Digital Pen Solutions for Surveys

"Having evaluated a range of alternative technologies, we felt that the simplicity and convenience of digital pen and paper technology would work best…"
Paul Staley, MD of ERS

In 2007, the UK Government introduced new legislation that means every home put on the market must have a Home Information Pack (HIP). The HIP includes an Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs) and documents such as a sale statement, legal searches and evidence of title. In addition EPCs are required by domestic rental properties.

How did ERS benefit from Electronic Data Capture?

Through electronic data capture, ERS gained a faster, more efficient, more productive and higher quality domestic energy assessment service, allowing the assessors to conduct up to 10 assessments instead of around only 6 per day.

"Accurate, timely and cost effective remote data collection is the key objective of our business and part of the service we provide. Digital pen and paper technology has allowed us to achieve this"

One of the UK's premier property information suppliers chose Digital Field Solutions to supply an integrated digital pen and paper solution for its nationwide team of property researchers.

The digital pen solution allows collected data to be instantly sent from the field for processing, improving turn around times and service levels. Handwriting recognition, including bespoke lexicons for commonly used property search terms and abbreviations, was adopted to reduce data re-keying and speed up the process.

For many estate agents, accurate, high quality floorplans are an essential component of the property sales particulars.

One of the UK's leading property marketing organisations was looking for an electronic data capture tool to improve their floorplan offering and production process.

Having seen the digital pen in action, the management team asked Digital Field Solutions to provide a mobile electronic data capture floor planning solution, utilising both A4 and A3 sized sketchpads.

Almost immediately, the business started to see the benefits:

• Administrative savings - because the digital pen allows sketches to be uploaded during the day rather than the end of the day, the need for second CAD production shift was almost eliminated.
• Improved service proposition – because sketches are uploaded immediately from site via the electronic pen, floorplans can be turned around more rapidly.
• The solution has made life easier and more productive for the field team.