The implementation process for PaperSurvey software is straightforward and designed to be user-friendly, allowing organizations to quickly set up and start using the platform. Here is a typical implementation process:
Registration and Setup: Users begin by registering for an account on PaperSurvey.io. The platform offers a 14-day free trial, which does not require a credit card, allowing users to explore its features without any initial commitment.
Survey Creation: Once registered, users can create surveys using the online survey creator. The platform provides various question types and text formatting options, enabling users to design surveys tailored to their needs.
Printing and Distribution: After designing the survey, users print the paper forms. Each page is marked with a unique identifier to prevent duplicate uploads and simplify the scanning process.
Data Collection: The printed surveys are distributed to respondents, and once completed, they are collected for scanning.
Scanning and Uploading: Users scan the completed surveys and upload the scanned files to the PaperSurvey platform. The software's AI recognition technologies automatically process the data, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
Data Analysis: Once the data is processed, users can analyze the results online or export the data in formats like CSV, Excel, or SPSS for further analysis.
The entire process, from survey creation to data analysis, can be completed in a matter of minutes once the surveys are collected and scanned, significantly reducing the time typically required for manual data entry.
Customisation
PaperSurvey software offers extensive customization options to fit specific business needs:
Survey Design: Users can customize survey designs with various question types, text formatting, and branding elements such as logos, colors, and fonts. This allows organizations to create surveys that align with their branding and specific requirements.
Multilingual Support: The platform supports multilingual surveys, enabling organizations to print surveys in multiple languages and analyze responses from a single datasheet.
Dynamic Forms: With the data merge tool, users can dynamically insert information and pre-fill forms before printing, allowing for personalized survey experiences.
Integration Capabilities: PaperSurvey integrates with other applications via Dropbox and Zapier, allowing users to streamline their workflows and manage data efficiently. The platform also supports Google Sheets integration, enhancing its functionality for data management.
Custom Features: If a specific feature is needed that is not currently available, users can reach out to PaperSurvey for potential customization. The software developers are open to adding new features if they find them beneficial for a broader audience, or they can implement specific features for an additional cost.
These customization capabilities make PaperSurvey a versatile tool that can be adapted to meet the diverse needs of different organizations, whether they require specific survey formats, integration with other software, or unique data management solutions.
Additional Costs
PaperSurvey offers different pricing plans, which include various features and limits on usage. The pricing plans are structured as follows:
Standard Plan: Costs $16.60 per month (billed annually, excluding VAT) and includes the ability to upload up to 1,000 pages per month with handwritten text recognition for up to 3,000 fields. This plan supports one user account and one team, offering features like Optical Mark Recognition (OMR), unlimited questions and surveys, and integration with Dropbox and Zapier.
Enterprise Plan: Priced at $41.67 per month (billed annually, excluding VAT) and allows for up to 5,000 pages per month and handwritten text recognition for up to 9,000 fields. It supports up to five user accounts and includes additional features like multilingual surveys and prioritized data processing.
Enterprise Plus Plan: Costs $104.17 per month (billed annually, excluding VAT) with a capacity of 10,000 pages per month and handwritten text recognition for up to 18,000 fields. This plan provides up to 15 user accounts, priority support, phone support, and the ability to connect to Business Intelligence software.
Training
PaperSurvey is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, requiring no formal training to get started. The platform emphasizes ease of use, with no complex configurations or extensive trial and error needed. The company offers excellent customer service, which is highlighted by users as being responsive and accommodating to feedback and design improvements.
Security Measures
PaperSurvey software employs several security measures to ensure the protection of data collected through its platform. As a cloud-based solution, PaperSurvey leverages the latest advancements in cloud security to safeguard user data.
Data Encryption: Encryption is a critical component of data security, protecting information both during transmission and while at rest. Although specific details about encryption protocols used by PaperSurvey are not provided, it is common for cloud-based services to implement SSL encryption to secure data transmission.
Access Controls: Implementing strict access controls ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. This includes user authentication mechanisms such as password protection and potentially single sign-on (SSO) options.
Regular Monitoring and Updates: Continuous monitoring of the cloud infrastructure helps in identifying and mitigating potential security threats. Regular updates and patches are essential to protect against vulnerabilities.
Data Anonymization and Deletion: Options for data anonymization and deletion can help in complying with privacy regulations and ensuring that sensitive information is not retained longer than necessary.
Compliance with Regulations: While specific compliance details for PaperSurvey are not mentioned, adherence to data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is crucial for any platform handling personal data.
These measures collectively contribute to a secure environment for managing survey data, protecting it from unauthorized access and potential breaches. Users should verify specific security features and compliance certifications directly with PaperSurvey to ensure they meet their organizational requirements.
Updates
Automatic Updates:
All software updates and new features are automatically released to all customers, ensuring that users always have access to the latest improvements without needing to manage updates themselves.
Testing and Validation:
Updates are thoroughly tested in a separate environment that mimics real conditions to identify and fix any issues before deployment.
Communication:
Users, stakeholders, and support staff are notified about updates, their duration, and expected outcomes to minimize disruption and ensure smooth transitions.
Data Ownership and Portability
Data Ownership
PaperSurvey's policy on data ownership is designed to ensure that users retain control over their data while also adhering to relevant legal and ethical standards. Here are the key points:
User Ownership:
Users retain ownership of their data. This means that they have the right to access, modify, copy, or remove their data as they see fit.
Licensing and Permissions:
Data licensing is the formal act of the owner giving some rights to a specific user while retaining ownership of the data set. If the research team does not own the data set to be analyzed, it must enter into a licensing agreement to access the data for research purposes.
The terms of use for data should specify what data elements will be received, the purposes for which the data will be used, and who will have access to the data.
Institutional Policies:
Institutions like Harvard University assert ownership over research data generated at the university, under its auspices, or with its resources. This is to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and requirements of research sponsors.
Researchers and institutions must work in partnership to fulfill obligations related to data management and intellectual property rights.
Data Portability
PaperSurvey's policy on data portability ensures that users can easily transfer their data to other platforms. Here are the key points:
Export Formats:
Users can export their data in various formats, including CSV, Excel, Google Sheets, SPSS, and PDF. These formats are structured, commonly used, and machine-readable, making them suitable for data portability.
Compliance with GDPR:
PaperSurvey is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which includes provisions for data portability. This means users have the right to receive their personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit that data to another controller without hindrance.
Technical Feasibility:
In exercising the right to data portability, users also have the right to have their personal data transmitted directly from PaperSurvey to another controller if technically feasible.
Data Portability Requests:
Users can request the transfer of their data to another party. The process involves verifying the identity of the requester and ensuring that the request does not infringe on the rights of any other person.
Scaling Up / Down
PaperSurvey provides flexible options for scaling your subscription plan according to your organizational needs. Here are the key terms related to scaling up or down:
Plan Changes: Users can change or upgrade their subscription plan at any time by accessing the Subscription settings within their PaperSurvey.io account. This flexibility allows organizations to adjust their plan to better fit their current usage requirements.
Prorated Billing: When upgrading or downgrading a plan, PaperSurvey applies prorated billing. This means that any unused time from the current plan is credited towards the next payment. For example, if you switch from a $20/month plan to a $50/month plan halfway through the billing cycle, $10 would be credited back to you, and the first month of the new plan would cost $40 instead of $50.
Cancellation: Users can also cancel their subscription through the Subscription settings. The cancellation will take effect at the end of the current billing cycle, allowing the user to continue using the service until that time.
These terms provide a degree of financial flexibility, enabling organizations to scale their usage up or down without incurring unnecessary costs or disruptions to service. For specific details or custom requirements, users are encouraged to contact PaperSurvey directly.
The terms & conditions for contract renewal and cancellation
Automatic Renewal:
Subscriptions are typically annual and automatically renew at the end of each subscription period. Users can cancel the renewal through their account settings, by raising a support ticket, or by emailing the support team at least 31 days before the end of the subscription period.
Cancellation Process:
To cancel a subscription, users need to log in to their account, click 'Cancel Subscription,' and follow the instructions. This will stop any further charges.
Refund Policy:
Upon cancellation, the subscription remains active until the end of the billing cycle. No refunds are provided for the remaining period of the subscription.
Effects of Downgrading:
If an account is downgraded from a Paid Plan to a Basic Plan, users may lose data, content, features, or capacity. PaperSurvey is not responsible for any losses resulting from such a downgrade.
Non-Payment:
If users do not pay the fees for services, their Paid Plan may be switched to a Basic Plan, which could result in data and feature loss.
Compliance
ISO 27001:
This certification confirms that PaperSurvey's servers have undergone thorough security audits and adhere to industry best practices for information security management.
SOC 2 Type II:
This certification ensures that PaperSurvey's servers meet rigorous security standards, focusing on the protection of customer data and the effectiveness of the company's internal controls.
GDPR Compliance:
PaperSurvey is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring that users' personal data is handled under European data protection laws.