Fulcrum in Ecology

Fulcrum is, or should be, the industry standard for Ecology data collection. The ability to generate literally any style of form from plain text boxes to hundreds of option drop-downs, means that you can keep up with the demands of surveying nature. This software has saved time, money and a lot of peoples hairlines within my own company, and I am sure within numerous other consultancies.

Pros

The simple but infinite customisation options for each app that you design mean you can have very strict control over the data you collect, which is crucial in ecology due to the diversity of survey work that takes place. Additionally, as the industry often demands unsociable hours, the ability to sync the device to a central shared database with a number of users reduces the amount of time you're waiting for data from colleaugues. And another obvious benefit in an industry based outdoors, is that you can survey in the rain without getting paper mache survey sheets!

Cons

The only issue I have encountered with Fuclrum is the accuracy of it's GPS tracking (which may actually be a device issue). This has sometimes led to individual small data points such as trees in a woodland being mapped a short, sometimes long, distance from their actual location. However, this is easily resolved within the app itself with patience.

My experience in the world of Online Forms and Data Collection

QA inspection, Incoming material inspection, Calibration records, Welding inspection, Factory machine reporting on servicing and repairs, Final Product inspection, Leave form, Non Conforming report, Packing lists, Site inspection report, Estimate cost calculation, Quotation monitoring report

Pros

I have been looking for months for a ''form / database'' online system for our production and QA inspection and monitoring. I have tried many of Fulcrum's competitors but they all - just didn't just have everything I needed... Always something that stopped me during the trial period. I found Fulcrum, and tested it and it grew on me the more I used it. The forms are simple to write and simple to alter and amend. The access is easy from phone. tablet and computer. The data is easy to search and check. We now use it in every part of the business. Estimates, QA inspection, Covid19 inspection, health inspection, leave forms so many forms. It is now a key part of the business.

Cons

My main issue with Fulcrum, which lets is down compared to others, is the PDF file / report is creates. Not even using the company logo within the report. Not able to edit it - even simple editting. No Bold or change of font. No .... Nothing.. You get what they give you, or you can pay a lot of money for a custom report, which you then can not change the form or the report in the future... without paying a lot more.

end user friendly

Easy to program forms, flawless communication between office staff and field crews, great to document field procedures/tasks, easy to generate reports by exporting data to Excel, end user friendly, for sure there is room for improvement but good investment.

Pros

We were able to get our field crews to use iPads for the first time in many cases, and now they love it

Cons

There are limitations, it not an asset management software package

Don't trust these people with your data, they will use it against you!

It took about a year to really become fully dependent on Fulcrum. Once we where, letters began to arrive at expired email addresses threatening to cut off our service. Our use had not changed in a year. No efforts were made to inform us that we where using the service outside of the terms and services. As far as I can tell, those terms and services changed or appeared after a year, and we where forced to pay 4 times more than we where paying or we would abruptly loose service. DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE WITH YOUR DATA!

Pros

Any pro's about this services is negated when after a year of consistent use you and your data are threatened without discussion.

Cons

A year into consistent use of Fulcrum they attempt to contact me, through an expired email, to threaten to cut of our service. Our usage of Fulcrum had not changed over that year; but once dependent on their system, they insisted we pay them nearly 5 times what we had previously been paying. As far as I'm concerned this is paramount to blackmail; and I would warn anyone to be ware of the services they offer. If you have are looking for data collection or management services, keep looking!

Fulcrum App Field use

Pros

Fulcrum is easy to customize for a variety of field applications. Currently I use it to locate and identify utility poles which need to be surveyed for my company. We work in two person teams and can synchronize each record as we go to verify which poles have been completed by the other team member. We also take reference photos which are associated with each record. It is easy to modify, add or delete records as we go which allows us to create documentation showing the current field conditions. Fulcrum has a feature set which makes creating the appropriate data collection and reporting formats easy to control.

Cons

A better compass / directional indicator on the screen would be useful.