Food inspection safety is paramount in whichever stage of the supply chain you operate in. Australia is currently home to more than 87,000 registered food and accommodation businesses From restaurants, bakeries and hotels to school canteens, aged care facilities and child care centres, each of these businesses are required to be inspected by the council on a regular basis.
Food inspection often results in a lot of paperwork, for example, data entry, scheduling, reporting and manual follow-up. For years information has been gathered using paper and clipboards, with the data being catalogued once returning to the office. It works, but it’s inefficient… Could the introduction of data collection via a mobile device in partnership with automation be the answer? With countless food inspections required per Local Council, could Environmental Health Officers’ jobs be made easier, more transparent with improved control and accountability, all while reducing costs, saving time and improving reporting capabilities? The answer is yes, and it is quite an easy process too.
Mobile data collection is the process of collecting information via a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. This method of collection offers a wealth of advantages – it is fast, efficient, portable, allows for personalisation and consistency both in the field, and in the office. The result of data being collected in the field is real time reporting and analysis, available both on the EHO’s device, and back in the office. Required actions can therefore be implemented promptly all while ensuring transparency and accuracy. Imagine having your ‘to-do list’ planned out for the next week, month or year, or being able to seamlessly allocate jobs depending on staffing and location. Having software that offers automation to the user allows for increased productivity rates, reduction in lead times as well as better planning opportunities. By automating aspects of your process data quality and consistency will increase, along with reliability, performance and an overall reduction in cost. By combining the tools of mobile data collection and automation, Environmental Health Officers, and their departments, will greatly benefit as a whole. The time and money saved, reduction in errors along with customisable features (such as an in-built tailored checklist) will ensure staff can remain ‘ahead of the game’.
