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| Image via CrunchBase |
It
seems like smartphones and other such smart devices are everywhere.
Use of these devices is ever increasing for every day tasks such as
grocery shopping, bill payments and many other tasks. One of the
important things for me, is the way smart devices have made certain
factors of my job so much easier! Take health and safety auditing for
example – huge drag. However, with the help of some clever apps I
can now make short work of the task. That isn't to say it is perfect
– there are plenty of weaknesses as well as strengths.
The
biggest advantage of these devices is that the speed in which a
client can receive their audit report is fantastic. Reports and other
data can be sent pretty much instantaneously. I can complete my
audit, generate a report and send it off there and then to the people
who need to see it. I am even able to integrate video and audio files
to support the report. The best apps and audit software packages
allow users to customize the audit to suit their own needs which
offers a great deal of flexibility.
In
terms of weaknesses, there is a tendency for these apps to require an
internet connection as they are not actually installed on your
device. That means that if you have no internet access you have no
audit. I know these days we are pretty much plugged in at all times,
but there are always occasions where you are not hooked up to the
world wide web! I guess that means reverting to paper and pen, but at
east video and photographs can be saved on your device to insert
later.
Of
course, you also need to make sure you take care of the device and
not drop it anywhere as you perform the audit procedures! I invested
in a case with a wrist strap for my ipad to make sure nothing
untoward happens to it! The good thing is that if you auto save your
work, then your audit is saved on the server in the event that you do
damage your device.
In
my opinion, there are more advantages than disadvantages to using a
smart device for health and safety – and indeed other types of –
audits. I think they allow me to offer better service to clients and
offer a degree of flexibility. Technology develops at a constant rate
and in a few years I doubt anyone will be performing audits manually!
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