The market researchers traditionally use paper forms to record their information, then fax their reports to a central location for data entry into the company database. More sophisticated companies may have their research staff enter their data into a Web database application. Either way, data is transcribed at considerable cost. Reports accurately and rapidly recorded on handheld computer. Reports are faxed to the central office where a data entry specialist enters the forms into a computer.
Synchronization sends the data to the server database automatically.
With 20 researchers, making several stops a day and faxing back reports, there's enough paperwork to keep two full-time data entry specialists busy all day. There are many other scenarios that benefit from this technology.