Updated on June 3, 2024

·

Created on July 19, 2016

CommCare

CommCare is a mobile data collection platform that enables non-programmers to build mobile applications for data collection, counseling, behavior change, and a variety of other functions.

Developed By
  1. Dimagi
Content Partners
Unknown

Author

Product Description

CommCare is used to build mobile applications that are designed to support frontline workers across a variety of sectors in low-resource settings.

Frontline workers use CommCare to track and support their clients with registration forms, checklists, SMS reminders, and multimedia—all on Java-enabled phones or Android smart phones and tablets.

Target SDGs

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Market Suggested Retail Price

$1,000.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Public Sector Agencies, NGOs

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

500+ projects in over 60 countries

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Mobenzi, emocha, and Medic Mobile.

Manufacturing/Building Method

CommCare was designed by engineers based in the United States, India, Senegal and South Africa.

Intellectural Property Type

Copyright

User Provision Model

Users can sign up for free on CommCare's website. The Android app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Distributions to Date Status

CommCare has about 20,000 active mobile workers and over 235,000 users total as of August 2018. Over 325,000 apps have been built with CommCare, though many may have been used for test projects. There are currently 935 CommCare project spaces that CommCare considers to be active, each of which can hold multiple applications.

Mobile service required

App can work with both wireless and wired networks

Device(s) required

Smart phone, feature phone, tablet, computer

Additional features required

None required. Feature phones may benefit from having back-up SD cards available; ensure adequate storage space for smart phones.

Permanent network connectivity required

No. Data may be stored (and accessed) on end user device until network is available.

Type of applications for data collection

Mobile and web-based applications

Level of mobile data coverage needed

Basic 2G or local area data service (including WiFi) is required to upload collected data and download form updates.

Type of data collected

Video, audio messages, images, GPS and signature

Usage rate (%)

~27%

Literacy support

Yes. There is a comprehensive support and help site available.

Languages available

Commcare can be configured in many languages. Instructions about how to configure different languages may be found in their help site.

Operating system and version

Android 4.0 and higher (for smart phone app)

Power Requirements

Occasional power supply required

Application of mobile data collection

Reduce maternal and child mortality, agriculture training, malaria prevention, retail distribution

Design Specifications

Main CommCare features:
  • Incorporate multimedia: CommCare supports video, audio messages, images, GPS and signature capture
  • Unlimited data storage: We offer unlimited data storage on our secure cloud server
  • Role-based account access: Grant various access levels to your data
  • Multiple languages: Build one app to support multiple languages
  • Two-way SMS messaging: Send and receive messages to your intended audience

Product Schematics

Technical Support

  • CommCare provides free support resources for communities and developers
  • Dimagi also hosts a free online academy and offers a certification program for CommCare
  • Dimagi has field staff around the world that can provide implementation services to help users design, build, and deploy their mobile projects at an additional cost
  • Additional resources are available on the CommCare Help Site and as part of their Quick Start Guides
  • Email and phone support are available for advanced software plans

Replacement Components

N/A

Lifecycle

N/A

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

  • Reduce maternal and child mortality
  • Agriculture training
  • Malaria prevention
  • Retail distribution

Vetted Performance Status

An analysis that summarizes current data from 140 FHW-supported projects revealed that CommCare is the most frequently used app-building platform.
ACIAR and AgImpact also wrote a report outlining learnings from several recent projects/campaigns using CommCare.
Community health workers in Tanzania's Ilolangulu village using CommCare have reported a significant improvement in their management of pregnancies.
The user rating on Google Play Store is 4.3/5.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

CommCare can be integrated with 1500+ apps through Zapier.

Academic Research and References

Svoronos, T., Mjungu, P., Dhadialla, R., Luk, R., Zue, C., Jackson, J., and Lesh, N., 2010, CommCare: Automated Quality Improvement To Strengthen Community-Based Health, Weston: D-Tree International.

Dayalu, R., Wacksman, J., Chen, M., Loudon, J. and Lesh, N., 2015, Adoption And Continued Use Of Mobile Technology: An Analysis Of CommCare Data, Procedia Engineering, 107, pp. 247-254.

Adelman, S. and Capati, J., 2015, Using Smartphones and Tablets to Improve Access to Evidence-Based Medical Resources and Document Clinical Practice by Clinical Associate Students in South Africa, Annals of Global Health, 81(1), p.70.

Champanis, M. and Rivett, U., 2012, Reporting Water Quality: A Case Study Of A Mobile Phone Application For Collecting Data In Developing Countries, in Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development 2012, pp. 105-113.

Flaming, A., Canty, M., Javetski, G. and Lesh, N., 2015, The CommCare evidence base for frontline workers.

Chawani, M.S. and Ngoma, C. , 2011, Use Of Mobile Technology To Support Provision Of Community-Based Maternal And Neonatal Care In Developing Countries, HEALTHINF, pp. 260-267.

Silent Demo of App Building to Preview in 180 Seconds. 2017. https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/

Software plans range from free trial to 1000+ USD per month. CommCare Demo. 2017. https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/pricing/#software

“Dimagi Solutions Delivery.” n.d. Dimagi. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.dimagi.com/services/

“SMS Pricing.” n.d. Commcarehq.Org. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.commcarehq.org/messaging-pricing?__hstc=240960668.84ed8547c52084c06a839e7b08d6f275.1468884917168.1469054382455.1470877056909.10&__hssc=240960668.5.1470877056909&__hsfp=1075956842

“Competitive landscape; D-Tree.” 2022. D-Tree. April 29, 2022. https://www.d-tree.org/ 

“Competitive landscape ; Medic.” n.d. Medic. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://medic.org/ 

“Competitive landscape ; Scene.” n.d. Scene Health. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.scene.health/

“Goal 3.” n.d. Sdgs.Un.Org. Accessed May 29, 2024. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3

“Goal 9.” n.d. Sdgs.Un.Org. Accessed May 29, 2024. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9 

Dimagi. n.d. Accessed June 3, 2024. Dimagi. n.d. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://github.com/dimagi

“CommCare.” n.d. Google.Com. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.commcare.dalvik&hl=en

“Confluence.” n.d. Atlassian.Net. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/commcarepublic/overview#!spacehome

“Language Configuration in CommCareHQ – CommCare Help Site – Confluence.” n.d. Atlassian.Net. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/commcarepublic/pages/2143958174/Language+Configuration+in+CommCareHQ

Silent Demo of App Building to Preview in 180 Seconds. 2017. https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/#features

“Contact.” n.d. Dimagi. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.dimagi.com/contact/

“Dimagi Academy.” n.d. Dimagi.Com. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://academy.dimagi.com/

“Confluence.” n.d. Atlassian.Net. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/commcarepublic/overview#!spacehome

“Getting Started.” n.d. Dimagi. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.com/getting-started/

CommCare Demo. 2017. https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/pricing/

N.d. Wix.Com. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://media.wix.com/ugd/f85b85_cc8c132e31014d91b108f8dba524fb86.pdf

ACIAR. n.d. “At-Scale Evaluation of Digital Data Collection Apps (DDCAs) in ACIAR Projects – Mobile Acquired Data Phase 2 (MAD 2) – Final Report.” ACIAR. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.aciar.gov.au/publication/technical-publications/scale-evaluation-digital-data-collection-apps-ddcas-aciar-projects-mobile-acquired-data

“Sectors Using CommCare.” n.d. Dimagi. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.com/sectors/

“Our Partners.” n.d. Dimagi. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://www.dimagi.com/partners/

Zapier. n.d. “CommCare Integrations.” Zapier. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://zapier.com/apps/commcare/integrations

“CommCare Pricing FAQs.” n.d. Atlassian.Net. Accessed June 3, 2024. https://dimagi.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/commcarepublic/pages/2143950358/CommCare+Pricing+FAQs?__hstc=187943799.ba674a1a3cdef13c5d09b2a54d65c2b8.1431286503613.1435340206977.1435342587932.124&__hssc=187943799.6.1435342587932&__hsfp=312587752#CommCarePricingFAQs-FeesforadditionalSMS

Compliance with regulations

Standard, Pro, and Advanced plans currently adhere to HIPAA security plans. Dimagi is willing to assume liability and sign a "Business Associates Agreement" (BAA) for advanced software plans to assure HIPAA compliance.

Evaluation methods

Studies evaluating impact of CommCare across four thematic areas: client outcomes and behaviors, frontline worker performance, quality of care, and program efficiency.

 

The CommCare app is tested for user acceptance using online ratings.

Other Information

News and awards

 

CommCare offers a compiled evidence base of over 50 studies of its impact. The Australian Centre of International Agricultural Research also released a report of two yearlong studies of CommCare’s impact across nine agricultural projects.

 

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