emcs workshop-cambodia
DESCRIPTION
A set of slides to support our workshops held in Pailin and Kampong Cham in November 2007. The workshops worked with farmers, silo managers, provincial officers around the use of sms to support the development of a market information system for maize and soy bean (EMCS)TRANSCRIPT
ELECTRONIC MARKETING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (EMCS)
Dr Robert Fitzgerald
Australian Institute of Sustainable Communities
University of Canberra/ACIAR Project Leader
EMCS•MAIZE
•SOYBEAN
•CASSAVA
Using SMS to improve communication and exchange for Maize, Soya Bean & Cassava in Western
Cambodia
MAP OF CAMBODIA
WORKSHOP - PART A
2:00 – 2:15 Welcome and Introductions (Buntha)
2:15 – 3:00 Background to the EMCS Project (Dr Robert Fitzgerald)
3:00 – 3:30 What is SMS?
Why SMS?
Practical Demonstration of EMCS
Information On Demand - Getting Prices
3:30 – 3:45 Afternoon Tea
3:45 – 5:00 Getting Started: An EMCS Hands-on Session
Reading SMS
Sending SMS
Help & Welcome
Price Information & Codes
INTRODUCTION
• Aim: Broad focus on improving the marketing system and thereby improving the well-being of rural households and other participants in the non-rice cropping industry
• Partners: Domestic Trade Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Department of Agro-industry of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)
WESTERN CAMBODIA
• We addressed the lack of market information through the development of an Electronic Marketing Communications System (EMCS) based on the use of SMS technology and mobile phones
• In Cambodia there is 75% coverage of mobile
phones and 85% coverage of SMS
• Similar projects working in the Philippines and South Africa
WHAT IS SMS?
• SMS stands for Short Message Service. It allows the sending and receiving of messages between mobile phones
• All GSM phones support SMS
• Can send up to 160 characters in one message
SMS
• SMS messages can also carry binary data e.g ringtones, pictures, operator logos, wallpapers, animations,
business cards such as VCards and calendar entries such as VCal
• Text messaging is growing rapidly. It is a $35 billion US industry
• By 2012 we will be exchanging about 3.7 trillion text messages per annum
Source: Portia Research, 2007
WHY IS SMS USEFUL?
• Can send and read messages at anytime & anywhere
• Messages can be sent to a mobile phone that is turned OFF or out-of-range
• Minimal disruption to your work. You don’t have to read immediately
• All GSM mobile phones can use SMS• Messages can be exchanged across different
wireless networks (Mobitel, Camshin etc)
EMCS INFORMATION
Stage 1• Price and market information by region• Link buyers and sellers by region• Weather information• Question and Answer servicesStage 2• Surveys and polls - feedback loops• Crop/production information• News and Alerts – e.g. Health Alerts• Requests for Information (fax back or mail out)• Build local service directories
EMCS
MOC
Phnom Penh
SMS Server
Phnom Penh
Pailin
Kampong Cham
EMCS DIAGRAM
AMIS
Weather Service
SMS TRAINING WORKSHOP
WELCOME TO EMCS CAMBODIA
Your SMS Information Service*Price*Buyer/Seller list*Information*Help
EMCS CODES
• It is common for users of SMS to use abbreviations and codes to reduce typing and increase information density
• Remember: One message can only contain 160 characters
• Codes can be changed and developed• For example
Battambang = BTBMaize = MMaize Price = MP
EMCS CODES
RegionBTB = Battambang BMC =Bantey MeanchayPLN = PailinKPC = Kampong Cham KPT = Kampong Thom PRV = Preah VihearPHP = Phnom PenhTHA = Thailand
LocationT = Town
S = Silo
B = Border
EMCS CODES
Cash CropM = Maize
S = Soybean
C = Cassava
Quality - (A, B or C)
Price - USD per metric tonne
SAMPLE EMCS MESSAGE 1Text MAIZE (or MP) to EMCS
---MAIZE PRICE--------04.11.07----BTB350TABTB350SABTB350BABMC350TABMC350BABMC350SAPLN350TAPLN350SAPLN350BA------EMCS -----
1. Region
2. Price
3. Location
4. Quality
QUIZ #1
• Explain the following Maize Price codes to your colleague:
BTB350BA
BMC330SB
KPC340TA
PLN300SC
SAMPLE EMCS MESSAGE 2Text MAIZEBUY (MB) to EMCS
--MAIZE BUYER-----03.11.07---BTB012444555BTB012444666BMC012333555BMC012423455PLN012447855PLN012444555KPC012444123KPT012444555---EMCS ---
1. Region
2. Phone
Quiz #2
• Explain the following Maize Buyer messages to your colleague
-MAIZE BUYER------03.11.07----BTB012444555PLN012447855PLN012445655KPC012444123KPT012444555------EMCS -----
SMS BASICS
1. Reading messages
2. Sending Messages
3. EMCS Practical
READING A MESSAGE
• When you have received text messages in standby mode, the number of new messages are shown on the display
• Press Read to view the messages• Go to the Inbox menu when you want to read the
messages• Use the scroll keys to browse through the message.• While reading the message, you can press Options
for the following: Delete, Edit, Reply, Forward, Chat, Details, Use number and As reminder
ENTERING TEXT (2 WAYS)
1. Numeric Keypad
2. Predictive Text - some phones have a built in dictionary and this is used for predictive text input, a tool that tries to 'guess' the word you want to type.
SENDING A MESSAGE
1. Go to the Inbox menu or New Message
2. Enter Phone Number in TO:
3. Type your message
4. Press SEND
EMCS
MOC
Phnom Penh
SMS Server
Phnom Penh
Battambang
Kampong Cham
EMCS DIAGRAM
AMIS
Weather Service
EMCS: PRACTICAL
1. Read Welcome message from EMCS
2. Save the EMCS number to your phoneName: EMCS
Number: 012 188 5800
3. Create New Message: TO: 012 188 5800 (or EMCS)
Type “HELP” and Send the message
WORKSHOP - PART B
8:00 – 9:00 Introduction (Buntha)Questions & Discussion of Issues (Sothea)Price Information (Buntha)
9:00 – 10:00 EMCS PracticalConnecting Buyers & SellersWeatherQuestion & Answer
10:00 – 10:30 Discussion (Sothea)10:30 – 11:00 Morning Tea11:00 – 11:45 Discussion and Suggestions for Improvement
Better codes?Better Services?
11:45 – 12:00 Where to next? & What do you need?Conclusion
EMCS: PRACTICAL
• Text HELP
• Text KEYWORD
• Buyer/Seller
• Weather
• General practice & sharing of tips
• Creating your own templates
EMCS
MOC
Phnom Penh
SMS Server
Phnom Penh
Pailin
Kampong Cham
EMCS DIAGRAM
AMIS
Weather Service
WHERE NEXT?
Stage 1• Price and market information by region• Link buyers and sellers by region• Weather information• Question and Answer servicesStage 2• Surveys and polls - feedback loops• Crop/production information• News and Alerts – e.g. Health Alerts• Requests for Information (fax back or mail out)• Build local service directories
DISCUSSION (SOTHEA)
• Better codes?
• Better services?
• What do you need?
EVALUATION
• Five questions (Robert)
• Discussion (Sothea)
• SMS Poll
MORE INFORMATION
Contact:Dr Robert Fitzgerald, Project Director
Australian Institute for Sustainable Communities
University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA
+61 4 18406531 (mobile)
+61 2 62012658 (office)
+61 2 62015360 (facsimile)