There's an app for that

Context and location aware mobile apps, integrated with allied technologies, are transforming business processes for biotech companies as they offer the promise of greater accuracy of reporting and improved safety and compliance.

By applying mobile technologies to traditional paper-based business processes, both companies and industry sectors are gaining massive leaps in efficiency and employee productivity. 'Consumerisation of IT' and the omnipresence of powerful portable computing devices makes these business transformations more accessible than ever before.

Even though most are very tech savvy, biotechnology organisations are facing the same pressures as many other industries in responding to reduced budgets and tighter operating requirements. Now, new proximity technology coupled with enterprise mobility apps is allowing these everyday devices to make the previously complex and expensive process of scanning, tagging and tracking far more efficient, accurate and cost-effective.

Highly bespoke activity-centric apps (a concept Ovum has coined 'soldier apps') can now be developed far more quickly and incorporate greater security than ever before. Typically produced as hybrid apps (HTML5 web apps wrapped in a native app shell), these offer the best of all worlds. They can be very quick to produce with readily available web skills, they offer the same 'evergreen' functionality of websites meaning no need to constantly download app updates, yet they can access all the device functionality to provide a native user experience and incorporate advanced API integration for dynamic data sharing between an organisation's existing backend systems.

Using such apps on a smartphone, smartwatch, tablet or Bluetooth-linked device allows the user to interact with proximity beacons, RFID devices, QR codes and NFC tags. Such devices send a signal, alarm or prompt and the app reads that signal in the context of the user's location, activity or authentication. This can trigger a variety of responses from the app depending on what that tag/beacon is associated with. Beacons, still a relatively new technology, can, for example, send text, audio, images or video to the user's device within a predefined distance so the user is aware that they need to take action at a particular location.

In the lab

In a laboratory setting, this means that safety systems can be set up around predefined zones. Take, for example, a hazardous area. The user can be notified when they move in or out of a predefined area, with the action they need to take (donning PPE equipment for instance) displayed on the smartphone or linked device (such as a smartwatch). Because such apps are designed to harness all manner of ancillary technologies, you could even interact with other alarm systems to display a warning message on a separate screen alerting other staff in the area. Further, such apps can connect to existing monitoring, testing and measuring equipment to allow an automatic and accurate transcription of results.

Considering other use cases, the transferring of items between locations can progress from a simple 'courier style' tracking at different waypoints to real-time GPS locations. Waypoint scanning of a cloud beacon by a phone/app can instead record data such as temperature (tissue or bone samples need to be kept below -196°C for example), even convey to the user the action required when picked up or reaching the delivery point. This could be a check list, risk assessment or safety sheet. In the case of a check list in an app, it could also display images of the item for visual identification as items are checked off or scanned. Such procedures can be made mandatory under an app so if they're not followed then a notification can be sent to other staff within the organisation or even outside entities like government regulators or health authorities.

Designing an app with secure login and integrating that app with the organisation's identity and access systems means the options presented to each user under different scenarios can vary with their level of authority, controlled by the backend system. When the user moves into an area, for example, they can be authorised to open cabinets, operate equipment or move items from one area to another.

As smartwatches, Bluetooth wristbands and even biometric clothing are becoming more commonplace and affordable; these can also interact with a user's app to enforce security and/or monitor the wearer's wellbeing. In many biotechnology and medical organisations, both government and commercial, the monitoring of staff movements is important. Traditionally managing secure access to specific areas is carried out by ID card or tag based security systems but proximity devices and mobile apps linked to wearables that monitor a user's unique heart rate (ECG) or fingerprint scan can now provide a higher level of biometric authentication. Such technologies can even replace a user's ID to access an app and before too long we'll be at a point where we're able to monitor basic functions of pulse, temperature, respiration and stress levels during their work activities.

Already these activity-based apps are being used in other industries to streamline and transform business processes. Organisations as diverse as airports, banks, local councils, construction firms, health and community care providers are uncovering both time and cost savings along with a better and deeper level of data capture. From a safety and compliance perspective, these organisations are also using mobile apps to manage job risk analysis as well as confirming the level of competency of staff to perform high-risk or skilled functions. Checking a user has the credentials to sign off on an activity and then activating alternate workflows for the transformed business process is another vital role activity-based apps can play.

From government laboratories to commercial medical and biotech organisations, the possibilities are endless in improving safety and efficiencies using these new integrated technologies.

*Bob Mudge is a Director of Scan Smart Australia and has been involved in both the medical and the mobile app fields for many years working with a diverse range of medical and bio-medical clients. The company is currently engaged with a number of biotech companies to advise and build out the mobile strategies, policies and technologies behind such innovative work practices.