Lessons learned from developing mobile apps in Africa

1. Lessons Learned from Developing
Mobile Phone Tools
for Field Projects
Can Ozturk Ph.D.
http://developmatics.com

2. Typical Mobile Phone Application
Web access
Short Code
Aggregator

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Achieving Sustainable Mobile Tools
• Customizable platforms
• Integration with other systems
• Systems development in phases
• Government support and stakeholder feedback

7. 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

8. 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

9. Example Cases
• Agricultural Market Price Collection System
• Drug Logistics Management System

11. MARKET PRICE COLLECTION SYSTEM
Smart Phone/GPS IVR WEB
Submit Market Prices
Publish Reports
Non-response follow-up
MARKET
MARKET COORDINATOR
IVR SMS WEB
AGENT
Request Price Information
Timeliness Notifications SMS to Agents
AGRI-USER/ PUBLIC

12. Complex Reports via SMS
• Requires flash-cards
• May support conditional
formatting and subforms
• Difficult to enforce controls
for data validity via SMS