Nfield CAPI is designed to run on Android tablets and phones. With so many different Android devices to choose from it is good to understand the considerations that are of importance when making the decision to go for one device or the other.

And with so many differences in usage, there is no device that is best for everyone. Which device is best suited for you depends completely on the kind of surveys that you run, the environment in which your interviewers work, how you want to depreciate your devices and many more factors. This document tries to help you identify some of the choices you will need to make when selecting a device to support your face2face interviewing business.

Nfield CAPI device recommended specs

Nfield CAPI cannot run on any Android device. Some devices are so cheap, that they just do not have enough processing or memory power to run Nfield interviews. Also manufacturers sometimes experiment with the specs of their machines with the result that they run Android but not all the apps from the app store.

Make sure that you test the devices that you intend to use for fieldwork before you buy them. Ask your supplier for a test machine, download the Nfield CAPI app and perform a test interview. If this works, and the speed is to your liking, order the devices; if not, then you know that this device is not for you.

What kind of surveys are you going to run?

Although you can use Nfield CAPI on both tablets and smart phones, the types of surveys that you want to run on Nfield might drive the choice for a typical device. If your surveys are very media heavy because you use a lot of show cards or video, you will probably consider 10” tablets to be the most suited device. If you are mainly doing quick exit polls a 4” or 5” smart phone might be your device of choice. Whichever device you choose, think carefully about all the types of surveys that you would like to run on these devices and not just about the project at hand. This prevents that you buy devices only for this one project that you then cannot use for other projects.

Where and how will the devices be used?

It makes a big difference whether you are conducting interviews on-the-street or in-the-home. On-the-street you might have to deal with unpredictable weather conditions or direct sunlight, whereas in-the-home interviews tend to be much longer in length and hence the device ergonomics become more important. We advise that you take these things into consideration when buying your device. You are strongly recommended to thoroughly test if the device is suitable for your interviewers before bulk purchasing devices for your fieldwork department(s).

On-the-street interviewing
When working outside you will need to factor in weather conditions. Especially direct sunlight can render tablets useless because of screen glare or a screen backlight that is just not powerful enough. You can use protective screen stickers that reduce glare but against poor backlight not much can be done. When you expect your interviewers to work in wet or dusty conditions make sure you select devices that are water proof. Many manufacturers nowadays have models in which the openings are covered to prevent water or dust damage.

Extended holding of the device
When your interviewers need to hold the device in their hands for an extended period of time, you might consider buying ergonomic sleeves for the tablets that protect the tablet and make it easy for the interviewer to hold and carry. If your interviewers are working much in the home of the respondent you might want to consider a sleeve that can be used as a standard or even one that comes with an integrated keyboard for easier typing.

Working in unsafe situations
Tablets and smart phones are objects of desire. Not everyone is able to afford these devices so they are prone to theft. If you know that your interviewer is going to work in a potentially unsafe situation make sure they can hide the tablet when walking on the street or choose a deliberately less appealing device. Make sure your interviewer does not become an unnecessary victim.

Mobile network or wifi only?

When choosing a device you have the choice between wifi enabled devices or 5G enabled devices. The first only supports wifi, the latter both wifi and mobile networks. This does not mean that you need a mobile data subscription with a 5G enabled device; it only means that you can use such a subscription with that device. If you are not sure yet about using 5G we advise that you first buy a limited set of mobile network enabled devices and decide based on your experience in field about which type of connectivity you really need. Although 5G enabled devices are more expensive, in this way you won’t end up with a set of wifi only devices when you find that you do need mobile data connectivity.

Smart-pen or not?

Is it worth investing in a smart-pen or not? The answer is not the same for everyone. For most research you won’t need a smart-pen; your interviewers click only on buttons. Fingers are perfectly suited to that task. However, if you are based in China, Japan or any other country where they use a more elaborate character type set, a pen might prove valuable as keyboard input will be drawn on the keypad rather than typed.

Also, if you require interviewers or respondent to create detailed drawings or require them to sign off on their work a smart-pen might prove a valuable addition. In all other cases a smart-pen is probably an extra that you won’t need. If you do supply your interviewers with a smart-pen, make sure it is physically attached to the tablet or the tablet’s sleeve, as a pen is easily lost and often expensive to replace.

Battery life

One of the things you really do not want is that your interviewer is working in field and the battery suddenly dies. Make sure the tablet you are using has at least a factory stated battery life that is 125% of what you would need in field. So if your interviewers on average work 6 hours per day, make sure the stated battery life is at least 7.5 hours. Be aware that the stated maximum battery life is valid for use with minimum backlight. Unfortunately most tablets do not allow you to replace the battery. As almost all batteries degrade over time, you might consider equipping interviewers with a mobile power supply that functions as a portable battery.

Expected device lifetime

With the average tablet costing between $250 and $650 it is a worthwhile question to ask yourself how long you expect a tablet to last in field. With PC’s many market research companies use a 3 to 4 year depreciation scheme. For tablets and smart phones you might consider reducing this to 2 years. Not only because tablets are cheaper, but also because the specs are changing so quickly a 2 year old tablet might look outdated after this period.

Especially when you consider buying a device that is not running on the latest Android OS, do take into account that life span will be shorter.

If looking outdated is not a problem, you might go the other direction and look for a durable device that will last 4 years or even more. In that case consider the more expensive ruggedized type of tablets and smart phones that are used at construction sites. These devices are shock proof, water proof, dust proof, can be used in direct sunlight and come with replaceable batteries. But they also come with a much higher price tag that can easily exceed $1,000.

A question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to insure your devices. Annual insurance costs are often around 20% of the value of the device. This means that on a company level you will need to claim 20% of the machines in a given year as damaged/broken/lost to break-even. When you have only a limited number of devices it is often a smart idea to have insurance as 1 or 2 broken devices can have a big impact on the total cost of ownership, but for a larger field force it is often cheaper to repair or replace broken devices at your own expense than to have the devices insured.

Many manufacturers offer a standard one-year warranty on their products. In many cases it is possible to buy an additional one-year warranty. Before you consider this offer, check your local legislation on warranty as several countries require manufacturers to give a two-year warranty by law. If you do not have two-year warranty by law, the arguments for deciding about extended warranty are the same as for insurance.

Device management software

Often the device manufacturer itself has a free built in service that allows you to register devices and trace it or wipe it remotely in case of loss. These services assume you are the owner of the device so they include no features for content or usage management. If you want these features you will be looking for Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions that allow you to control what users can do on a device and even completely manage your devices remotely. These extra features do come at a cost though; how much depends on what solution you choose, but expect to pay around $20 per device annually for an MDM solution.

Some MDM solutions allow you to whitelist websites that may be visited with the device. Although a very handy feature, it may also cause problems when using public wifi. If you allow your interviewers to use public wifi networks, make sure that you have whitelisted the login pages of the WiFi networks they are most likely to use. Otherwise they won’t be able to connect to the Internet if the wifi network requires a username and/or password.

Updating the Android version

Google releases regular updates of its Android operating system. Many manufacturers distribute these updates to devices sold in the years before. During the lifecycle of a fieldwork device you can expect to receive one or more updates of the device’s software version. We advise that you only update your devices to a newer Android version after having thoroughly tested it on at least one device.

When you are using Google’s own tablets it is especially important that your test extensively before you update them as Google often pushes out breaking changes without prior notification. Other hardware suppliers typically update two to three months after the new Android version is launched, giving NIPO enough time to adapt the Nfield CAPI app to any breaking changes a new Android version might introduce.

However, because each tablet model has its own Android ‘version’, it is impossible for NIPO to test all devices and Android updates that become available. It is not possible to have the device automatically update the Android version. It needs a manual action from the device user or you can push it using MDM software. When an update for the Android version becomes available for your fieldwork devices the person working with this device will be notified of the update. If you want to prevent them from installing the Android update, make sure your devices are managed using MDM software.

Nfield CAPI app update strategy

Over the years we have developed and supported numerous Nfield CAPI apps. As you can imagine we cannot support all versions indefinitely. With this new strategy we limit the number of Nfield CAPI app versions out in the field.

This will not only save time we spend on investigating problems on older versions of the Nfield CAPI app, but we will use that time to add new features and strengthen the current options that are available. This will also encourage our customers to upgrade to the latest version of the Nfield CAPI app and start using the new features we are continuously developing.

We will update the minimum supported version every quarter. So please keep an eye out on the communications we share about this subject. All our communications can also be found in the release notes section in the ‘Knowledge centre’ in Nfield Manager. If you are still using the classic Nfield Manager, communication can be found in the customer section of our website.

Minimum supported Nfield CAPI app
As of 1 October 2024, the minimum version for the Nfield CAPI app will be 2.26.

Interviewing devices that are running a version of the app that is lower will no longer be able to synchronize. As a domain administrator it is important to act and share this news within your organization, so it gets to the attention of the people that should take action.

If you are working with older Nfield CAPI apps that will stop being supported, now is the time to ensure business continuity by keeping CAPI devices updated with the required minimum app versions. 

Supported Android versions
We align our development efforts with the support Google gives on their versions of the Android mobile operating system. The new versions of the Nfield CAPI app will only be available for Android platforms that are still supported by Google.

This means that you will not be able to install or update the Nfield CAPI app from Google Play on a device that runs a version of Android that is no longer supported by Google. At this moment, this applies to all devices that are running an Android version older than Android 11. Per 1 January 2025 the minimum Android version will be raised to Android 12.

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Market research and the technology that supports it are evolving fast, which means versatility is key. That’s why Nfield’s leading SaaS survey platform is designed with open architecture, so users can adjust it to every need. Both robust and flexible, Nfield’s extensive integration capabilities revolutionize how market researchers can gather, process, and utilize data.

From leveraging APIs to taking advantage of our centralized data repository and ability to integrate with panel providers, here are a few examples of what Nfield’s open architecture makes possible.   

Task automation through the Nfield API

One of the features that really sets Nfield apart is its own powerful API, which can enable any manual action in Nfield Manager to be automated. This API opens the door to numerous opportunities for streamlining market research workflows and boosting efficiency.

Benefits of task automation via the Nfield API

1. Time-saving and efficiency: Automating repetitive tasks such as survey deployment, respondent management, and data collection frees up valuable time for researchers to focus on analysis and insights.
2. Accuracy and consistency: Automation of manual processes minimizes the risk of human errors, which ensures data integrity and consistent execution of tasks.
3. Scalability: Operations can be scaled without proportional increases in manual workload. Automation ensures smooth and efficient management of surveys of any size, from small local studies to extensive international research.
4. Custom workflows: Workflows can be tailored to specific project needs.

Check out these examples of how the Nfield API can be used:

• Five Ways No-Code Automation Can Improve Efficiency in MR Operations: Nfield API + Microsoft Power Automate
• How to Automate Sending of Quota Progress Reports: Nfield API + Microsoft Power Automate, No Coding Required

Integrate and enhance using external APIs

Nfield’s ability to call external APIs within scripts is a game-changer for integrating and enhancing data collection processes. It means market researchers can seamlessly retrieve data from and update external systems, to benefit from a more comprehensive and connected research environment. For a deeper understanding of this feature, watch Academy 48 – Request command.

External API integration lets you achieve

1. Real-time data enrichment: Enhance survey responses with real-time data from external sources, to obtain richer and more contextual insights.
2. Dynamic questionnaires: Improve respondent engagement and data relevance by using external data to create questionnaires that adapt according to real-time information.
3. Centralized data management: Streamline processes by integrating with CRM systems, social media platforms, and other data repositories.
4. Automated updates: Keep all platforms synchronized and up-to-date by ensuring new data is automatically transferred.

Seamless data repository access for advanced analytics

Nfield stores collected survey data in a centralized repository, from where it can be directly retrieved for reporting and further processing. This offers significant advantages for data analysis and decision-making. For more details, see Data Repository feature delivers real-time survey insights  and watch Academy 35 – Standard and custom reporting.

Benefits of direct-from-database retrieval

1. Advanced reporting: Having direct access to raw data supports in-depth analysis using advanced statistical tools and techniques, to achieve deeper insights into research findings.
2. Custom dashboards: Visualizations can be customized to specific research needs, so data can be presented and interpreted in the most appropriate way.
3. Efficient data processing: Data processing is more streamlined, as there is less to transfer and convert.
4. Real-time insights: The ability to generate real-time reports and analytics enables quick decision-making and agile responses to emerging trends.

Integration with panel providers

Nfield’s ability to integrate with panel providers is another key feature that enhances its versatility and reach. It means market researchers can seamlessly access a broader and more diverse respondent pool, to collect better-quality data.

Benefits of panel provider integration

1. Expanded reach: Access to a bigger pool of respondents, for a more diverse and representative sample for your market research.
2. Streamlined recruitment: The respondent recruitment process is simplified, reducing the time and effort required to find suitable participants.
3. Higher-quality data: Ability to leverage panel providers’ expertise and quality controls leads to higher-quality, more reliable data collection.
4. Cost-effective: Research budgets can be optimized by leveraging existing panel providers’ infrastructures, which reduces the need for extensive in-house recruitment efforts.

For more information on how Nfield integrates with panel providers, see Integration between Nfield Online and Panel Providers.

Conclusion

Nfield’s open architecture empowers market research companies to conduct more efficient, accurate, and insightful market research.

From automating tasks with the Nfield API to enhancing data collection with external API integrations, and leveraging direct database retrieval for advanced analytics, Nfield offers a comprehensive solution tailored to modern research needs. Integration with panel providers further extends these capabilities, making Nfield an indispensable platform for any market research professional.

Embrace the power of Nfield to transform your market research processes today!

Session content:
– Why can’t I save/edit the quota targets?
– Why can’t I save/edit the quota structure?
– Why isn’t the quota behaving like I expect it to?

Session content:
– Selecting least filled quota.
– Finding “free” quota cells.
– API quota features.

Session content:
– How to combine minimum and maximum quotas.
– Quota evaluation.
– Using multi codes quota.
– Quota frame evaluation.

ISO 27001 is an international standard for managing information security, and a must-have for any organization that is entrusted with large amounts of user data, as we are here at NIPO.

Following an intensive 5-day audit which scrutinized both our Amsterdam and Madrid offices, we are pleased to share the news that NIPO’s ISO 27001:2013 certification has once again been extended. Performed by SGS, this audit was fully focused on NIPO’s ISMS.

NIPO has been certified to ISO 27001:2013 since 2016. We have retained this by undergoing re-certification audits every three years, along with two additional annual surveillance audits in between.

Continuous improvement is at the heart of both the ISO 27001 certification and NIPO. In line with this, we are now working on all the measures necessary to conform to the latest iteration, ISO 27001:2022, before October 2025.

Alongside ISO certification, we also implement many additional security measures to ensure every Nfield customer can use our market research platform with confidence. To learn about these, see Your data is secure with Nfield: here’s how.

Security factsheet

Session content:
– How to set up quota.
– How to check quota in the survey script.
– Handling quota overshoot.
– Changing quota targets during fieldwork.
– Changing quota structure during fieldwork.

Integrating Nfield with your own system(s) can significantly enhance your organization’s market research capabilities, and the Nfield API enables this to be a seamless experience. Here is everything developers need to know about Nfield integration via the Nfield API.

Essential preparation

Before diving into the integration process, let us start with a few basics that underpin successful integration.

1. Understand REST API technology:
   REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that uses HTTP requests for communication. The Nfield API is built on this technology, so understanding how REST APIs work is crucial. Check out this introduction to REST APIs to get up to speed.
   
2. Learn how your researchers are using Nfield Manager:
   Nfield Manager is the interface through which researchers instruct the Nfield platform. To provide the integration capability these people need, you need to get to know how they work with Nfield Manager. Observing and discussing their workflow will provide you with essential insights into the tasks you need to automate and the endpoints you need to connect.
   
3. Check out the Nfield API help page:
   Region-specific Nfield API help pages provide detailed documentation on endpoints, authentication methods, request formats, and more. Be sure to refer to the correct help page for your region:

Your region	Nfield API help page
Asia Pacific	https://apiap.nfieldmr.com
America	https://apiam.nfieldmr.com
China	https://apicn.nfieldcn.com
Europe	https://api.nfieldmr.com

Starting the integration process

Here’s how to initiate your Nfield API integration process by setting up authentication and understanding key endpoints.

1. Authentication:
   
   There are two main methods for achieving this with the Nfield API:
   
   Basic Token:
   The easier, and more straightforward method is to use a basic token, which authenticates API requests by being included in the HTTP headers. You can also see a practical example in our video of automating quota progress reports with the Nfield API using Microsoft Power Automate.
   
   Bearer Token:
   The second method involves using OAuth 2.0 for authentication. This method is more complex but offers enhanced security features. You will need to obtain an access token through an OAuth flow, which will then be required in the header of your API requests. For more information, see What is Bearer Token and How it Works?
   
2. Endpoints:
   The Nfield API is extensive and covers all the manual actions that can be performed in Nfield Manager. These include creating, updating, and managing surveys, managing respondent data, data collection processes, managing user accounts, and monitoring survey progress. Essentially, any task that can be done manually in Nfield Manager can be automated using the Nfield API. This comprehensive coverage enables full integration and automation of your organization’s market research processes.
   
   For detailed specifications and a full list of available API endpoints, refer to the Nfield Help Page for your region, as shown in table above.
   
3. Making API calls:
   Use HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, PATCH and DELETE to interact with endpoints. Make sure your requests include the necessary headers – such as the Authorization header – with your access token and Content-Type header for JSON data.
   

Figure 1: An example in Postman for getting surveys from Europe region.

4. Handling Responses:
   The API will mostly return responses in JSON format, so you need to make sure your application is able to parse these. (A small percentage of endpoints will return responses as binary files.) Pay attention to the status codes to ensure both errors and successes are managed effectively.

Best practices for integration

Adhering to best practices will help make your integration more efficient and reliable.

1. Start small:
   Begin with basic API calls to familiarize yourself with endpoints and responses. For example, start by retrieving a list of surveys before moving on to more complex operations like creating or updating surveys.
   
2. Error handling:
   Implement robust error handling in your integration to manage scenarios like expired tokens, invalid requests, or server errors. This will ensure your integration is resilient and can recover gracefully from any issues.
   
3. Testing:
   Thoroughly test your integration in a development environment before deploying it to production. Use test surveys and respondents to ensure your API calls are functioning as expected without affecting live data.
   
4. Optimized data retrieval:
   When downloading survey data, avoid downloading the entire dataset each time. Instead, implement logic to download only the differences (incremental updates) since the last download. This practice reduces the load on both your system and the Nfield API, ensuring efficient data transfer.
   
5. Respect API limits:
   Avoid making unnecessary frequent API calls to prevent overloading the system. Follow Nfield’s acceptable use policy, which provides guidelines on optimal API usage and rate limiting. Adhering to these guidelines ensures fair usage and system stability for all users.

Documentation and support

To stay updated and efficiently resolve issues, make effective use of available documentation and support resources.

1. Regular updates:         
   Make sure you stay informed about system updates, new features, and changes to the Nfield API. Ask your domain administrator to set up an email auto-forward from Nfield’s update notifications. This will keep you up to date on the latest developments and ensure you do not miss any essential information.
   
2. Keep the Nfield API help page to hand:
   Regularly refer to the Nfield API help page for updates and clarifications. It is a vital resource for understanding the endpoints, request formats, and best practices.
   
3. Utilize support resources:
   Take advantage of the various support resources provided by Nfield, such as reach out to technical support and view Academy session recordings. These resources provide valuable assistance and insights from other developers and Nfield experts. Also an Nfield SDK has been created by Nfield users on Github.

Conclusion

Integrating Nfield with your system via the Nfield API can streamline your market research operations and provide valuable data insights.

By preparing adequately, understanding the API’s fundamentals, and following best practices, you can ensure your integration is a success.

Make the most of Nfield’s capabilities by leveraging all available resources, such as Nfield API manuals and your own researchers’ expertise.

Enhance your integration’s efficiency and performance by adopting optimized data retrieval methods and respecting API usage policies.

Stay up to date on system changes to continue getting the absolute best out of Nfield.

In market research, CAPI devices used for conducting surveys and collecting data are crucial to the fieldwork process. These devices, which are typically tablets powered by Android systems, are essential for enabling a smooth and efficient experience, while protecting valuable data.

Like every technical tool, CAPI devices need regular attention in terms of updates, data management and security checks to keep them performing as they should.

Here are our top-5 tips for optimizing the performance of your CAPI devices:

1. Keep your Android operating system updated

Regularly updating your Android operating system is vital for maintaining device security and performance. Android frequently releases updates, which often include important security patches and system optimizations. By ensuring you’re always running the latest software version, you can mitigate potential security vulnerabilities and ensure compatibility with applications – such as the Nfield CAPI app – as these, themselves, get updated.

2. Enable automatic updates for apps

Like every good app, the Nfield CAPI app periodically gets updated with new features, bug fixes, and security enhancements. To ensure you are always getting the best experience by using the latest version, we advise enabling automatic updates in your Google Play Store settings. This way, app updates are automatically downloaded and installed in the background without anybody having to remember to check and manually initiate the process. 

3. Utilize device management solutions to stay in control

Staying on top of your fieldwork operation calls for the ability to track CAPI device usage, troubleshoot issues, and maintain compliance with data security protocols. All this can be achieved by implementing a device management solution, such as Mobile Device Management (MDM) software, which provides centralized monitoring and control. MDM solutions enable administrators to remotely manage device settings, deploy applications, and enforce security policies.

4. Ensure every device is protected

CAPI device security is always essential, which is why we recommend implementing robust security measures such as device encryption, screen lock passcodes, and biometric authentication (e.g. fingerprint or facial recognition). It’s also a good idea to install reputable antivirus and security software to detect and mitigate potential threats such as malware or unauthorized access. For times when there is no secure Wi-Fi connection available, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to preserve security by encrypting data transmission.

5. Conduct regular clean-ups to optimize device performance

Regularly doing a bit of a clean-up by clearing cache files, removing unnecessary apps, and managing device storage will go a long way to keeping your CAPI device operating well. These tasks can be conducted using built-in system maintenance tools and third-party optimization apps. The less clutter there is inside your CAPI devices, the better their performance will be.

A little proactive maintenance makes a big difference

These five top-tips for managing and maintaining security and performance on your CAPI devices are simple to implement, and will go a long way to keeping your fieldwork flowing smoothly. Optimally performing devices create a better user experience for fieldwork researchers and the people they interview, while enabling your market research company to get the most out of Nfield CAPI.

Already for some time you can limit the access to different surveys to one or more groups of users on your Nfield domain. But until recently the configuration of this feature was only possible through the API. Now that the configuration is available through the Nfield Manager as well, it is time for a proper introduction of the survey access options.

This session is an extension on NIPO Academy #24 (fieldwork report) and #35 (custom reporting) wherein we will show you how to create your own BI report.

This session concentrates on the different scripting debugging techniques and processes Nfield offers, by introducing a new feature called Simulate Interviews. This feature is a replacement and important enhancement on the generate dummy data option in the NIPO ODIN Developer.

Why spend valuable time on routine tasks that can easily be automated? If you’re using Nfield for Online and CAPI surveys, you can reduce manual workload by hooking up with Microsoft Power Automate. Nfield’s API enables seamless integration with this user-friendly automation tool, without the need for any coding.

Integrating Microsoft Power Automate with Nfield can speed up your operations, reduce errors and omissions, and keep communications flowing, while freeing your people to focus on applying their expertise.  

Here are five examples of what Nfield and Microsoft Power Automate can achieve together.

1. Keeping clients informed with scheduled quota progress reports

Providing regular updates on project progress is good for client relationships, and demonstrates commitment to transparency and timely communication. But doing this takes time out of your day and can easily be forgotten.

With Microsoft Power Automate, you can schedule automated delivery of Nfield quota progress tables to clients, as often as you choose.

Watch our video demonstration of how to set up automated Quota Progress Reports using Microsoft Power Automate

2. Nurturing respondent relationships

Survey respondents are the lifeblood of market research, so keeping them onside is crucial. Simple things like sending thank you notes for completing surveys goes a long way to building loyalty.  

Microsoft Power Automate allows you to automate this. Reminding your respondents that their contribution is valued, and encouraging them to continue participating, without any members of your team having to disrupt their schedule.

3. Efficiently assigning addresses to interviewers

For CAPI surveys, assigning addresses to interviewers is an essential routine task. But it takes time that can be spent on other things.

Microsoft Power Automate can take care of this work by automatically assigning new addresses to each of your Nfield CAPI interviewers as required, ensuring fair distribution of workload and optimizing how each field worker is used.

4. Keeping your research team updated in real time

The faster your research team are informed, the faster they can get on with the next stage of their work.

Microsoft Power Automate can be hooked up with Nfield to notify them immediately when a survey quota target is met.

5. Ensuring survey data is immediately backed up

Everyone knows the importance of back-ups, which is why these should never be left to chance. 

Microsoft Power Automate can initiate backup processes the moment fieldwork is complete. Ensuring this crucial task doesn’t get forgotten, while lessening your team’s post-fieldwork workload, so they can focus their attention on analysis.

Integrating Nfield with Microsoft Power Automate, via the Nfield API, enables you to optimize your market research operations in many different ways. From enhancing various communications to automating routine tasks, this powerful combination allows you to focus on what matters most – extracting meaningful insights from your data.

Automation of routine tasks is a great way to improve efficiency in any line of work. For market research companies conducting Nfield Online and CAPI surveys, this is easily achieved through integration with codeless tools such as Microsoft Power Automate and Zapier.

The beauty of no-code automation tools is they don’t require specialist expertise to set them up. All that’s necessary is an amount of familiarization with the tool and how it integrates with Nfield Manager via Nfield’s API. For the purpose of this demonstration, we’re showing how sending reports to clients can be automated using Microsoft Power Automate. This task is one of the Five ways no-code automation can improve efficiency in market research operations. 

Essential preparation

Here’s what’s necessary for integrating Microsoft Power Automate with Nfield:

• Microsoft Power Automate Premium Subscription: this provides access to advanced features such as HTTP connections.
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Power Automate: see Get started with Power Automate – Power Automate | Microsoft Learn or A Beginner’s Guide to Automation Using Power Automate
• Familiarity with Nfield Manager: in order to understand specific tasks and endpoints involved in the integration process.
• Access to the appropriate Nfield API help manual: refer to the manual for your region
  

Your region	Nfield API Manual
Asia Pacific	https://apiap.nfieldmr.com
America	https://apiam.nfieldmr.com
China	https://apicn.nfieldcn.com
Europe	https://api.nfieldmr.com

A practical example: automated sending of quota progress reports

Our video follows every step of the process of setting up automated sending of quota progress reports from Nfield Manager using Microsoft Power Automate:

1. Log in to Power Automate (0:00 to 0:25)

2. Create a new flow with a schedule trigger* (0:25 to 1:05)

3. Create an HTTP connection for Nfield API authentication (1:05 to 2:54)

4. Extract and store authentication token (2:54 to 4:09)

5. Create another HTTP connection to retrieve the quota table (4:09 to 7:11)

6. Send an email with the quota table (7:11 to 8:12)

_{*In this example, reports are being scheduled to go out daily at 9am.}

Happy New Year everyone! As we enter 2024, we hope you are looking forward to a positive year ahead. That’s certainly the case for us here at NIPO, where we never stop looking for ways to make Nfield even better aligned with users’ needs.

While we’re hard at work improving our products and developing new features, we thought this would be a good moment to reflect on the changes Nfield underwent during 2023. The 24 releases made over the course of the past year included the following major developments:

Automatic Clean-Up: to streamline data management

Keeping your Nfield domain clean – by deleting outdated surveys to avoid unnecessary data storage –  is vital for your GDPR compliance, security, and efficient operation. Helping you achieve this is all part of our responsibility within Nfield’s ISO 27001:2013 certification.

To make it as simple as possible, we introduced an automatic survey clean-up feature. You can learn all about it in our 30-minute webinar Academy #39 Automatic clean-up feature session recording.

Maintaining a clean, clutter-free domain promotes internal collaboration and enhances teamwork. Doing this will also help you keep in line with Nfield’s acceptable use policy, making it less likely that you’ll incur additional charges from exceeding storage limits.

Survey Blueprints: for faster survey set up

When you’re creating a new survey with the same configuration as one you’ve done before, starting again from scratch is a real waste of time, right? That’s why we introduced blueprints, which let you quickly set up new surveys based on identical channels and quota frames, without having to manually enter the details all over again. Pretty much like a template.

Thanks to blueprints, you no longer need to hold on to old surveys as setup references. Find out how to benefit from the efficiency of blueprints in our 22-minute webinar Academy #40 – Survey blueprints.

CAPI Fieldwork Progress Report and Repository: a streamlined data delivery pipeline

You wanted a more integrated and streamlined data management experience. We responded by developing a way to transmit CAPI data directly into the Nfield data delivery pipeline, enabling instant availability of comprehensive fieldwork progress reports.

This is still a work in progress, but Beta access is now open for integrating CAPI survey data into fieldwork progress reports and repositories.

Enhanced ODIN Developer: optimizing scripting efficiency

Scripting continues to evolve, and so do our tools for checking your scripts are free from logic errors. The NIPO ODIN Developer now incorporates both the legacy (NFS) parser and the new (Nfield) parser for ODIN questionnaire scripts. At the time of writing, both parsers are currently available, but the legacy parser will be phased out during 2024.

While developing the new Nfield parser, we discovered several commands and constructs that are no longer functional in Nfield. To help you transition to updated practices, these commands and constructs are now proactively reported as warnings.

Additional CAPI capability in Nfield Manager: further streamlining survey management

To make your CAPI survey experience even better, we enhanced Nfield Manager capabilities to enable truly seamless management, including for surveys with Sampling Points, Addresses, and Quotas. Day-to-day survey management is now even more streamlined via a more intuitive interface, and includes added support for Excel upload. As a result, the Nfield Manager lets you do more in one place, without having to use separate tools. So you get to enjoy even more convenience, efficiency and user-friendliness. This latest evolution of the Nfield Manager has led to retirement of the Classic Manager.

Nfield Status Page: providing real-time service insights

We know how frustrating it can be when you’re experiencing performance or availability issues and you don’t know if anything is being done to address them. That’s why we introduced our Nfield Status Page to provide real-time information about availability of our main services across different regions. Through this page, you can easily check whether the issue you’re encountering is already known to our team before deciding to raise a support ticket. It’s all part of our commitment to giving you the smoothest and most efficient service possible.

New Nfield API EndPoints: helping you accomplish tasks with even greater efficiency

In 2023, we gave our users a gleaming new toolbox for streamlining the process of Nfield domain configuration. Nfield API Endpoints v2 is a set of meticulously crafted tools, such as DomainEmailSettings, DomainLanguageTranslations, and DomainPasswordSettings, designed to make your work faster, smoother, and better overall.

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) act as a bridge connecting two completely different programs (e.g. Nfield and CRM / Nfield and Membership database / Nfield and your reporting system. See API – What researchers need to know for further explanation.

With the release of this updated toolbox, the older v1 endpoints have been deprecated, as indicated in the Nfield API help page.

On to 2024, and beyond

Our improvement journey is continual, and Nfield customers can look ahead to yet more innovations aimed at further enhancing the user experience and data collection efficiency.

For every visible change, a significant amount of hardening, performance improvement, security enhancements, and maintenance work also goes on behind the scenes. It all adds up to fulfilling our commitment to delivering a robust and reliable platform for every single one of our valued customers.

Here’s to an exciting, inquisitive, and productive year ahead in market research!