Best Mobile Forms Software

By 2020, 70% of all access to enterprise systems will be done via mobile devices.
As smartphones and tablets replace PCs and laptops, companies realize huge payoffs when mobile apps are used by field service workers.

Mobile forms - forms for mobile devices - represent the majority of mobile apps that field workers will use. These forms dispatch field teams, track their work, and collect data during site visits and inspections. They can also record or initiate work orders or service repairs.

The need for more mobile forms will only increase as more and more companies replace paper processes with smartphones.

Get the Best Mobile Forms Software

Forms automation software for field service has an incredible impact on field team productivity. One furniture warranty company realized an 80% increase in its field team's productivity with the addition of a mobile form. Other research indicates that mobile forms for field service have a 50 percent ROI in only two years. Here are some of the ways mobile forms collect data anywhere and increase field team productivity:

Less confusion between dispatchers and techs
Better tracking and dispatching of field service staff
Increased field team efficiency
Instant access to new data collected in the field
Improved customer experience
Access to a full range of smartphone capabilities to power better tracking, scheduling, information gathering and more

Read "7 Important Ways Mobile Forms Transform Field Service Work"

Gartner, Forrester and IDC have released survey data indicating a massive bottleneck. Companies have hundreds of processes to mobilize, yet have only gotten a few out the door.

To solve the problem, companies are embracing the practice of encouraging business users to help digitize and mobilize business processes. Business users are using drag and drop software to take processes mobile. They're turning single-column or multi-column forms into custom mobile forms for business activities.

Mobile forms software allows business users who cannot code to mobilize paper forms without needing help from IT. The best technology solutions allow business users and IT to collaborate whenever necessary. Each side of the business can then contribute value to the digital transformation effort.

Read "How to Meet IT Demand for More Mobile Apps"

Modern fieldwork calls for capabilities that go beyond basic data collection to streamline work and next steps in real-time. Some examples of these advanced capabilities are::

Help the worker with filling out the form, including radio buttons
Work offline and run flawlessly on any mobile device, regardless of platform or screen size.
Be location and time aware.
Have features optimized for one-handed smartphone data entry.
Take full advantage of mobile hardware (to store large rich media files, etc.).
Scan bar or QR codes and perform relative look-ups against remote data sources or on-device databases.
Utilize digital ink (for things like annotating images and digital signatures).
Pre-fill data on a mobile app from a corporate system of records and take advantage of web services.
Initiate SMSes or emails based on calculations or transformations performed on the collected data.
Create dynamic and filtered pick-lists for much faster and more accurate data input.

Read "What is the Difference Between Basic And Enterprise Mobile Forms?"

It's important to recognize that mobile forms are very different from desktop applications or traditional paper forms. Mobile apps will disappoint end-users if they don't address the real-world mobile experiences that field workers face. Some real examples of the problems faced by field workers include:

An HVAC inspector inputs data and gets an error message alert that this critical meter is outside safe working parameters. The app must do the calculation and check against safety parameters. It must alert the inspector then immediately initiate a workflow or send an SMS/email to remediate the problem.
A field service worker without a cell or Wi-Fi signal needs to service various generators. When she scans a bar code on the generator, it brings up a service manual with relevant service videos. This large data file must be stored on the mobile device for use when offline.

While collecting inspection data on a mobile device, an inspector needs the app to perform complex calculations or data validations. Instantly, the inspector can determine what items are passing or failing the inspection and what additional information must be gathered.
A solar power technician determines that a power inverter needs to be replaced. While filling out a work order, the technician can check to see if a suitable inverter is available. He can instantly view the number of units in stock. In this case, the app must lookup data using an API callback or against an on-device database.