Data Collection: Same As It Ever Was
Magpi has been offering chat-like SMS text mobile data collection since before the era of modern smartphones started with the release of the iPhone in 2007. We realized that for many activities we could eliminate the middleman: instead of sending a data collector out to "the field” to collect info from respondents, we could have the respondents send us their data themselves, using the SMS built into every phone. Magpi’s text message data collection services were born, and there was great rejoicing. 🎉
It’s Not You, SMS, It’s Us
SMS text message data collection has been great for our Magpi users, but we’ve outgrown the relationship. For one thing, SMS is expensive. One or two cents per message doesn’t seem like much . . . until you want to send out a 20 question survey to 10,000 people and each iteration costs and you’re spending thousands of dollars per iteration.
Plus there’s no easy way with SMS to not charge the respondent: SMS sent from Magpi is paid for by the Magpi user, but the respondents have to pay for their reply messages themselves. That’s a major pain, with local carriers charging thousands of dollars a month for toll-free SMS services.
There’s got to be a better way, amirite? 🤷🏻♂️
Let’s Chat
Turns out, you’ve got that better way in your pocket: non-SMS text-messaging. We’re talking iMessage, WhatsApp, and all kinds of browser-based messaging (like the popular customer service chatbots on a lot of websites nowadays). It kinda reminds us of SMS, but we’re not paying any 2-cents-per message charges anymore because it’s all carried over the internet, not the phone network.
And now we’ve harnessed the power of internet-based chat for your Magpi forms. Magpi Chat now allows you to send respondents a link by email (or, yes, by SMS). When they click on that link, it launches their browser and they can answer your form questions.
Respondents don’t have to register for Magpi. They don’t even have to know that Magpi exists. They can use it on their phone or their laptop or their tablet. They just click the link and it’s off to the races. And no apps to install, either.
The Magpi Chat interface
The So-What Factor
So what does it mean for you, dear Magpi user? Well, for starters it means you get all the benefits of text message data collection (like not having to install an app, and working even on non-smart-phones) with none of the downsides (like dealing with local carriers and paying per-message charges).
Plus, because Magpi Chat is internet-based, it’s more functional than SMS: we’ve built in some user interface elements (like multiple choice questions) that make it easier and faster for respondents to, well, respond.
So if you’ve got a large group of people out there, and you need to ask them a few questions every day, or every week, or every month, all you need is their phone numbers or email addresses and you can do it easily, quickly, and inexpensively. Are you a university or other organization that needs to ask covid symptom questions of your whole user base every morning? Magpi Chat is perfect for that. Are you planning a major field survey next year, and you’ll want to follow up with each respondent every month — without going to the field? Magpi Chat is perfect for that, too.
Chat vs SMS vs IVR
Next Steps
“Need to ask every person in your organization if they have covid symptoms every morning? Magpi Chat is perfect for that!”
If you’re interested in trying out Magpi Chat, you’re in luck: it’s available right now as part of our new Magpi beta web application at beta.magpi.com. And you can try it out as part of a completely free trial (no credit card required). What’s more: we’d love to walk you through it via Zoom or Skype screen-sharing (we know you’re good, but that could save you some time).
Whether you want to schedule a demo of Chat, read more at our Support site, or sign up for a free trial and do it yourself, the ball’s in your court. But we’re standing courtside, waiting to cheer you on — and help you get the most out of this great tool!