Native apps vs web apps—choosing the right ePRO

Many of the suppliers of ePRO solutions give the impression that BYOD is synonymous with the native app—but is it? It doesn’t have to be. Web-based apps are the better choice for clinical trials and here are the reasons why.

Everyone who owns a smartphone or tablet knows what an app is—it's a software application that can be downloaded and installed on their device. The use of these native apps provides software vendors with a standardized method of delivery and installation across a range of different types of hardware (that is Android, iOS, Harmony OS). But is installing software on your clinical trial subject's device the best way for you to go in your trial? Or is there a better solution? 

ViedocMe is a BYOD solution based on the use of the device's web browser, a web-based application, as opposed to a native app. Web-based apps are a superior solution in many aspects. Here are eight excellent reasons why:

• Our web-based app is always validated. Because ViedocMe is web-based, no device-specific validation is required. A native app must be validated for every version of OS (Android, iOS) and sometimes even device (if it uses device-specific functionality) that is to be supported.
• There is zero footprint with no installation required on any device—no software or data is stored on the device and so cannot be deleted by accident or on purpose.
• Subjects cannot accidentally modify or delete data as there is no data stored on the device.
• All data is stored in the cloud—No need to prevent other apps from modifying or deleting data stored on the device—there is no data stored on the device, which means all of the data is safe and secure no matter what.
• Always there for the user—No need to prevent subjects from deleting the app itself—there is no app installed on the device.

Also, ViedocMe guarantees the same look and feel on all hardware, which enables the subject to connect from different devices during the trial. The subject can use their smartphone, their tablet, or even their desktop computer. This variability has additional advantages compared to a native app:

• If the device is lost or destroyed, no data will be lost, as no data is stored on the device.
• Any device can be used interchangeably. No need to replace or repair gadgets in the middle of a trial, the subject can easily use another smartphone or tablet instead, without it affecting data integrity.
• Higher compliance with the study protocol and, therefore, higher data integrity as the subject can continue to add data even if they have lost their primary device.

Download our white paper on The Future of ePRO Platforms here: https://www.viedoc.com/site/assets/files/1342/the-future-of-epro-platforms.pdf

Contact us at for even more reasons you should use ViedocMe.