One of our clients took a mass of paper notes and rolls of photos as part of his work as an ‘arborist’, or tree specialist. He needed to:
- Create a record for each tree
- Try and describe its location
- Take photos
- Make hand written notes
You would have thought that apple created the iPAD especially for FileMaker to promote the phrase they quoined ‘info at the point of use’.
The site survey might encompass 100s of trees! Later, back in the office, he would struggle to make sense of the disparate notes, photos and scribbled maps.
What was required was a survey system for use on a tablet.
We wrote a bespoke app that with the ability to take mobile surveys on an iPad, utilising its features; camera, signature capture etc
Now our client is able to:
- Create multiple sites for each customer
- Sites might have many surveys taken over time
- Have every tree recorded for each site
- Each tree could have its own photos, notes and documents
- Produce an automated risk report based on the chosen drop down values.
The CRM software, written using Claris’ FileMaker Go, allowed the tree specialist to record information out ‘in the field’ (or in the woods!).
- Photos are taken on the iPad and automatically stored against a tree’s records
- Notes are entered against a tree or an individual photo
- On-site risk assessments can be created by using simple drop-down lists and software
Back in the office, the iPads feed their data into a central database. Reports can be automatically compiled: for instance, trees under the greatest risk are found by the computer and a report produced and sent in seconds, saving a huge amount of time and repetition.
For a glimpse into our client’s world, please visit www.arborhelp.co.uk
Other apps have been written for building surveyors, chimney sweep, installers, warehouse, researchers…