GPS logging is a game-changer when it comes to improving accuracy, reliability and relevance of market research surveys. From conducting face-to-face interviews to mystery shopping and retail store auditing, GPS logging brings additional layers of insight that let you work smarter and deliver more meaningful results.

Here’s an overview of what GPS logging is, and how it benefits market research.

What is GPS logging in surveys?

GPS logging is the process of capturing and storing geolocation coordinates at the point where market research interviews are conducted. These coordinates are tied to the survey responses, providing precise geographical context.

GPS logging leverages existing GPS functionality in the smartphones and tablets used to record interview responses.

Why use GPS logging in market research?

1. Location verification reduces risk of fake responses

GPS logging provides a powerful means of validating survey data and assuring its integrity. It enables researchers to track exactly where fieldwork is being carried out, to ensure it’s taking place in the intended locations. For example, in mystery shopping or retail audits, GPS coordinates can confirm that interviewers actually visited the specified stores or locations. Using GPS logging thereby reduces the risk of fraudulent or fabricated data, which is the case when surveys are filled out remotely instead of at the designated site.

2. Enhanced location-specific insights

Because GPS logging enables researchers to map survey responses geographically, it also delivers insights into regional or location-specific trends. For example, a beverage company may discover that consumer preferences vary significantly between urban and rural areas, and this helps them fine-tune their distribution strategy.

3. Improved fieldwork management

For studies involving large-scale field teams, GPS logging enables real-time tracking of interviewer activity. This is helpful for ensuring full coverage of assigned areas, as supervisors can monitor progress and adjust fieldwork schedules dynamically to optimize efficiency.

4. Enriched insights through correlations with external datasets

GPS data can also be enriched with external geospatial datasets, such as demographics, traffic patterns, or weather conditions. This adds another dimension to market research insights, revealing correlations that might otherwise go unnoticed.

In summary, GPS logging enhances market research survey quality and efficiency in many ways, making the results even more valuable.

Utilizing GPS logging in Nfield surveys

GPS logging is easily applied in Nfield surveys via three different options:

• Location capture at interview start: verifies the location where questioning began.
• Location capture at interview end: verifies the location where the final response was entered.
• Continuous GPS tracking throughout interview: records location where each question is answered. This monitoring of movement throughout the interview provides deeper behavioral insights and goes further in preventing fraudulent responses.

Learn more about GPS logging and how to integrate it in Nfield surveys

To explore GPS logging in deeper detail and learn how to integrate it effectively into your market research activities, check out our NIPO Academy session Academy 57: GPS location fix.

At NIPO, we’ve always prioritized the principles of security, privacy, compliance, and transparency in everything we do. These values form the foundation of the Nfield platform, ensuring every user can confidently entrust us with their data. The Nfield Trust Center supports our commitment to these principles by providing access to all relevant documentation. 

What is the Nfield Trust Center? 

The Nfield Trust Center is a central repository for all information related to our practices around security, compliance, and privacy. It facilitates full transparency into how we handle and protect our users’ data, providing documentation that can also be shared with market research clients to demonstrate Nfield’s reliability. 

The Nfield Trust Center provides access to essential documents and resources covering: 

1. Security: Insights into the robust measures we employ to protect data. 
2. Compliance: An overview of how Nfield aligns with global and regional regulations. 
3. Privacy: Details about our commitment to safeguarding sensitive information. 

Benefits for market researchers 

The Nfield Trust Center is a practical resource that market researchers can turn to for information, reassurance and guidance. It provides transparency which can be shared with clients, to breed the trust that is a cornerstone of successful partnerships and supports business growth.  

Confidence-building transparency 
Providing centralized access to all key documents and information, the Nfield Trust Center ensures researchers can obtain everything needed for building client confidence. Whether it’s a security policy, compliance certification, or privacy guidelines, it’s all here to view and share. 

Authoritative reassurance 
When market research clients have questions about data security, compliance, or privacy, the Nfield Trust Center equips Nfield users with clear and authoritative answers. As well as providing reassurance, this helps market research businesses demonstrate their own commitment to ethical and secure research practices. 

Alignment with global standards 
The Nfield platform is designed to meet or exceed international standards for data protection, including GDPR and ISO certifications. The Nfield Trust Center enables market researchers to confidently navigate and comply with these regulations, thereby reducing risk and fostering compliance. 

Looking forward 

NIPO is committed to continually enhancing the Nfield Trust Center, ensuring it remains a valuable resource for researchers worldwide. As we expand and refine our offerings, you can look forward to even greater transparency and support.  Take a moment to explore the Nfield Trust Center and find out for yourself how it can benefit your market research business.

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.

ISO certificate

We recorded an additional session on quota, as an extension to the session wherein we explained the basics. In this webinar we explain the new feature of the *QUOTA command that can be used in ODIN survey scripts, allowing the quota in the Nfield Manager to be created automatically once the script is uploaded.

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.