition, if you're using the Process Step field, a faulty upload could cause the process to freeze at its current step, preventing further progression. Worse yet, it might prevent Connectors from triggering, resulting in your valuable data failing to reach its intended destination.

However, once our improved system goes live, you'll receive a notification in the 'Pending' tab in your notifications area if any such issue arises. If you've configured email alerts, these notifications will land directly in your inbox.

We firmly believe this upgrade will significantly mitigate such frustrating incidents, ensuring smoother operations and better user experience.

Notification Logs To Manage Pending Connectors

The other improvement to our notifications has to do with pending Connectors. When you experience connection issues, eForms Mobile will automatically retry the connection up to 6 times before failing. All the while, you have no idea what’s going on.

That’s because no notifications are sent from our side – until a Connector eventually fails.

We aim to change that – with earlier notifications alerting you that there is an issue. Once this change goes live, a notification will appear under the ‘Pending’ tab after the first attempt to retry. You’ll also get an email if that’s set up.

This way, you can take action sooner and maybe even prevent having to take manual action later.

Data Tables – Row Option Links

We're excited to share that a recent adjustment we made to the Screens page has been enthusiastically welcomed. This modification entailed eliminating the menu items that appeared when hovering over Screens, and instead, we introduced icons on the right-hand side of the table cell on the Screen Page, enhancing their visibility.

Delighted by the positive feedback, we're now planning to extend this user-friendly feature to additional pages on th e platform. We're confident this will make the platform more intuitive and efficient for you to navigate.

Choices Field Checkboxes

We've taken note of a small yet crucial detail when using our Choices field on wider-screen devices. The padding between the text and the checkbox can sometimes lead to difficulty in selecting the correct box.

To rectify this, we're shifting the checkboxes to the left. We believe this strategic move will eliminate any confusion and significantly enhance the ease of using this field on all devices. Additionally, this change will be compatible with the auto-complete search configuration within the Choices field.

Add Cancel Button To Open Saved Dialog

Here's a straightforward yet meaningful update for you. Currently, when you open a form on the app that contains saved entries, the 'Open Saved' dialogue presents only two options: to create a new form or open a saved one. But what happens if you accidentally clicked the wrong form?

To address this minor but impactful inconvenience, we're introducing a 'Cancel' button. This added feature will allow you to quickly back out if you've mistakenly selected the wrong form, thus saving you some valuable time. We're confident this small addition will significantly enhance your user experience.

That wraps up our latest release. With these enhancements, we've climbed peaks to tackle frustrations and shape a more streamlined product for you, our esteemed customers!

While we can't provide a firm timeline, we promise to reach out as soon as we're ready to roll out these updates. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox. Your continued support and feedback are what drive us to continuously evolve and improve. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

As always, please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.

Email us anytime: info@eformsmobile.com

Carlsbad Caverns Update

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:01:11 GMT

Nested Repeats, Connectors, & More!

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico contains some of the largest caves in North America—a must-visit stop for vacations in New Mexico.

As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico and west Texas, filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols, and agaves, you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface. The park contains 113 of these caves, formed when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone. This includes Lechuguilla Cave, the nation's deepest and fourth longest limestone cave at 1,567 feet (478m).

And now for the updates, most are under the hood, but also includes some highly requested features. We're working hard to ensure our clients can create even better user experiences.

Nested Repeats - You can say that again!

The long awaited Nested Repeats will soon be a reality in eForms Mobile. This feature will let you add a Table field within a Table field or a Table field within a repeating page.

You’ll be able to capture even more complex data sets and export them to SQL, SharePoint, and other flat file-based Connectors. Custom output can also be in .docx, .xlsx, and .PDF formats.

For example, a building inspector might use Nested Repeats to capture information about the rooms within a building and then items within those rooms that require inspection. After the form is submitted, the captured data can be sent via email using your custom output format.

Powerful New PostgreSQL Connector

We though it would be a nice compliment to the MS SQL Connector to add PostgreSQL Form and Data Source Connectors, enabling you to interact with a PostgreSQL database. PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system. It supports a wide range of data types and has a reputation for being scalable and reliable. By adding this Connector, you can securely push and pull data from your PostgreSQL database.

MySQL Connector

While we’re at it, we're adding a MySQL Connector as well. MySQL is another open-source relational database management system known for being fast, reliable, and widely used.

Integrating a MySQL Connector can enhance your app’s functionality and make it even more powerful and efficient, allowing you to push and pull information from your database.

Email-less Login (For Clients Using Ping Identity)

Some clients want to roll out the app to users that don’t have an email address and need to use Ping Identity to log in and authenticate the app. This update will allow you to use Ping Identity without an email address, providing a more streamlined login experience for your users.

List Of Values In The App Launch Rules

The App Links feature allows you to create custom links that can be sent to your users via email or text or used within other software to launch a Form within the app. This update will enable you to send a pipe-separated list of values as a parameter via query string in the App Launch rules allowing you to pass even more information to the Form!

Maintenance & Bugs

Returned Scroll to a modified Table row.
Refined invalid formula responses in Formula Builder.
Added an ‘All’ option to date filtering defaults on the Task Templates page.
·Validation on Files & Docs file size limit for uploads.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.

Email us anytime: info@eformsmobile.com

The Rise of Automation: Transforming Industries and Shaping the Future

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Wed, 17 May 2023 05:30:50 GMT

The Rise of Automation: Transforming Industries and Shaping the Future

In recent years, automation has emerged as a transformative force across industries, revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, and live our lives. From manufacturing to healthcare, logistics to finance, automation technologies have made significant strides, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and accuracy. In this technology blog, we will explore the fascinating world of automation, shedding light on its various applications, benefits, challenges, and the impact it has on society.

Understanding Automation:

a. Defining Automation:

An overview of what automation entails, its core principles, and how it differs from manual processes.

b. Types of Automation:

Explore different types of automation, including robotic process automation (RPA), cognitive automation, and physical automation, along with their unique functionalities

Industries Transformed by Automation :

a. Manufacturing and Robotics:

Discuss the integration of robots and advanced systems in manufacturing processes, the rise of smart factories, and the impact on production speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

b. Healthcare and AI:

Explore the application of automation in healthcare, including AI-powered diagnosis, robotic surgery, and automated administrative tasks, highlighting improved patient care and reduced human error.

c. Logistics and Supply Chain:

Examine how automation has revolutionized warehousing, inventory management, and last-mile delivery, emphasizing improved efficiency, real-time tracking, and optimized logistics operations.

d. Finance and Robo-Advisors:

Discuss the rise of robo-advisors and automated trading systems, showcasing the benefits of automation in portfolio management, risk assessment, and personalized financial advice.

Benefits and Challenges of Automation:

a. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity:

Examine how automation streamlines processes, reduces manual intervention, and boosts productivity, enabling businesses to focus on higher-value tasks.

b. Job Displacement vs. Job Transformation:

Address concerns about automation leading to job losses and discuss how automation creates new job opportunities and transforms existing roles.

c. Ethical Considerations: Explore the ethical implications of automation, such as privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and the impact on socioeconomic disparities.

Automation and Society:

a. Skills for the Future:

Discuss the skills required in an automated world and the importance of upskilling and reskilling the workforce to adapt to changing job requirements.

b. Societal Impact:

Examine how automation influences society, including changes in employment patterns, the redistribution of wealth, and potential solutions to mitigate negative effects.

c. Ethical Guidelines and Regulations:

Explore the need for ethical guidelines and regulations to ensure responsible deployment of automation technologies, protecting individuals and society as a whole.

Emerging Trends and Future Outlook:

a. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:

Discuss the intersection of automation with AI and ML, exploring the potential for self-learning systems and predictive analytics.

b. Collaborative Robotics and Cobots:

Highlight the emergence of collaborative robots working alongside humans, fostering safer and more efficient working environments.

c. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Automation:

Explore the integration of IoT devices with automation technologies, enabling seamless communication and data-driven decision-making.

Automation has undoubtedly become a driving force in reshaping industries and transforming the way we live and work. As we embrace its potential, it is crucial to navigate the challenges and harness its benefits responsibly. By understanding the intricacies of automation and its implications, we can pave the way for a future where humans and machines collaborate harmoniously, creating a more efficient and prosperous society. Stay tuned to our blog for the latest updates and insights into the world of automation.

Exciting Tech News Update: 2023 Edition!

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Thu, 11 May 2023 09:36:59 GMT

Exciting Tech News Update: 2023 Edition!

�� The tech world never stops buzzing, and 2023 is no exception!

Here are some thrilling developments that have been making waves:

1️⃣ Quantum Computing Advancements: Prepare for a quantum leap in computing power! Quantum computers are breaking barriers, promising faster and more secure processing, revolutionizing industries from healthcare to finance.

2️⃣ Augmented Reality Breakthroughs: Get ready for an augmented future! AR technology is making strides, enabling immersive experiences in gaming, education, and even workplace training. Brace yourself for mind-blowing visual overlays on the real world.

3️⃣ 5G Becomes Mainstream: The era of lightning-fast connectivity is here! 5G networks are expanding globally, transforming how we communicate and unlocking the potential for innovative applications like autonomous vehicles and IoT.

4️⃣ Rise of AI in Everyday Life: Artificial Intelligence is seamlessly integrating into our daily routines. From voice assistants to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing convenience and efficiency, all while raising important ethical discussions.

5️⃣ Sustainability Tech Revolution : Tech and sustainability join forces! Innovative solutions are tackling environmental challenges, from renewable energy advancements to eco-friendly manufacturing practices. Together, we're striving for a greener future.

6️⃣ Blockchain Breakthroughs : Blockchain technology continues to disrupt industries. Its potential for secure and transparent transactions extends beyond cryptocurrencies, reaching sectors such as supply chain management and digital identities.

Stay tuned for more groundbreaking news as the year unfolds. The world of technology is an ever-evolving landscape, and 2023 is shaping up to be a thrilling chapter in its story! Let's embrace the future together. ��

#TechNews2023 #Innovation #TechnologyTrends #DigitalRevolution #EmbraceTheFuture

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Mon, 01 May 2023 08:59:46 GMT

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Why They Matter More Than Ever in Today's Digital Age

As our lives become increasingly digital, the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy cannot be overstated. Cyberthreats are a real and growing threat to both individuals and businesses, and a single breach can have devastating consequences. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of cybersecurity and data privacy, steps that businesses and individuals can take to protect themselves, recent cybersecurity breaches, and lessons that can be learned from them.

The Importance of Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

Cybersecurity and data privacy are essential in today's digital age because of the increasing

amount of sensitive information that is being shared online. This information can include personal data, financial information, intellectual property, and more. Cyber threats, such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks, can compromise this information and lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and legal consequences.

Steps to Protect Yourself from Cyber Threats

There are several steps that businesses and individuals can take to protect themselves

from cyber threats, including:

1. Keep software and systems up to date: Regularly updating software and systems can help patch vulnerabilities and prevent cyber attacks.

2. Use strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords for each account and change them regularly.

3. Implement two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security to accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to a mobile device.

4. Use anti-malware software: Anti-malware software can help protect against malware, viruses, and other threats.

5. Train employees and users: Education and training can help prevent cyber threats by making employees and users aware of the risks and how to avoid them.

Recent Cybersecurity Breaches and Lessons Learned

Recent cybersecurity breaches, such as the SolarWinds breach, have highlighted the need for strong cybersecurity measures. The SolarWinds breach involved a sophisticated attack on a software provider that affected numerous companies and government agencies. This breach showed the importance of supply chain security and the need for businesses to vet their vendors and suppliers.

Another recent breach, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, demonstrated the importance of having backups and disaster recovery plans in place. The company was forced to shut down its pipeline for several days, causing gas shortages in several states.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity and data privacy are essential in today's digital age. By implementing strong

security measures, keeping software and systems up to date, and training employees and users, businesses and individuals can better protect themselves from cyber threats. Recent cybersecurity breaches have highlighted the need for supply chain security, backups, and disaster recovery plans. By taking these lessons to heart, we can better prepare ourselves for the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.

Future of Artificial Intelligence

ian@eformsmobile.com (Ian Maunes) — Mon, 01 May 2023 07:52:17 GMT

The Future of Artificial Intelligence: How AI is Evolving and What Industries are Being Affected the Most

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in the past few years, and it is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace. As more companies invest in AI technologies, we are seeing a significant impact across a wide range of industries. In this blog post, we will discuss how AI is evolving, what industries are being affected the most, potential use cases for AI in the future, and how AI could impact society.

How AI is Evolving

AI is evolving in several ways. First, we are seeing advancements in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), which are allowing machines to better understand human language and behavior. This is leading to the development of more intelligent virtual assistants and chatbots, which can provide better customer service and support.

Second, we are seeing the development of more advanced robotics and autonomous systems. These systems can be used to perform complex tasks, such as assembling products or driving vehicles, without human intervention. This is leading to significant changes in industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.

Finally, we are seeing the integration of AI with other technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and cloud computing. This is allowing businesses to collect and analyze vast amounts of data, which can be used to make more informed decisions and drive innovation.

Industries

Being Affected the Most AI is having a significant impact across a wide range of industries, including:

1. Healthcare: AI is being used to improve patient outcomes by analyzing patient data, identifying patterns, and predicting potential health issues.

2. Finance: AI is being used to improve fraud detection, automate financial processes, and provide personalized financial advice to customers.

3. Manufacturing: AI is being used to automate manufacturing processes, optimize supply chains, and improve product quality.

4. Transportation and Logistics: AI is being used to optimize delivery routes, improve vehicle safety, and reduce transportation costs.

Potential AI Use Cases in the Future

As AI continues to evolve, we are likely to see even more use cases emerge in the future. Some potential use cases include:

1. Personalized Education: AI could be used to provide personalized learning experiences for students, tailoring content and instruction to their individual needs.

2. Smart Cities: AI could be used to optimize city infrastructure, such as traffic lights, energy systems, and waste management.

3. Climate Change Mitigation: AI could be used to analyze climate data and identify potential solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Impact on Society

The impact of AI on society is still being debated. On the one hand, AI has the potential to improve our lives in countless ways, from improving healthcare outcomes to reducing transportation costs. On the other hand, there are concerns about the potential impact of AI on jobs and privacy. It will be important for businesses and policymakers to carefully consider the impact of AI on society and take steps to mitigate any negative consequences.

In conclusion, AI is evolving rapidly, and it is having a significant impact across a wide range of industries. As AI technologies continue to advance, we are likely to see even more use cases emerge in the future. However, it will be important for businesses and policymakers to carefully consider the impact of AI on society and take steps to ensure that its benefits are realized while

mitigating any potential negative consequences.

Property Inspection Checklist

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:41:17 GMT

Property Inspection Checklist

A property inspection checklist can be completed by a variety of individuals for a variety of purposes. In general, though, such a checklist is designed to collect speci fic information about a property during a property inspection. It helps keep the inspector on task and ensures that the property meets certain standards and conditions set forth by the owner, the manager, the bank, the insurance company, or government or professional regulations.

This article answers the following questions:

What is a Property Inspection?
Why is a Property Inspection Checklist Necessary?
What Does a Property Inspection Checklist Look Like?
What is a Property Inspection Report?
Where Do I Get a Property Inspection Checklist?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Property Inspection?

A property inspection is a term for any evaluation of a property. Such an inspection can be performed by owners of rental properties and facilities when a tenant moves out or before one moves in. It can also be performed by managers who want to ensure safe, functional spaces for employees, customers, and vendors. This inspection may even be carried out by a licensed, fully trained professional for insurance or mortgage purposes or prior to any kind of renovation.

Broadly, this type of inspection is always completed with the purpose of providing key information about a property so that the owner can make educated decisions about it.

Why is a Property Inspection Checklist Necessary?

A property inspection checklist helps fulfill the purpose of the property inspection. It keeps the inspector organized and focused on key areas of concern. Additionally, the checklist can allow for comments and photos, and help the property owner address any maintenance or safety issues that may arise.

What Does a Property Inspection Checklist Look Like?

A property inspection checklist may include the following questions:

What is the occupancy status?
If the property is occupied, who is occupying it?
Are there any postings, notices, or signage that would indicate that the property has incurred a code violation?
Are backrooms and stockrooms well-maintained?
Is the electrical room unobstructed?
Is there a minimum 18-inch clearance of stock to the sprinkler?
Is the compressor room clear of all storage?
Are there adequate ashtrays in smoking areas?
Is adequate signage clearly posted?
Are all fire extinguishers accounted for and in place?
Are all fire extinguishers in good repair and fully charged?

The checklist should also include the following information about the property, as well as the person who performed and approved the inspection:

Property Address
Date of Inspection
Inspector Name
Inspection Company
Inspection Company Phone Number
Inspector Signature

Your property inspection form may include different or additional questions depending on the type of property it is and the kind of information you want to collect. Such a checklist really depends on the purpose of the property inspection, and it’s wise to tailor it to suit your needs.

What is a Property Inspection Report?

A property inspection report is a PDF file of a digitally completed checklist. Admins can view these completed checklists each time they’re completed. These reports prove valuable if there’s a question or incident, as they can indicate the inspector's name, the date of the inspection, and if various conditions were met.

Where Do I Get a Property Inspection Checklist?

You can create your own property inspection checklists with just word processing software and a printer. However, using an automated inspection tool like eForms Mobile makes the process much easier.

eForms Mobile offers hundreds of form templates—including a property inspection checklist—that you can customize to your exact needs. You can then publish your checklist and distribute it to your team, who can complete and submit it while in the field using a smart device. Additionally, you can generate reports using information from the checklists. The entire automated process removes any need to keep track of hard copies, duplicate data-entry tasks, and manually submit and track information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a property inspection and a home inspection?

Home inspections are typically performed when purchasing a property. They involve home inspectors assessing and providing thorough reviews of all aspects of the building, from the roof to the foundation and all the systems and structures in between. Conversely, the definition of a property inspection is more general and its purpose can vary. A property inspection can be performed by a licensed professional or the property owner. It can be conducted by mortgage lenders, the owner, a manager, or another individual for reasons including defaulted loan payments, renovations, and safety reviews.

Why should I have a property inspection?

Property inspections can be conducted for many reasons, but all of them evaluate whether a property meets the necessary conditions or regulations. A property owner should have an inspection between tenants to assess damages and determine maintenance needs. A store manager may want to hold regular inspections to discover any safety hazards. Regulating organizations may insist upon inspections to ensure compliance with local, state, or federal ordinances or prior to any major renovations or repairs. Banks and insurance companies also conduct property inspections to determine and adjust rates.

What questions should I include in my property inspection checklist?

The purpose of the property inspection will dictate what type of questions you include. A rental property inspection will differ from an insurance appraiser’s property inspection. Ask yourself what information you need to learn from the inspection, and then craft questions around the answer. Perform an internet search based on your property inspection type and use existing templates, forms, and checklists to fill in any gaps.

Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:10:38 GMT

Demolition Safety Checklist

The importance of a demolition safety checklist cannot be overstated. Per OSHA , demolition is the “dismantling, razing, destroying or wrecking of any building or structure or any part thereof.” Demolishing a structure or building—especially with explosives—introduces many dangers, but with a safety checklist, workers can anticipate hazards that impact them and the environment and prepare to minimize or even eliminate them.

This article answers the following questions:

What is a Demolition Safety Inspection?
Why is a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist Necessary?
What Does a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist Look Like?
What is a Demolition Safety Inspection Report?
Where Do I Get a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist?
Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Demolition Safety Inspection?

A demolition safety inspection is an evaluation that verifies the health and safety of a site before demolition activities begin. Demolition is dangerous work, and these safety inspections help identify and minimize or eliminate hazards that endanger workers and the environment. They also confirm demolition workers have taken all precautions and received the proper training when it comes to performing the work safely. Furthermore, they can serve as proof that a business was compliant with any local, state, or federal regulations. Therefore, no business or contractor should ever skip or rush a demolition safety inspection.

Why is a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist Necessary?

Because of risk of injury or death is so high, it's crucial to have a checklist when verifying the safety of the demolition site. Such a checklist helps ensure that inspectors and workers miss no areas of concern, particularly anything involving explosives. Going through each question on the checklist allows the demolition team to create a plan of action to minimize or correct risks. This might include better securing the site or acquiring necessary personal protective equipment or additional training.

This checklist also creates a paper trail of the steps taken to ensure workers’ safety. This becomes incredibly important if tragedy strikes, legal issues ensue, and you need proof that a thorough safety inspection took place.

What Does a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist Look Like?

Since demolition typically pertains to the use of explosives in construction, a demolition safety inspection checklist should include the following questions:

Are only authorized and qualified persons permitted to handle explosives?
Are smoking or firearm and other products used during the blasting?
Are all records of an inventory maintained?
Are all vehicles in a proper condition to carry all explosive materials?
Are all materials properly cared for?
Are all explosive materials locked?
Is all explosive material under the observation of staff facility?
Are all different materials stored separately?
Is all safety taken related to explosive material?
Is the blaster given a proper signal?

The checklist should also include the following information about the person who performed and approved the inspection:

Name
Contact Number
Signature
Place
Date

Of course, you can add more questions to your checklist to cover other aspects, such as the potential for falls, fires, collapses, and more. You can also identify the level of a risk (low, medium, or high), suggest what controls workers put in place to address the hazard before demolition starts, and include photos of the site to use in the event anyone ever challenges the veracity of the inspection. You can’t be too thorough when it comes to preparing for demolition work!

What is a Demolition Safety Inspection Report?

A demolition safety inspection report is a PDF file of a digitally completed checklist. Admins can view these completed checklists each time they’re completed. These reports prove valuable if there’s a question or incident, as they can indicate the inspector's name, the date of the inspection, and if various safety precautions were met.

Where Do I Get a Demolition Safety Inspection Checklist?

You can create your own demolition safety inspection checklists with just word processing software and a printer. However, using an automated inspection tool like eForms Mobile is the superior choice. eForms Mobile offers hundreds of form templates—including a demolition safety checklist—that you can customize to your exact needs. You can then publish your checklist and distribute it to your team of surveyors, who can complete and submit it while in the field using a smart device. Additionally, you can generate reports using information from the checklists. The entire automated process removes any need to keep track of hard copies, duplicate data-entry tasks, and manually submit and track information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a demolition safety checklist encourage following rules and regulations?

A demolition safety checklist encourages the demolition team to follow rules and regulations by walking inspectors through what needs to be done, question by question. Such a checklist has worker and environment safety in mind, and an inspector should not sign off on an inspection without confirming that workers have addressed everything on the checklist. Otherwise, the inspector could be held liable for anything that goes wrong during demolition.

What is the difference between a demolition safety checklist and pre-demolition checklist?

A demolition safety checklist and a pre-demolition checklist both verify the safety of a site prior to demolition. However, a pre-demolition checklist will only concern the site before demolition begins and may focus more on the environment. In contrast, a demolition safety checklist may include information about the safety precautions taken during and after demolition. Government regulations may also require a pre-demolition inspection.

What is a demolition safety plan?

A demolition safety plan describes the precautions that workers plan to take before, during, and after a demolition project. It explains how workers will demolish the building or structure and identifies the necessary equipment and permits. It also describes what the workers will do in the event of an emergency. A checklist can ensure that the workers adequately address each area of the safety plan.

Big Bend Release

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 16:14:25 GMT

Customization is BIG in the Big Bend Release

The eForms Mobile platform is known for its depth and breadth of customization options. Are you ready for even more options in the Big Bend release? We named this release after America's national park located in West Texas bordering Mexico. The park has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States. The park protects more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and 75 species of mammals. Like our newest release, Big Bend is truly a scenic area of amazing features.

Render Custom Layers and Polygons on your Maps

Many of our clients are using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create their own maps of key land areas, complete with detailed information layers on top. Layers can provide everything from soil composition, hydrological data, and even stoplights. Having this information in a GIS is great, but what if you need that information out in the field?

The platform will soon make this possible with new "Overlay With Geo Data" properties that will be added to the Mapping Designer and Form Designer. Now you will be able to render polygons and other data layers on top of map locations right inside the eForms Mobile app.

The capability will be driven by Keyhole Markup Language (KML), which defines the layers and their display elements. You will be able to import static KML text directly into the new Overlay property, or dynamically acquire the KML from Data Sources or Form fields by using a formula.

We are really looking forward to seeing what you create with this new option.

Use Custom Tile Sources for Map Display

Currently the maps displayed in the eForms Mobile app are driven by the default "tile source" including Apple Maps on iOS, Google Maps on Android, and Thurderforest map tiles for Windows.

If you are one of those GIS users, you likely already have the ability to generate your own custom map tiles, embedded with extra data points such as contouring. But even if you don't use a GIS, there are many mapping providers around that can provide a variety of defined maps which may be useful for your workers. An example might be to use a highly detailed satellite imagery, not something we can provide due to cost, but may be a game-changer for your team.

That is why we are releasing a new "Mapping Tile Source" option which you can set at the organization level as a default, as well as at the Screen level. With this new ability, you will specify the URL to your custom tile source, and the app will display maps using those tiles accordingly.

Like rendering custom layers and polygons, we are really looking forward to seeing how you use these custom tile sources.

Full Control Over the App Title Bar

Now that the v6 app engine is complete, you may have noticed that the app adopts the same navigation and layouts for the top title bar across all devices. Previously, Android differed somewhat from iOS for its layouts.

What did not change with v6 was that Form screens were still locked in terms of being able to change the top right buttons of the title bar. These were strictly controlled by the app engine to provide default page navigation within the Form entry. Also, the left-most button was locked down on all Screen types to ensure users always had an Exit capability to get out of the Screen.

The locked-down behavior was not an issue for most use cases. But it also restricted some new an interesting uses of the app, particularly in terms of providing drill down behaviors from one Screen to the next. There were also scenarios where a power user wanted to use a different approach for Screen navigation that did not rely on the title bar to provide options like Exit.

If you were one of those power users, the good news is that we are now unlocking these title bar areas for you to customize. All four title button slots will now be editable in all Screen type designers, including Forms. We know that this may result in a few of you forgetting to provide Exit or other navigations, but remember, with great power comes great responsibility. ��

User Interface Improvements

Various cosmetic and user interface improvements are also on the way, which provide for some handy functionality tweaks. We hope these make the platform more intuitive for you!

Dropdown Buttons for a Cleaner UI

In the top right corner of the Form designer sit five very large buttons. We'll be the first to admit that they haven't aged well.

To make the platform more functional and visually appealing, we are folding these buttons into a dropdown. They'll be in the same place, super easy to find, and a lot less clunky looking. We'll be looking to make similar improvements to other screens that suffer from the "too many buttons" syndrome.

Relocating Various Action Buttons

On the Screens view of the web portal that shows all your screens, the "Organize" and "Manage" buttons are all the way over to the right, next to the "Add New" button. This is fine once you get used to it, but what if you don't get used to it? ��

In a further effort to clean up the UI and create a more intuitive user experience, those buttons will be moved over closer to the table containing your Screens/Apps so they will be within easier reach.

Form Page Links

Having to hover over rows on the Screens page to find the options: Settings, Design, Connect, and Clone is not always obvious. Because of this, we are fixing this by adding always-visible icons to represent these actions. This allows quicker navigation and provides a more intuitive user experience. For Design, just click on the name of the screen.

New Icon Column on Task Recurring Template

Currently, there is no way to assign icons to the Excel Task Recurring Template. This can cause a situation where every uploaded task is defaulted to an icon that is not desirable for a particular task. We recognize that this may cause a lot of manual work, so we are working on a fix to avoid the time lost in editing.

Adding Access Permissions to User Imports

When importing a user via an Excel template, you may specify the Access Level, such as Read-Only, User, Enterprise Admin, etc. Though this works well, it does not allow more specific permissions for each user, this will be added to save you time in editing individual users after import.

Revised Locked Form Flow

Currently when you lock a form, it takes the form out of test mode. This is changing so that you can keep testing while preventing others from making changes. Only the user that locked the screen can edit, but admins will also be able to unlock screens to prevent potential "forever locked" scenarios.

New API Endpoints and Methods

Adding API Methods to Extend Screen Searches

The Screens endpoint, v2/screen/form, currently supports Form screens. Support for the various other screens are being added.

These include:

/v2/screen/detail/search - Returns the Published version of matching Details Screens or all versions of a single specified Detail Screen
/v2/screen/iconboard/search - Returns the Published version of matching Icon Boards or all versions of a single specified Icon Board
/v2/screen/list/search - Returns the Published version of matching Listing Screens or all versions of a single specified Listing Screen
/v2/screen/map/search - Returns the Published version of matching Map Screen or all versions of a single specified Map Screen

This means you'll soon be able to search for all screen types!

Making FormEntry/Search Properties Optional

Currently, the /v2/formentry/search API requires a FormExternalID or FormID to be passed into it for results. With this update, the FormID and FormExternalID will be optional, allowing you to run a search based on only a Date filter. This would be very useful if you have a quick question such as "how many forms were submitted last month.

An example might look like this:

https://eforms.mobileform.net:443/api/v2/formentry/search?CompanyId=XXXXX&YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY&&&&FromDate=2022-10-01&ToDate=2022-10-31&&&&&&&PageSize=1

This is where XXXXX = your Company ID, and Y = your Integration Key. Very handy for quickly showing you how many form entries were created during a particular date range. (Please note: if you are a private label Website-as-a-Service account or on our EU server, you will need a different domain/URL.)

GET Repository/Search: Add Screen Name

Currently, neither the Screen Name nor the External ID is part of the API. This will allow users to specify the Screen Name or the External ID to search via the repository/search (GET) API.

Folder API Endpoints - v2/folder

The Folders API currently only has a GET endpoint that supports searching folders. The following additional Folder API endpoints are being added:

GET v2/folder/search - finds all the Folders matching the given criteria
GET v2/folder - return the Folder matching the given parameters as well as the contents of the Folder
PUT v2/folder - add items to a Folder
POST v2/folder - create a new Folder
DELETE v2/folder - deletes a Folder

Maintenance Items

The following is a quick list of general maintenance items and bug fixes. There will likely be more items on this list when Big Bend is released.

Fix File Renaming bug
Sort Salesforce Connector Fields
Section fields Visibility not taken into account on export (new layouts)
Cater for Nulls Sorting in SQL Pagination
iOS 16 Devices unable to close Captured Video Preview
"Run required apps" won't remove all previous answers
OCR Field "Copy to Device Gallery" crashes Android App when processing the photo.
OCR Field "On Capture Action" doesn't work for Windows App

Web Dashboard Refresh

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:13:09 GMT

Uinta Release: UX/UI Upgrades

Web Dashboard Refresh

The Web team has been hard at work on the Web UX/UI Refresh since December last year. We’re now rolling out a fresh new look and feel, with a focus on consistency across the web portal. You will notice a number of changes such as refreshed buttons, the ability to search for things while doing design (such as screens when calling a screen and selecting a user in the feed view of data entries, which is particularly useful when you have hundreds of screens or thousands of users).

Shortly after seeing the freshened user interface comes a number of tweaks:

A QR Code generator field type
Connector to Snowflake data cloud
Support for Dropbox Business
Support for multiple workspaces in PowerBI
Formula filter to restrict Data Source rows
Improved user management
The ability to inject PDFs into template outputs
Faster form testing
Increasing the Data Source driven table row limit from 100 to 250 rows

These changes will likely be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Katmai Update

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:00:02 GMT

Save Even More Time With These New Features, Available To You In The Coming Weeks!

The eForms Mobile team decided to do something a little different and fun here with this update. Moving forward we want to name our platform updates with a National Park or Monument in the United States. Our latest update gets its name from a National Park in the state of Alaska here in the United States: Katmai National Park and Reservation

Katmai National Park is on a peninsula in the state of Alaska. For those of you who don't know, Alaska is the furthermost north western state, and by far the largest state in the United States. People travel to Katmai National Park for its sprawling forests, wild landscapes, and snowcapped mountains. Many visitors will spot a brown bear or two, along with abundant salmon. Perhaps the brown bear's favorite food! ��

Katmai National Park is so diverse, The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is an area that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption! If you're excited, wait until you read about these updates coming below!

App Features

Put on your designer hats, here is a breakdown of the new features and improvements that you'll see in the app and platform soon!

Great Visibility with Task Templates and Process Steps.

Many of our clients are using the Process Step field type to utilize workflow functionality and automate processes in their forms! If you utilizing the Process Step field you may want to see when a task is claimed, and by which user without waiting for the upload of the form submission.

Given this need, we are soon releasing a feature that will allow you to attach a Task Template to a Process Step field type. This will open access to Task Connectors and can notify those who need to know when a connector is triggered. For example, when a task is claimed or a status is changed.

Take your tasking and workflow automation to a whole new level!

Tweaks & Improvements ��

Customize Title Bar Navigation Button Text
Toggle Between All And Active Users (Data Source)
iOS: Support 'Choose Audio File from Device'
Add LastActivity Column to Active Users Data Source
Add Ability To Specify Multiple Emails Within A Process Step
Optionally Overwrite GDrive File (if file exists)

Katmai Update:

Please look for the following version numbers, which end in:

Android & iOS: 4.999913 (or higher)
Windows: 5.791 (or higher)

We hope you're as excited to see these new features as we are to see what you do with them!

September 2021 Updates

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 01:57:16 GMT

New Updates Just in Time for Fall!

Many new features are on the way and a few bug fixes. Availability within the next few weeks. The release will roll out to the eForms Mobile apps very soon.

These features are curated with love, available in September.

App Features

Here is a breakdown of the new features and improvements that you'll see in the app soon.

Who Are You? New Built-in Functions Available for Website-as-a-Service (WaaS)

Brand new built-in placeholders for injecting metadata about the current web dashboard user into Custom Scripts and the Side Menu. The following fields apply.

{{%USERFIRSTNAME}}
{{%USERGROUPS}}
{{%USERLASTNAME}}
{{%USEREXTERNALID}}
{{%USEREMAIL}}
{{%USERCREATEDTIMEUTC}}
{{%USERROLE}}
{{%USERLASTLOGINTIMEUTC}}
{{%ORGID}}
{{%ORGNAME}}
{{%ORGCREATEDTIMEUTC}}

This enables you to personalize your branded website even more. An example would be to display the user’s name and organization when they log into the dashboard.

Tweaks & Improvements ��

Save and send Notes value when Task is reassigned
Update Filter Bar on Data Feed View
Show the ‘off’ column from user audits in the /v2/user/search API
Rename spreadsheet property names
Add assigned folders to active users Data Source
Raise an error notice if a Process Step Task is assigned to a non-Premium user
New built-in Functions available on Web Platform
Update box tools on Form Connectors

Count invited users linked to view audits

��Bug Fixes

The following fixes have been applied to the platform:

Fix JSONVAL formula to not modify certain character sequences inside JSON text
Android – ‘Disable Predictive Spelling’ on Android breaks multi-line text Fields
Fix decimal fractions not applied when Table populated from Data Source
Windows – improved FIPS compliance
iOS – inline barcode scan crash issues
Windows – fix Force Sync interaction not refreshing the screen
Windows – fix the app from crashing when loading History Entries linked to deleted Data Sources
Windows – fixed issue where signatures sometimes do not display when bound to a Data Source column
iOS – Fix app crashing when printing form entries with images in the output
Fix Data Source populated tables not triggering dependent formulae when filters result in zero rows
Enable filter by custom Template statuses when a Template is selected
Scrub hidden/illegal characters in Designer text-based property fields
Add the standard Date Filter to the Tasks Index page
Add filter options to Connector paging
Example app overwrites an existing modified example app

April 2021 Platform Improvement Updates

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 15:18:59 GMT

Platform Improvement Updates

April 2021

New Features

*** Features are enabled on the web dashboard, but require the following mobile app versions to be fully enabled. These versions will not be published until around the beginning of May, 2021. Look out for version numbers ending in:

Windows : 5.779 (or higher)

Android & iOS : 4.99984 (or higher

Disabling Predictive Text/Spell Check on Text Form Fields – This checkbox option will bypass the device’s predictive text and spell check evaluation of text entered into the text field. This can be less intrusive for cases where a code or other non-word-based text needs to be entered.

Auto-Num Field – Display Result to User – This checkbox option determines whether the auto-number will be displayed to the user on the app. Bear in mind that even with this option checked, with Generate on Upload also enabled, the number will not be visible on the app until the submission has hit the server.

Define a Stroke Outline for Image Watermarks – This checkbox option on a media field will produce a black outline on watermark text, making the watermark more legible.

Signature Color Option for Signature Fields – This property defines the color for the signature, allowing to be something other than the default black

Form Connector Filter – Form connectors can now be filtered to find the desired filter, saving time navigating between multiple pages of connectors.

Improvements

Conditional styling is now available for app-only data sources.

Data sources can now be automatically referenced in data source formulae on all screen types.

Image watermark text can now use template text formulae.

Custom app links can now launch into the latest published screens.

Password policy validation errors now display when the password is changed in the app.

Improved messages now display for Task Details when there are no more users available for reassignment.

Android NFC scanning has been improved, with all scans now being intercepted with the app open and in the foreground.

Form data connectors can output directly into XML or JSON format. See this support article.

Bug Fixes

When using Dark Mode, icons on the iOS device status bar color has been fixed to show better contrast when seen against the app.

Errors should no longer be thrown when a GPS field gets a “0” value from a data source.

Loading and error dialog messages should no longer overlap on the Android loading screen.

Field values should no longer be cleared after opening a form with passed parameters and then returning.

Listing screen filters with errors should now be cleared.

The Task Details screen on Android should now disable the activity checkbox when the claim button is visible.

All organizations should now be seen in the login dropdown list when signing into the Windows app.

First-to-claim tasks should now be marked as completed the first time.

Text color should now display correctly for horizontal read-only text fields on the iOS app.

The iOS app should no longer crash after printing a form entry.

Validation should no longer be triggered on choices fields when filters run.

Existing published screens should now open after removing a new version from test mode.

OBJECT characters should now be removed from text input when voice dictation is used on the iOS app.

New Updates!! March 2021

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:27:45 GMT

Features & Improvements

March 2021

Check out these new features on the eForms Mobile

cloud platform and mobile application:

Users Map – The new Users Map shows the location history of users on the dashboard. This can be accessed by navigating on the dashboard to Admin > Users Map. Click on the carat next to “Active Users” to expand the menu to show all users available.

User Color Codes – A custom User Color Code can now be set for a user to identify the user on mapping and other visualization screens across the dashboard. This color can be set within the “Regional Settings & Advanced Options” section of the user page, accessible by navigating to Admin > Users & Groups and then selecting “edit user” for the user. This feature has also been added to the User Import template spreadsheet and API.

Image Resizing Validation – Validation has been added to the “Resize Images To” field in page settings to ensure users do not resize images smaller than 100 pixels or larger than 4000 pixels. This validation triggers when the design is saved.

SSO Client Secrets – The Client Secrets for SSO connections within Organization Setup has been hidden by obscuring the characters for added security.

Multi-Delete – A multi-delete function for forms has been added. Screens may now be selected and deleted en masse. This can be done from the Forms/Screens window and the Trash.

Reassign to Group – A Reassign to Group option has been added to process step properties. Users can now reassign a task and choose the recipient/target.

Task Name Parameter – A Task Name parameter has been added for Task API Search requests.

Run After Connector – Form connectors can now be scheduled to run on a staggered basis, firing after another connector has run.

Use URL for media files – A “Use URL for media Fields” option has been added to SQL and Google BigQuery Connectors. If this option is enabled, media filenames will be converted to their full URLs.

WHERE clause – A WHERE clause is now available on SQL Connectors.

SQL Non-Default Schema – The SQL Server connector now supports referring to objects in non-default schema. The new Schema field will add an optional SQL Server database schema where the table is stored. If the field is kept empty, the default schema will be used.

User Type Column – A User Type column has been added to Active Users data source. The data in this column can be displayed on a listing screen linked to this data source to better visualize user data.

Bug Fixes

The broken company image placement on the icon board designer has been fixed.

A File Name parameter has been added to the Excel Form Import template (column CF).

Platform date filter issues with Today, LastMonth and ThisMonth have been fixed.

Raw HTML text from the Trash warning message has been removed.

FTP clone functionality has been fixed.

The finalizing message on bulk export notifications has been fixed.

Auto-numbers in repeating data within a form using Process Steps no longer drop their values.

The formatting of failed repository notification text has been fixed.

Fixed a bug with the Salesforce authentication domain name.

SharePoint keywords now appear on all media files included in the output.

RegEx no longer causes a timeout on large PUT operations.

2020: A Year in Review

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:24:23 GMT

2020 Features – A Year in Review

Each of these upgrades have been applied and are working within the eForms Mobile platform!

Released in full production

New Connectors/Connector Features
Egnyte connector
Salesforce connector
“From” field populated by user data on email connectors
Added a checkbox to the Google Sheets form connector to update headers
New Platform Features
Recover deletes from trash
Trash bin
Ability to bypass SSO where the user signing in as an administrator
Add option to Organization Setup to prevent anonymous access to media links
New Designer/Field Features
Contactless signatures
Add translations for contactless signatures
Custom file naming
Designer comments on screen fields
Keyboard shortcuts
Drag and drop improvements and placement indicator
Up and down arrows
Formula validation
Conditional display rules on Data Sources
Default row display update on Data Sources
Built-in data sources (active users, incomplete task, drafts, published docs)
Scan NFC without a button press
Allow for use of dynamic URLs on Icon Board
Dynamic screen titles
Tasking Upgrades
New task auto-complete option on Organization Setup
New “Expected Duration” and “Expected Complete Time” on Task Templates
New “All to Complete” assignment option for tasks
Ability to reference data fields in Task Template connectors
Enable task details screen to be launched from interactions
Auto complete a task on form upload if all other activities are complete
Add name option to Task activity
Miscellaneous Improvements
New “Send Notices Alerts To” option on Organization Setup
When a new version of the app is available, users will be notified in-app with a prompt to get the latest version
Text search option to Map View in cloud portal
Display Form row title in Feed View
Add support for editing media form entry answers in cloud portal data area
History option on Connector logs
New Organization Setup option to prevent anonymous access to data entry file links
New Environment API endpoint use
Added support for repeatable data entry for Power BI connector
Remember the last directory on Windows file picker
Enhance Listing and Mapping text search to support multiple words
Enable Data Source sort order on Mapping Screens
Table and Gallery field types – validate minimum repeat count
Windows – make FIPS compliant
Support custom filename on bulk data export dialog
Allow editing of media images via view/edit entry page
HTML fields – add validation and “Reset to Default” button where applicable
Bug Fixes and Maintenance
Fixed date order of connector logs
Fixed date picker issues in screen designer
Cloud portal users with read/write access level can now update task statues and edit data entries (if granted relevant permissions)
Paging of connector pages when a form has under 10 connectors configured
Repeat functions (SUM, COUNT, ect.) not triggering when deleting the last repeat
App crash when navigating from Listing Screen to Mapping Screen
Windows – Task activities can be completed multiple times
Details Screen right text styling issues
App crash when using tray buttons with no interaction
Windows – filters do not get saved
Data Source driven tables – issue when using quotes in filter formulas
Windows – Listing Screen crashes when using incorrect dates on filter screen
Checkbox to opt-in to adding the form GUID as a prefix to file exports
{{DEVICENAME}} placeholder for External Authentication URL
Option for headers to adjust after initial creation in Google Sheet Form Connectors
SQL Server Connector: Support case-sensitive collations
SQL Server Connector: Send date only values using ISO8601 format
Send Notifications To: Ensure dates are sent using correct regional format
Clickable location images in template export
Excel Templates: Links within REPEATSTART and REPEATEND sections work on export
Form Designer: Add tabs to themes
Task File Imports: Allow ‘Complete By’ to be specified as a date only value
Google Connectors: Add ability to anonymize personal data
Form REST Connector: Fix bug where Custom Header Value was not being saved
Task Fill Out Form Activity: Ensure archived screens still show in drop down

New Updates!! November 2020

rhi@eformsmobile.com (Rhiannon Thompson) — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:43:06 GMT

Visual Updates on Uploading Files, Trash Bin,

& Custom File Naming

Check out these new features on the eForms Mobile

cloud platform and mobile application:

Visual Updates on Media Uploads – This new features enables cloud platform users only the ability to see visually how many media uploads there are in the tableview. This is fantastic if you have mobile users capturing multiple images using the Forms On Fire mobile application.

Trash Bin – The trash bin feature gives you an easy recovery option for those cases when something accidentally gets deleted. We know mistakes happen. The trash bin feature works much like the recycle bin on your computer. Just keep in mind this feature is emptied automatically every 30 days.

Custom File Naming – To date, our platform has always automatically generated the names of files captured/attached during data entry on the Forms On Fire mobile application. The naming is based on the date and time that the file was created. A long-standing customer request has been the ability to specify custom names for these files, mainly to make identifying the file contents easier from the name. This new feature allows to to specify a static name or use our template/formula syntax to dynamically generate the file name based on context and other form field answers.

eforms-mobile

Introducing the Pro User Tier and AI-Powered Voice & Photo Fill 📢

Internal Audit Automation: Examples and Implementation Steps

Tidy up for Spring 2026

Tidy Up for Spring 2025!

Ruby Mountain Release

This Year's Grand Finale: An Update That Shines Like a Ruby!

Take Your App Customization to the Next Level!

Simplified Folder Selection for Google Integrations!

**Stay In the Know with Real-Time Progress Upload Tracking!**

Introducing Dynamic Text Evaluation with the EVAL Formula!

Streamline Your Workflows with the New Task Recurring API!

Smoother Password Resets for App-Only Users!

Obtain User ID from API Explorer/API Response

Unlock Greater Flexibility with the

﻿ New AWS Custom S3 Endpoint Option!

Meet DEVICEALIAS(): The Game-Changer for

Device Management! ��

New Toggle Table Search Bar Feature! ��

Task Map Upgrade: Pin Stacking Just Got Smarter! ��

Maintenance Updates:

﻿

High-Altitude Desert, Hot New Features!

High-Altitude Desert, Hot New Features!

Why Are Electronic Audits the New Industry Standard?

What Is an Internal Audit and How To Conduct One

Workflow Automation 101: Examples, Tools & Implementation Steps

How to Write a Data Collection Plan (Templates and Examples Included)

How to Write a Data Collection Plan

(Templates and Examples Included)

What is a data collection plan?

What does a typical data collection plan document cover

Ways to collect data

Steps for writing an effective data collection plan

1. Define objectives and research questions

2. Identify data requirements and availability

3. Choose how you will collect data

4. Outline how you will measure data and ensure its integrity

5. Decide how will data be analyzed and presented

Data collection plan examples and templates

Streamline data collection process with eForms Mobile

Simplify Offline Data Collection With Offline Mobile Forms

Simplify Offline Data Collection

With Offline Mobile Forms

How does offline data collection work

Create offline mobile forms with eForms Mobile

The challenges of capturing data in areas with poor internet connectivity

What to look for in software that offers offline mobile data collection

Six rules of offline data collection

Use eForms Mobile as your offline data collection app

Everything You Need to Know About Audit Automation

Everything You Need to Know

About Audit Automation

What is audit automation?

Digital audit vs audit automation

Types of audit automation

Benefits of audit automation

Efficiency

Accuracy

Cost savings

Consistency

Risk management

Stakeholder communication

Audit automation use cases

1. Risk assessment

2. Audit planning

3. Design effectiveness assessment

4. Fieldwork

5. Reporting/closing phase

6. Issue tracking/ongoing monitoring

Audit automation challenges

How to implement audit automation

Step 1: Define your audit automation vision and strategy

Step 2: Build a foundational infrastructure to support your audit automation

Step 3: Develop a target-state operating model that supports and sustains automation

Final thoughts

The Ultimate Guide to Audits in 2023 and Beyond

The Ultimate Guide to

Audits in 2023 and Beyond

The state of audits in 2023

Stay In the Know with Real-Time Progress Upload Tracking!

New AWS Custom S3 Endpoint Option!

Inspections, Audits, and Assessments?

Methods, Challenges, and Best Practices