What Does It Take to Make Digital Data Collection Accessible? With Maulik Chauhan of Trestle Research

Survey & Beyond: The Data Collection Podcast

If you think expertise alone rules the technical training game, you’ve got it all wrong! In this episode of Survey & Beyond: The Data Collection Podcast, host Marta Costa sits down with Maulik Chauhan, Founder of Trestle Research and India Lead at SurveyCTO, to understand what it really takes to drive successful digital transformation. Together, they explore the crucial elements of training teams for digital data collection. From practical strategies for teams with varying tech proficiency to creating effective training approaches through empathy, gradual learning paths, and organizational preparation, this episode is the guide you need if you’re looking to build sustainable and accessible data collection.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to shift team mindsets by focusing on making their work easier rather than overwhelming them with technology
• The "Test Tools Before Testing People" principle for successful digital transformation
• How to make technical training accessible through gradual learning paths and relatable examples
• The importance of creating internal "Digital Champions" to sustain long-term adoption
• Why piloting is a non-negotiable and how to implement it effectively
• The value of building a complete data ecosystem beyond just data collection tools
• Why continuous post-training support is essential for sustainable implementation
  

Maulik is a digital data collection expert and trainer specializing in helping organizations transition from paper-based to digital data gathering systems. With extensive experience conducting workshops and training across international organizations, he is known for his patient, empathy-driven approach to technology adoption. His work has helped numerous field teams and program staff across different countries successfully implement digital data collection systems for sustainable and long-lasting impact.

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Episode Resources:

• Maulik Chauhan on LinkedIn
• Trestle Website
• Marta Costa on LinkedIn
• Dobility Website
• SurveyCTO Website
• 2025 SurveyCTO Primary Data Collection Research Grant

Episode Highlights

• 0:00 Intro: Digital Training for Data Collection Teams
• 2:43 Why Empathy Beats Expertise in Technical Training
• 9:12 Understanding Your Audience Before Solutions
• 14:10 Making Technology Accessible Through Small Wins
• 19:49 Pre-Training Homework and Assessment
• 23:25 How Organizations Can Prepare for Digital Adoption
• 28:35 Test Tools Before Testing People: The Pilot Approach
• 31:03 How Internal ‘Digital Champions’ Save Teams
• 32:41 Building a Complete Data-Driven Ecosystem
• 36:46 Final Thoughts & Recommended Resources
  

Survey & Beyond: The Data Collection Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

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