This is page to define a strategy for the use of mobile technologies in openIMIS. It’s foundations lie in a report on the potential of mobile technologies in openIMIS by Nils Kaiser but is intended to be a collaborative process among the openIMIS community. This strategy should serve as guidance for some of the software development efforts within openIMIS.
Functions/Business processes supported through mobile use (current and future)
Beneficiary Management
Enrolment
Renewals
Update
Claims Management
Claims Entry
Claims review
Data Analytics
System Administration
Technologies to be used
Android
Java/Kotlin
PWA
SMS / USSD …
Technology | Requirement | Supported interaction | Applicable?YES MAYBE NO | Use case | Priority HIGH MEDIUM LOW | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMS | Basic phone, 2G, Literacy. Shortcode to ensure free SMS | Basic interactions, Notifications. No limit on number of steps for dialogue, but gets cumbersome above 5-10 steps. | YES |
| SMS costs are quite high. Implementers/Users need to be aware | |
IVR | Basic phone, 2G, Phone familiarity. Shortcode to ensure free calls. | Very basic interaction but doesn’t require literacy (except “Press 5”). Can record messages and allows transfer to a real agent in urgent cases or as fallback. | MAYBE |
| ||
USSD | Basic phone, 2G Literacy. Aggregator. | Basic interactions. Can support longer interactions Potential timeouts (USSD is like a call). | ||||
Mobile Web | Smartphone, 3G/4G, Smartphone familiarity. Web server/ domain required | Complex interactions. Limited offline capabilities are available. Progressive web apps can be installed on a home screen and receive notifications, thus mirroring a lot of native functionality. However, progressive web apps have longer initial load times - though much faster in subsequent loads - and require the development of an app according to specific technologies. | ||||
Mobile App | Smartphone, 2G or 3G/4G, Smartphone familiarity Web server / domain required. | Complex interactions. Offline-mode is available with syncing data upon the availability of network connection. |
Priorities for new development
Mobile-first? (for some functionality? eg. enrolment - most of the use now and in future will be done through the mobile interface - does it make sense in the re-design to have UI/functionality that serves the mobile interface better if a choice has to be made between mobile/browser?)
Improve exiting functionality? Which ones?
Develop new functionality? (eg. client portal)
Strategic orientation
Develop openIMIS specific apps? One app for everyone? OR template app for every implementation to customize?
Build ‘modules’ in existing global goods - eg. ODK?
Integrate other global goods with similar functionality? (eg. Meso-health - now open source at: github.com/meso-health )?
The strategy around mobile money
Technologies?
Standards?