Last week, in the Do’s and Don’ts of Mobile Device Decision Making we discussed the specific benefits of using tablets and digital pens to collect data in oil and gas field environments. Now that we have explored data collection device options, it is important to discuss data sharing and storage options. “The cloud” is more than just a new buzz word in the tech community; there are numerous benefits the cloud has to offer organizations that collect, store, and analyze data.

Many businesses look to the Cloud as a cost-effective way for IT to outsource servers and data centers. While many field teams may not yet directly feel the impact of the Cloud’s outsourced data centers, the Cloud is spawning new data-related services which can transform how field teams collaborate.

Do: Check out how other teams are using Cloud-based mobile forms solutions to capture data on a range of devices and have all the data aggregated in one place – in the Cloud. Operations teams can use these services to do their own data analysis, tracking, and sharing, without the cost or time required to deploy complex, IT-centric systems.

Most services still enable data to be sent back into an organization’s existing ERP, pipeline turnover, or asset tracking systems through standard file formats (xls, csv), database queries, or web services. Operations teams can even access complete field operations or reservoir data management services in the Cloud without having to manage or install complex software.

One of the other key drivers of the Cloud is the ease with which owners, operators, and service providers can collaborate on projects.

Don’t: Let your projects continue on with employees from a variety of companies sitting beside each other in trailers, logged-in to separate corporate networks entering data and tracking project status. This duplicate work on separate systems is obviously inefficient, but it also creates risk. Relying on different tracking systems prevents a common view of a project’s status – leading to mistakes and incorrect assumptions.

More Thoughts: In the case of Cloud-based project management tools, different teams get a common view and tracking tool. There aren’t data silos on different corporate networks. Different contractors and partners can access data securely through the internet with access controlled by a range of data-permission levels. In addition to getting a common view and only having data entered once – teams can also get data into their own internal systems through web services or a range of other data interchange methods.

Now that we’ve discussed how operations teams can access and store data for tracking and analysis, next week we’ll dig into how to provide a form to field teams so that the data can be collected. Each Oil & Gas field team requires different forms and processes – whether it’s for time sheets, inspection reports, well logs, pipeline integrity, etc. Check in next week to read our fourth installment: Going with vendors or software for mobile form apps?