VillageReach is implementing ODK solutions to enable a more efficient paper-to-digital process, with potential to significantly improve communications by illuminating data through to the “last mile” of the health system.
Bridging the Paper to Digital Data Gap
Many rural and/or low-income communities worldwide rely on predominantly paper-based systems for supply chain management. Often there is no standardized system for collecting and reporting logistics data, particularly in the tracking of health commodities. The lack of such a reporting system leads to frequent stockouts and an inability to provide treatment and services to patients. Improved data visibility is essential for more timely and accurate decision making by health supply chain managers, immunization officers, and other health officials who experience significant challenges in receiving and analyzing data from paper-based systems. Developed in partnership with the University of Washington Department of Computer Science and Engineering, ODK Scan is a practical and low-cost mHealth solution that uses an Android application to enable a more efficient paper-to-digital process that can
ODK Scan is an Android application that combines a device’s built-in camera with specialized image-processing technology to automatically digitize data from paper forms, simply by snapping a photo.
ODK Scan has garnered interest from a wide range of sectors, including vaccine logistics, maternal health, applied psychology, education, and capacity building.
Even with its obvious advantages, a transition to a paperless, strictly-digital data collection and management system is not feasible for low-resource environments with weak information communications infrastructure. These settings need a scalable bridge between hard and soft copy. ODK Scan is an appropriate solution in this context as it allows organizations and institutions to continue to use inexpensive, familiar paper forms while adding an easy to use technology to improve the efficiency of the paper-based system.