5 Reasons Why I Use GoCanvas Mobile Apps in my Safety Business

5 Reasons Why I Use GoCanvas Mobile Apps in my Safety Business

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I’ve worked in the safety & health field for the better of 20 years, inspecting thousands of job sites and facilities. I, like most people, used a clipboard and notepad. I’d walk around writing down what I found.

When I started in safety, this was the only way to do it. We’d then have to regurgitate all the data into something others could understand and act upon. As you can guess: it was very, very time-consuming. I would spend almost twice as much time creating the reports as I did conducting the inspection.

Now, I still conduct inspections frequently, as do my staff. We’ve ditched the clipboard and pens: We all use our smartphones or tablets. Prior to finding GoCanvas, we were already using electronic devices. Basically, it was an electronic clipboard and pad of paper. This method still required a lot of additional work back at the office, but at least some of the work was cut and pasted.

Inspections happen in the field, away from the office. Before, I would write out all my notes in the field, go back to the office, type out all the notes again, download pictures and try to match each picture to the finding. It was slow, painful, and inefficient. 

Using GoCanvas. I type out my notes, take the picture in the app, load GPS coordinates and email it to myself. If anyone else needs to see it immediately,  they can be added to the distribution list. Do it once, finish it out in the field, and easily find the submission later.

Inspections can be sent to whomever, once complete. This is great, especially if I have a finding that creates an imminent risk to life or health and needs immediate attention. After the inspection is complete, I can go back to the office to edit/modify/clarify the text, add regulator references or company standards that apply to the finding. Then, I send it out to the people responsible for correcting the issue or for review.

Since it’s done once, operations have become more productive. With all the details and pictures automatically grouped together in the finding, people can find the location and easily identify what needs to be corrected.

I don’t have to go out to the location again and point to the deficiency. I don’t have to worry about mismatched photos or unreadable text. We save time by preventing these common misunderstandings and mistakes. GoCanvas makes the work go more smoothly.

With GoCanvas API web services, integrating submissions with existing systems becomes instantaneous. All the inspections are downloaded to my database for tracking.  No additional inputting of inspection data. Just a few clicks and the information is downloaded. I can see what inspections have been conducted, who conducted them, where they were conducted and what the findings were.

GoCanvas makes it easy to track inspection findings from beginning to end. Plug this information into an executive dashboard and management can see all this too. This easy access increases accountability. Better accountability increases compliance and in turn, a safer work environment.

From my database, I can then create reports for management. It’s easy to track and trend the findings. I can pull out pieces of the inspections to create safety bulletins to share with other sites, clients, or departments.

Using mobile apps has saved my organization much time and in turn, saved me a lot of money. It helped my customers as well. I deliver a better product at a better rate. As an efficient and effective organization, my customers tell more people about my work growing my business.

Check out the apps Mark uses in his Essential Safety Resources Store

Sign up for a free trial today and see how GoCanvas can impact your business.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

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Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

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Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

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How to Simplify and Improve Your Current Construction Business Workflow

How to Simplify and Improve Your Current Construction Business Workflow

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Construction businesses are always looking for ways to automate workflow processes. There are several ways to do this, but one of the best is by simplifying and streamlining your current business processes. This can be done in several ways, but here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Streamline Communication

One of the best ways to improve your construction business workflow is to streamline communication. For example, GoCanvas can be utilized as a single platform to improve on-site communication and collaboration between team members. GoCanvas allows all members of your construction team including stakeholders, subcontractors, and more to collect data, fill out forms and inspections in real-time to avoid delays in communication.

2. Simplify Tasks

Simplifying time-consuming tasks allows your construction team to focus on the task at hand and avoid getting bogged down in complex processes. One way to simplify tasks is by using a construction project management software that automates tasks such as tracking change orders, manual processes, and invoicing. This can free up your team’s time so they can focus on more important tasks, such as project planning and execution.

3. Reduce Risks

Reducing risks and inefficiencies can be done by implementing safety protocols and investing in quality control measures. Strong protocols should be implemented for each stage of the construction process. For example, you can create a safety plan that outlines the procedures for dealing with accidents and injuries. You should also invest in quality control measures, such as regular inspections and testing, to ensure that your construction projects are up to code.

4. Plan Ahead

Pre-planning allows general contractors to create a project timeline and schedule that contains all the necessary project information needed for completion. This can help avoid delays and disruptions in your construction workflow. By planning ahead, you can also anticipate problems and find solutions before they cause delays in your project.

5. Optimize Your Fleet

Optimizing your fleet helps you reduce costs and improve your construction business workflow. For example, you can use a construction management software to track your fleet’s location and utilization. This information can help you optimize your routes and schedules to reduce fuel costs and travel time. You can also use this data to identify underutilized vehicles so you can sell or lease them. By following these five steps, you can make your construction business more efficient and improve your bottom line.

Going paperless is a significant enhancement for the construction industry. Construction companies no longer have to worry about paperwork and spreadsheets thanks to GoCanvas digital solutions. GoCanvas provides a dashboard that keeps finances, approvals, document management, checklists, and team communication all in one place. Some of the many benefits of going paperless include:

  • The ability to optimize schedules and travel routes at the click of a button
  • The ability to monitor jobsite progress and collect data in real-time
  • The ability to manage your workforce in one centralized location

GoCanvas offers a suite of ready-to-use digital templates and apps for construction industry project management that can be accessed from any device, anytime, anywhere. Contact us to learn more about how GoCanvas can improve your workflow management.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Three Ways GoCanvas Helps with Safety Toolbox Talks

Three Ways GoCanvas Helps with Safety Toolbox Talks

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Safety should be the number one priority of every construction company. Daily safety meetings and toolbox talks are integral to educating workers on best work practices and staying compliant with regulations for every job and project.

Regular safety toolbox talks, sometimes referred to as daily briefings or tailgate meetings, are a great way to reinforce safety basics, introduce new policies, and inform workers about changes to the jobsite and working conditions that may have occurred since their last shift. These daily meetings can also serve as a means to provide training on new rules in order to stay up to date with state and federal OSHA standards.

But toolbox talks also come with daily challenges. Collecting attendance and capturing meeting notes from multiple worksites is daunting. Plus, you’ve got the headache of making sure the details of federal or state regulations are communicated consistently across several locations. You also need to be able to document all of these details and provide reports that all of your employees have been properly informed to ensure compliance with the standards of every project.

Fortunately, GoCanvas Safety has the solutions to each of the problems that plague your crew for safety toolbox talks.

With GoCanvas Safety, your team can complete safety documentation from any mobile phone or tablet. Using required attendance logs, you can collect the names and IDs of every employee at each worksite to ensure they are present for the latest safety information. Plus, you can capture details related to the jobsite location, project manager, as well as date and time stamps for every briefing.

An integrated signature capture field means you can have employees verify their attendance and you can collect signatures from your foreman and any safety representative who makes an onsite visit, ensuring compliance measures are met for every meeting.

Every day on a jobsite brings new challenges. GoCanvas Safety helps your supervisors and safety managers deliver consistent messaging at every meeting. Required fields and checklists ensure that the proper information is conveyed and collected for every toolbox talk, so they don’t have to scramble to keep their crews informed and safe.

Monitoring the delivery of policy and regulation details across multiple worksites is a struggle. Not only do you have to decipher handwritten paper forms, but you have to hope that any details are not missed as they are input into your home system. 

GoCanvas Safety means no more waiting for paper forms from daily briefings to be returned at the end of the day or managing documents from multiple worksites. 

Analytics Dashboards remove the hours-long wait times for daily reports. With real-time visibility of your current Certification Programs (including expiration dates and IDs) and active incident reporting, you can quickly share safety program data with customers, fulfilling SLA requirements so you can get jobs done faster while keeping your team safe.

Looking to streamline your safety data collection and ensure compliance from your toolbox talks? With GoCanvas Safety, you have real-time visibility into your safety program and can quickly share results with customers with the click of a button. Click here to learn more!

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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3 Advantages of Automated Safety Reporting

3 Advantages of Automated Safety Reporting

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An unsafe workplace is not an option worth considering. However, creating a safe environment can be difficult and requires a lot of focus and attention to every detail as a simple oversight can lead to disastrous consequences. Although this may seem like a daunting task, you are not alone! Safety Professionals are finding ways to reduce time-consuming tasks, like data duplication with the help of automation and technology across the globe. This allows them to focus their time and energy on more important matters like proper safety gear and clear fire exits with the peace of mind that compliance and prevention records are all submitted, stored, and analyzed exactly how they want them to be.

As the safety industry continues to become more automated, it is important to understand how this might impact your business and how to stay ahead of industry trends. The movement toward paperless companies and automated systems is becoming more and more important. Recently, OSHA passed an electronic submission requirement for forms, like their OSHA 300  and OSHA 301 report. Automation is the future of the safety industry and is already drastically improving the way safety reporting is currently handled on the field now.

Here are three ways automating your safety reporting processes can improve your business:

Simple errors such as misplaced forms, messy handwriting, or incomplete submissions can result in significant penalties. By automating the way reports are completed, you’re able to streamline the way the forms are filled as each field tech is submitting the form through the same channel and including the same information. Automating this process ensures you’re receiving every submission and it is stored securely in the cloud where you can quickly search and access it as a pdf or CSV. you can automate your processes even further and have your data populate a backend system such as QuickBooks, Viewpoint, or Sage.

There are plenty of things that could affect the accuracy of the information reported. By eliminating manual data transfer and the potential for illegible handwriting, you decrease the possibilities for human error drastically. It doesn’t matter how many asterisks or underlines are used, forms still come back incomplete, and often, by the time the office gets it back, it is too late to fix. Automating these forms removes the headache of tracking down incomplete information and ensures top-quality information every time. Accurate reporting relies on having the best data possible. By improving the quality of the data you’re collecting, you can make the best decisions for your business.

Time and time again we talk to safety managers who are having difficulty tracing their progress quarter to quarter or even year over year. In the safety industry, being able to track where improvement is needed and what is working efficiently is important to the safety of every employee. Whether your company is interested in getting better visibility into employee behavioral reports or motor vehicle inspection data, it is important to be able to easily pull those reports. Manual reporting can be time-consuming and restricts the ability to pull or find this information easily and accurately.

Automating the way data is collected and where the information is sent allows businesses to make critical data-based decisions within minutes. Whether you’re interested in automating your paperwork to have an easily accessible electronic filing cabinet or if you’re looking to create custom safety dashboards data opens the doors to endless possibilities and is the driving force in creating strategic decisions.

Safety and compliance are important in every industry and business. You may see it as a chore or a necessary evil but we all know how crucial it is to protecting lives and keeping projects on track. Whether you are in construction or the food industry there are a variety of quality measures that need to be met to keep both front-line staff and customers safe on a day-to-day basis. Not meeting these requirements can result in massive fines resulting in the loss of exorbitant funds, or worse, injury to another person. Therefore, it is critical to maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all reports.

Staying compliant doesn’t have to be difficult or time intensive. By automating the way forms like the OSHA 300, JSA/JHAs, equipment inspections, incident reports, and vehicle inspections are filed, you ensure all submissions can be found through a simple search and that all actionable can be dispatched in real-time. Don’t let simple filing errors or lost forms slow your business.

Compliance will always be a crucial part of any safety professional’s career. As the rules and regulations get more and more complicated, make it easier for your company to stay compliant and improve the data you’re collecting. Take your safety standards to the next level by creating real-time results and solutions with GoCanvas.

Now you can easily modernize the way you are capturing information on or off-site.  Whether you are looking to improve your data visibility or simply improve the safety culture on-site, we hope you’ll consider using GoCanvas as your data collection tool. Sign up for GoCanvas free and give our platform a try today!

Interested in learning more?

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Smarter, Faster, Safer: Improving Safety Compliance with Mobile Technology

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We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

The Complete Guide to Digital Data Collection for Your Small Business

The Complete Guide to Digital Data Collection for Your Small Business

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Information and data: you can’t avoid these words online. Big businesses are even learning to anticipate their customers buying behavior. Information has become crucial for not only competitive advantage but also for staying relevant. Collecting information has become easier than ever with technology. All sorts of businesses need to gather data, including small businesses.

In today’s digital era, many people are moving away from paper forms—and for good reasons. Paper forms tend to be slow, bad for the environment, require redundant data entry, and are easy to damage, lose, or misfile. More than a pain, they’re hurting your business financially. PWC reports that up to 11% of paper forms get misfiled or lost every year. If you lose just 5% of your invoices a year that lengthens your sales cycles, and you lose the opportunity to work with more customers or provide additional services. Paper forms also require extra data entry and storage, costing you thousands of more dollars a year in redundant work and storage costs.

Paper forms were the best solution for the 20th century. But today? They’re only holding you back.

In 2014, this race to collect information felt like a game only open to the big guys: the businesses with money and resources for data analysts and hundreds of developers. If you’re a plumber, a landscaping service, or even a daycare facility, you’re trying to keep up with the day-to-day. The algorithms and tech side of the story can seem overwhelming and unavailable to small businesses.

With digital data collection on the rise, small businesses can track their data collection with the simple use of a digital data collection device. These devices can transform your workflow and transform your small business.

If you have a mobile device and a computer, you have all the hardware you need to get started. Businesses in all sorts of fields can collect better information on smartphones and tablets. Some of the benefits include:

  • Collect more information (Photos,GPS, Signature, Calculations)
  • Share information in real-time
  • Eliminate redundant data entry
  • Validate information externally with location or time and date stamps

The mobile forms experts at GoCanvas created a FREE 80+ page guide to help you get off the ground running: The Ultimate Guide to Digitally Collecting All Types of Data for Your Small Business. Chapters include:

Helping business owners understand the full benefits of mobile, and how you can tailor it to your business needs is very important. Consumer data is important to collect. Collecting customer data through digital data collection methods like data analytics will help you better understand your target market, improve your customer service, and make more informed strategic decisions.

Discover what information you need, what to lose, and how it can grow your business. Too much data can be just as crippling as too little. Collect only the business information you need, and use it to create new opportunities, improve your workflow, and make better decisions for your small business.

Ruggedized to consumers, there’s a huge variety in devices. Ensure you get the right devices, and policy, for your business. Finding the right mobile device for your small business data collection needs is important to your success.

Bonus Chapter: Going mobile is just one way to save time and money. We’ve got tips and tricks to keep you focused and using your time wisely.

Enhance your workflows and customer experience with GoCanvas. Mobile apps and forms help you ditch the paper and transform your business workflows. Learn more about how GoCanvas can benefit your business. GoCanvas offers a variety of mobile apps and digital forms to meet your specific business needs.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Reducing Errors in Construction Management 

Reducing Errors in Construction Management 

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Mistakes on the construction site are costly, time-consuming, and frustrating for construction workers, construction managers, and most importantly, the customer. When a construction worker has to return to the job site to fix an error, it takes them away from other projects and potentially compromises the entire work schedule. 

In worst-case scenarios, mistakes can even lead to the cancellation of a construction project. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief list of tips you can take to reduce common errors that occur in construction management. We’ve also answered a few commonly asked questions about error reduction in the construction industry. 

A solid quality control process can significantly reduce the number of reworks and result in higher profit margins for construction companies. When your construction crew delivers flawless craftsmanship on the first go around, the customer is happy, and you can move on to the next project. 

With that in mind, successful quality control in construction requires the following steps: 

  1. Define what it means to ‘complete’ the project and ensure the crew understands and gives input. 
  2. Implement a detailed inspection plan.
  3. Use and share checklists to ensure all crew members are on the same page. 
  4. Document problems, fix them, and notate corrections. 
  5. Learn from errors and adjust your quality control process as needed. 

Successful construction management requires buy-in and communication from the entire team, from the electricians to the concrete pourers, the roofers to the plumbers, and everyone in between. Everyone must be on the same page. With that in mind, communicate expectations, inform crewmembers of the quality control process, and allow them to provide feedback.

Lack of adequate training can result in catastrophic safety issues on the job site. The better a construction manager trains their staff, the more likely they will complete the job right the first time. Regular training helps ensure consistency and a uniform process. When everyone on the crew has the same expectations, they hold themselves accountable. 

The larger the construction project and the more crew members, the higher the chances of unavoidable mistakes. Fortunately, you can remove uncertainty and ensure accuracy in specific areas by implementing automated processes. 

GoCanvas Construction Apps help you streamline otherwise time-consuming processes like generating daily reports for work orders, change orders, time cards, job costs, etc. Further, our construction, repair, and improvement apps allow contractors, maintenance crews, and construction managers to have safety-related forms at their fingertips. 

This means less wasted time and real-time data sent where it needs to go at the push of a button–which increases productivity and reduces downtime. 

In addition to the tips listed above, there are countless other methods of reducing construction management errors. They include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Plan out work from beginning to end before you get started. 
  • Communicate project priorities and expected delivery dates. 
  • Use high-quality products and never sacrifice quality. 
  • Document mistakes (even one-offs) to identify and correct negative trends. 

Keeping track of every crew member’s hours using traditional time sheets is time consuming and likely to result in mistakes. Further, construction time tracking solutions like Excel worksheets, head counts, and honor systems are rarely adequate. In most cases, the best way to keep track of construction worker hours is to harness the power of mobile data collection apps for construction. Learn more below. 

There are many types of data collection apps for the construction industry. At GoCanvas, our mobile construction applications enable construction managers, contractors, and similar to: 

  • Create easy-to-deploy mobile forms that are customizable, simple to update, and compatible with all major mobile devices and platforms.
  • Improve the speed and accuracy of data collection efforts.
  • Quickly share information with project managers, supervisors, crew members, contractors, and similar.
  • Monitor construction sites and job hours in real-time.
  • Identify areas in need of improvement.
  • Reduce liability and risk.
  • Store your information in the secure GoCanvas cloud network.
  • And so much more.

Are you ready to improve the efficiency of your crew and get the job right– the first time? Try GoCanvas for free today – no credit card required. Roll out your first mobile forms in a matter of minutes.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Create Your Own QR and Bar code Scanning in GoCanvas for iOS and Android Devices

Create Your Own QR and Bar code Scanning in GoCanvas for iOS and Android Devices

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When it comes to your business, productivity is key. A QR and barcode scanning option can make life a lot easier for you and your employees by streamlining work orders, tracking inventory, and much more.

Our scanning technology has been a popular feature for many types of industries such as the construction industry, the service industry, the petroleum industry, the transportation sector, and the energy sector. Here’s how some our customers have utilized QR and barcode scanning to fulfill their business’ needs:

  • Inspections
  • Work Orders
  • Timecards
  • Daily-Weekly Reports

GoCanvas offers, for FREE, the ability to add Barcode & QR code scanning to any of your GoCanvas mobile forms. Retail, warehousing, field services, manufacturing and other businesses reap productivity benefits in using QR and barcode scanning including: 

  • Error Reduction: Scanning data is much more accurate than having users manually enter data.
  • Time Savings: Scanning dramatically reduces the time your employees spend gathering information, especially when doing inventory.
  • Elimination of Paper: GoCanvas mobile forms store all of your data in the cloud, eliminating the need for paper records.
  • Improved Customer Service: By speeding up work order and inventory processes, you can improve your customer service.

Here are the steps to add QR and barcode scanning functionality to your GoCanvas forms.

  1.  Log on to the GoCanvas website and open the forma you wish to use.
  2.  Add a QR/Barcode field to the screen within the form where you would like to use this feature.
  3.  Name the QR/Barcode field whatever you like, “Scan Barcode,”; and press the “Enter” key.
  4.  Make sure to press “publish to device” to make your changes live on your smartphone or iOS device.

The good news? Your mobile device already has a built-in barcode and QR code scanner/QR and barcode reader, which is (the camera app) so, you don’t need to download any software.

Once the desired form has the QR and barcode field(s) added, you are ready to move on to your smartphone or tablet and start using this functionality.

On your device, you will launch and log in to the GoCanvas client as usual and then launch the form you just added the QR or barcode field to. You will now see the text “Capture Barcode” below the barcode field.

Create your own mobile apps with GoCanvas!

Click the “Capture Barcode” button

  • You will now see a green square in the center of the screen.
  • Line up the product’s barcode or QR code within the square to capture.
  • The square will turn green or red (depending on the device) and the code will be captured like taking a picture. You don’t have to do anything more than line up the code within the box and wait for it to capture.
  • Once the code has been captured you will see the screen go back to your GoCanvas form and the Barcode field will be populated with the code.

You can supercharge your application by having your code pull up a product catalog, price, patient record, location history, or anything at all. Learn more about this feature and info on using QR or Barcode scanning with Reference Data.

Scan QR codes and barcodes in real-time and save the hassle of manually inputting information. The GoCanvas QR and barcode scanner functionality integrates with your existing mobile forms and applications to make data collection faster and more accurate. You can also use our code scanner for all types of QR and barcode formats for inventory management, asset tracking, timekeeping, customer check-in, and more! GoCanvas forms are available on iPhones and Android phones and our solution can be found in Google Play, Amazon, and Apple app stores. Learn more about setting up your own QR codes and barcode functionality today.

If you have any issues or need assistance setting up this or any of our features please don’t hesitate to contact us.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Closeup of a handshake.

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

Connect with an Expert Today.

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Automate Data Entry by Scanning Barcodes & QR Codes

Automate Data Entry by Scanning Barcodes & QR Codes

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In today’s business world, data entry is a crucial task. It’s often the first step in any process and can be very time-consuming. There are many ways to automate data entry, but one of the most efficient methods is by scanning barcodes and QR codes.

Mobile Form Barcode Field - Canvas

When building out your mobile data collection platform with GoCanvas, it’s important to understand all the ways that you’re able to streamline your existing data collection processes.

The beauty of the GoCanvas platform is that it allows you to leverage the power of the mobile devices you already own. You can now take photos, collect GPS coordinates, capture payments, and more without the need for additional 3rd party tools.

But one of the biggest overlooked features is the ability to scan barcodes and QR codes using your mobile device’s auto-focus camera.  This built-in functionality allows companies to quickly scan codes into their forms without having to manually type out 12+ characters. This scanned data can even be linked to other parts or sections of your mobile forms so that it automatically pre-populates additional data within your mobile forms using  Reference Data. We will dive more into this below.

Improve Business with QR Code and Barcode Data Entry

Do you commonly fill out lists or tables full of data? Does it normally involve typing in long names, descriptions, item codes, etc? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then QR and Barcode Scanning from GoCanvas is right for you! There are essentially two ways that the GoCanvas QR and Barcode Scanning feature works.

The first way is without connecting the QR or Barcode Scanning field to reference data and just using it as a standalone data input field. This means that you would simply scan barcodes using your device’s camera and have the numbers or text data (QR codes) populate in that specific data field within your mobile form. Simple and easy. No manual data entry is involved.

The second way would be to connect the Barcode Scanning field to Reference Data. By doing this, when a code is scanned, that data can then pre-populate other reference data-connected fields within the mobile form. This can drastically reduce data entry time for a report since all that is needed to be done is the scanning of the barcode.

A prime example would be if you were logging equipment at the end of the day. Instead of having to manually type in five lines of data for each piece of equipment, I would simply scan the item’s barcode and the matching Reference Data would auto-fill in the corresponding data fields.

Barcode Field - Scanning Barcode

Top use cases for GoCanvas QR and barcode scanning include:

  • Facility Inspections
  • Safety Equipment Checks
  • Product Merchandising
  • Item Lookup / Site Inventory
  • Transportation/Logistics – Shipping

And click here to learn how the global shipping company, Royal Cargo, saves over $144K annually by using GoCanvas mobile forms with barcode scanning.

Implementing QR and barcode scanning within your new or existing mobile forms such as IOS or Android devices is extremely easy. To get started, simply head over to the GoCanvas App Builder and begin editing the form you wish to add this feature too. On the left side of the Builder, you will see the field “Barcode” that you can add to any screen of your mobile form. Simply add this field to the section you wish to grant QR and barcode scanning abilities and you’re all set.

Your business will now start to quickly see the benefits of using QR and barcoding scanning, which include:

  • Quicker data entry
  • Increased data accuracy
  • Reduction in inventory errors
  • Improved workflow

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

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How 10 Companies Used Digital Transformation to Improve Workflow with GoCanvas

How 10 Companies Used Digital Transformation to Improve Workflow with GoCanvas

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Businesses everywhere want to know how they can save time and money. Today, the internet is full of stories about how going paperless is great for business. It cuts down the cost of paper, ink, printing supplies, and the shocking cost of storage.Digitizing business processes is one way to achieve this goal—and it’s something that more and more companies are doing. Here are 10 use cases about businesses that have undergone digital transformations to improve their workflows with GoCanvas:

The Austin Company, a US-based international firm, offers architectural, engineering, design-build, and construction management services. The company has a rich history, with more than 135 years of experience in serving clients in diverse industries. Their dedication to both to safety and quality has led to rigorous inspections.

However, paper forms were making inspections go longer, creating room for human error, and making document management a pain. It also took more time for the inspections to reach the office because forms had to be mailed, returning days later.

Today, they have optimized their inspection time by having employees fill out their inspections on smartphones and tablets. Charlie Engel, Austin’s Director of QA/QC, finds inspections today taking only 15 minutes. By implementing paperless solutions, inspectors spend less time on forms, and more time creating lasting projects.

Sabi Sand Wildtuin is a private game reserve in South Africa. Like many other reserves and national parks, they have struggled with illegal rhino poaching. In 2013 1,004 rhinos were illegally killed. As demand for rhino horn rises in South Asia, it’s become harder and harder to protect these endangered animals.

Sabi Sand was trying to track rhino poaching on their reserves. However, using a clipboard, pen, and paper was causing additional problems. It was difficult to map out where poaching was occurring, time-consuming to transfer to their database, and too slow to match the poachers’ attacks on their reserve.

Sabi Sand became part of the GoCanvas Ante-Up program, where GoCanvas donates our product to non-profits. We gave Sabi Sand 17 Android devices and a free GoCanvas subscription to help their paperless transition. Today, they can easily capture photos and document the location where they find poacher’s tracks as well as where the rhinos are being killed with the help of one digital technology database. With all the documentation available immediately in the cloud, Sabi Sand can see where there are weak points in their reserve and how to protect their rhino population that same day.

Newcastle-based Plumbing Doctors were finding administrative complications with paper. They were scheduling jobs for their 11 plumbers. While some jobs were scheduled in advance, emergencies would also come up, requiring immediate attention. On top of that, each job required four different forms to be filled out. Not only did this document management process make each job take longer, but it also required more work back at the office.

The Plumbing Doctor’s team has ditched paper for a more effective digital transformation strategy, mobile apps. They focus on responding to emergencies and growing their business instead of paperwork. As a result, their team has been more efficient,and they’ve found real cost savings as well. “We’ve saved around $40,000 on employing an admin officer.” Managing Director Joe Evers said, “We control our business with only three full-time office staff which is unheard of in the industry.”

Smile Bright Dental is a dental practice in an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Looking to not only cut their carbon footprint but also their costs, they looked for a mobile app to help take down client information, and skip paper entirely.

They found GoCanvas, “it was extremely easy to set up all the forms” Stacey Sinclair, Office Manager of Smile Bright Dental said. Any updates as well are easy to share with the entire office. “It automatically syncs with all of the iPads in the practice so everyone in the practice is using the exact same forms.” Stacey said.

Going paperless has also allowed them to improve business operations and enhance the customer experience in new ways. When they had a rise in Korean patients, they were able to create forms in both English and Korean. Now patients don’t have to struggle to understand consent forms or medical history questionnaires. Not only has this put their patients at ease, but ensured more accurate information to help their clients in the long run.

Fire & Safety Commodities has been serving New Orleans since 1979. They install 22 new fire suppression systems each month for local restaurants and auto repair shops. They also provide fire inspection services to ensure that equipment is operating properly and will perform as required in an emergency.

Fire inspections can take a long time if you’re doing them on paper. They are also prone to errors, illegible handwriting, blank fields, damage, and can easily be lost altogether in the filing cabinets. These errors were costing Fire & Safety time away from customers.

By going paperless and investing in new technologies, they were able to speed up inspections in real time and make them more accurate. With checkboxes and drop-down lists, an inspector can move quickly through an inspection. Pictures can be inserted as necessary along with electronic signatures. An iPhone takes up a lot less space than a big clipboard filled with blank forms.

Afterward, the completed inspections are sent automatically back to the office via a PDF document attached to an email. Clients can be invoiced sooner and payment is collected sooner. Today, Fire & Safety are not only freed from paperwork but also to spend more time doing what they do best: preventing fires.

Cool Frog is an air conditioning company based in St. Augustine, Florida. Starting during the recession, Cool Frog wanted to use technology to keep its overhead costs low. They transformed their maintenance form into a mobile app. This switch made it easier to organize their forms with cloud computing, but also to reach out to customers.

Before, one of their most difficult marketing tasks was collecting emails. With GoCanvas they, “never had a customer refuse to give their email address.” Not only did going paperless cut overhead costs, but it also solved their marketing issue as well!

Triumvirate Environmental is a leading provider of waste management, field services, and technical services to a variety of industries in New England. They help their clients reduce waste and save money. But they found themselves struggling, their safety programs were cumbersome and not fully utilized.

The problem wasn’t their program, it was paper. Today with the help of going paperless, Triumvirate has been able to improve data analytics by deliveringfuller site audits and performing site assessments with mobile apps. They’ve set up over 200 employees with GoCanvas. More than faster audits and easier organization, Jeff Fontas at Triumvirate explains,

“Through GoCanvas, we now have a direct way of submitting and retrieving our data, parsing it, and acting on it when it provides us with new opportunities. We didn’t have that before; we were missing the narrative our forms were presenting us. Today we use that narrative to guide our operation.”

Sonoma Valley Pool and Spa offers premium pool services and repairs to the heart of America’s wine country: Sonoma, California. Each weekly visit requires chemical testing and maintenance of the pool. In the past, all of their service notifications were filled out by hand. Saul Rozema, the owner of Sonoma Valley Pool and Spa, decided that just writing this information wasn’t enough. The tags that were left could easily get lost. In addition, clients would often inquire about the services provided.

Today, Sonoma Valley Pool and Spa has moved from paper receipts to digital service tags. Saul, has found going paperless to be a huge differentiator in exceeding customer expectations. “One of my biggest selling points,” Saul said, “is the digital service tag.” His customers love getting his emails with visuals. “Some look forward to it every week.” With a mobile app, he can easily add photographs to his reports, making it easier for customers to understand work done or any repairs needed. This means less time on the phone and more time doing billable work.

Today, Sonoma Valley Pool & Spa’s paperless reputation has grown to the point of having a waiting list of eager customers! “We’re not even in the Yellow Pages anymore.” Saul said, “It’s just our reputation and our website.”

Fulmax provides pest control services in Monterrey, Mexico. With almost 600 services performed each month, Fulmax was becoming bogged down in paper. Fulmax employees tracked information such as the location of pests, what work was done, and when the work was performed, collecting this on paper.

With carbon copy triplicates, every copy became “more difficult to read and easy to lose” Gabriel Martinez, the owner of Fulmax said. This meant that customers would struggle to understand their reports. Worse, paper forms were slow, causing billing to take longer.

Fulmax ditched paper for mobile apps in January of 2013 to become more user-friendly and customer-centric. Today, their field workers get pre-populated work orders on their smartphones and tablets. No longer do they have to drive between the office and clients’ locations. His workers can do more jobs in a day and focus on the customers, while the billing office sends out paperless invoices more quickly, no longer having to transcribe forms into their database.

Like Sonoma Valley Pool and Spa, Fulmax finds being paperless a major differentiator. “We’re different here” Gabriel notes, “nobody else uses these systems.” We’ve been able to enhance customer needs, clients notice the difference immediately. No longer do they have to squint at pink or yellow forms. They receive clear and concise reports immediately in their inbox. In the end, everyone benefits!

R&R Electric Inc. is a small electrical company in Florida. They have provided commercial, and residential services for 25 years and are committed to providing great services at affordable prices.

Regardless of the excellent service, paper forms were costing their business both time and money. Work and service orders took weeks to return to the office, extending their sales cycle. They found themselves having to remember information from memory, or spend extra time chasing down forms in their system.

R&R Electric Inc. saw the benefits of digital transformation initiatives and transitioning to paperless solutions. Their technicians began filling out work and service orders on iPads. Instead of days or weeks before forms returned, all of their forms were made available immediately in the cloud. They can now email customers work orders right after the work is finished.

Filling out forms has also become faster for their technicians. They now use reference data analytics to pre-populate value lists, making it faster to fill out. They also set up formulas inside the app. Now the technicians simply enter the work done, and the app calculates the job’s price. Not only is it faster, but it has reduced errors in job pricing. While initially skeptical, R&R Electric Inc. are believers in paperless business. “It’s the only way to go!” Roger Wortman of R&R Electric Inc. said, “It takes very little time to implement and makes the business far more efficient.”

All of these case studies are perfect examples of digital transformation and what it can do for your business. Creating a digital transformation roadmap will propel your business goals. The automation of business processes and workflows will save time, reduce costs, and enhance the customer journey. All while freeing up your team members to focus on developing your product or service.These are just some of the many companies saving thousands of dollars this year by switching to mobile apps.Sign up for GoCanvas free today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Closeup of a handshake.

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

5 Best Practices for Small Business Data Collection

5 Best Practices for Small Business Data Collection

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Data collection is critical for any small business. The data you collect can help you make better decisions about your customers, your marketing strategy, and even your overall business strategy. But collecting data can be a challenge, especially for small businesses.

No matter what industry or niche you’re in, one of the things that can make or break you is how you handle data collection. There are many different types of data collection such as survey questions, demographics questionnaires, customer data, web analytics, and more. The important thing is that you have a system in place to collect this data so you can use it to improve your business.

Failing to follow the best practices for data collection can have serious consequences such as decreased customer satisfaction, lower data quality, and even legal issues. Small businesses should focus on data collection as much, if not more, than bigger businesses because they don’t have the same resources to fall back on. A big business might be ok with losing a few invoices a month and can get by losing $10,000 in potential revenue. But can you afford to?

Here are a few best practices for small businesses to follow for successful data collection:

There are many different methods of data collection, but the most important thing is to have a process in place. Whether you’re just getting started with your data collection efforts or refocusing them, this process should be repeatable and scale-able so that as you grow, you’re not having to reinvent the wheel each month.

There are many aspects to consider when creating your process for data collection such as:

  • How will you collect the data?
  • Who will be responsible for collecting the data?
  • When will the data be collected?
  • How often will the data be collected?
  • What format will the data be collected in?

Avoiding time-consuming and costly mistakes is essential for small businesses. Defining the data set you need and how you will collect it from the outset will help save time and money down the line.

Data integrity is essential for small businesses. This means that the data you collect needs to be accurate and consistent. There are a few ways to ensure this:

  • Use the same method of data collection each time: This could be surveys, customer feedback forms, web analytics, or something else.
  • Create a data dictionary: This is a reference tool that defines all of the data points you’re collecting and how they should be used. This is especially helpful if you have multiple team members responsible for data collection.
  • Use templates: Templates help to ensure that the data is collected in a consistent format. This makes it easier to analyze and use later on.

Stick to a time frame: Timing is everything when it comes to data collection. Make sure you’re collecting data at the same time each day, week, or month. This will help you spot trends over time.

Being consistent with your data collection methods is crucial so you can track efforts over time and have the ability to make business decisions based on insights you’re discovering.

It is important for small businesses to collect data and have a secure place to store it. You are probably collecting various types of information from your customers, partners, and employees, in addition to the data you track about your own business. Make sure you’re storing this securely. At GoCanvas, we help our clients store their data securely in the cloud, so there’s no need to worry about file cabinets or physical storage space.

Another best practice for small business data collection is to make it as simple as possible for your workforce and/or your customers to get you the information you’re looking for. No one wants to fill out a 20-question survey, so try to keep things short and sweet. You can also use incentives to encourage participation in surveys or feedback forms.

Instead of asking people to fill out any paper forms at all, why not use online surveys to collect this information? You’ll get your raw data back in real-time quickly and securely, and you won’t have to deal with terrible handwriting, torn pages, or completely lost forms. Watch this video about how GoCanvas can help you go paperless and mobile with your data collection.

As business owners, it’s important to set time aside to take a step back and evaluate your data collection efforts, as well as the data itself. Ask yourself what’s working and what’s not working in your data collection process. Analytics is one way to gain insight into what is working in your data and what is not.

By using the latest features and technologies (signature capture, integrations, GPS recording, barcode scanning, calculations, etc.) you can improve the quality of your data and make sure it is high-quality.

You might also find that one element of your data collection process is holding you back. Tightening the sales cycle in a small business is incredibly important for growth and sustainability.

Now you can easily modernize the way you are collecting data for your small business. Whether you are looking to improve your data handling processes or advance reporting, we hope you consider using GoCanvas as your data collection tool. Sign up for GoCanvas free and give our platform a try today!

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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