Lessons Learned from Developing Mobile Phone Tools

for Field Projects

Can Ozturk Ph.D.

http://developmatics.com

Typical Mobile Phone Application

Web access

Short Code Aggregator

Challenges in Developing and Operating Mobile Tools in Developing World

• Platform reliability

• Carrier/Aggregator reliability

• Operational costs (SMS, IVR, Smart Phone Apps)

• Application performance over constrained infrastructure

• System administration and maintenance requirements

• User support and training

• Local participation and ownership

– Technology

– Sustainability

Engaging Local Actors to Own the Technology

• Demonstration of mobile capabilities

• Identify key users and roles who will drive the system

• Manage scope and expectations

• Participatory System Analysis and Design Report/Analysis of Current Situation

Proposed/Revised Use Cases and logical steps

Review of blueprint document (Wireframes, message text etc.)

Approval and sign-off

Design

User Acceptance Testing

Launch

User workshops to share experiences

Engaging Local Actors to Use Technology Efficiently

• Recruiting and training local resources

• In-country support for administrators

• User feedback on improvements

• End-user scenarios must be simple

Achieving Sustainable Mobile Tools

• Customizable platforms

• Integration with other systems

• Systems development in phases

• Government support and stakeholder feedback

Lessons Learned - I

• Usage level and system performance

• Complex use cases

• Unanticipated uses or constraints

• Scope definition

• Solution Model

– M&E or service delivery

– Piloting incentives for high adoption

Lessons Learned - II

• Survey Options – concatenated vs. ping pong

• Testing applications

• Sharing phones, low literacy rates, cost

• Time sensitive tasks can be streamlined using SMS reminders

• Controlling access to data

Example Cases

• Agricultural Market Price Collection System

• Drug Logistics Management System

Timeliness Notifications

Publish Reports

Non-response follow-up

Submit Market Prices

Smart Phone/GPS WEB

MARKET

AGENT

MARKET

COORDINATOR

MARKET PRICE COLLECTION SYSTEM

IVR

IVR

SMS to Agents

AGRI-USER/ PUBLIC

SMS WEB

Request Price Information

Complex Reports via SMS

• Requires flash-cards

• May support conditional formatting and subforms

• Difficult to enforce controls for data validity via SMS