Live Streaming Remote Audit – ‘’Lights, Camera & Action’’

You might be asking yourself, ‘’What is a remote Audit?’’. A remote audit is one in which the auditor is 'off-site' at another location and communicates with the audit team members via video conferencing software like ‘’Teams’’. When physical audits are not required, such as a surveillance audit or are not practical, remote audits can be employed. Recently our company went through a re-certification audit; on one project, we used Teams for the desktop component and live streaming for the site walk-through.

Now I can hear you asking ‘’What’s Live Streaming?’’. Live streaming uses video technology to live-stream an event or activity online. The auditee will use an app on their smartphone or another device with a video camera to show the auditor the site, training, documentation, or personnel.

During the site walk-through component of the audit, the project team used a combination of Teams Platform to communicate with the auditing team. At the same time, the live stream of the video feed was broadcast to a platform via GoPro.com and shared via a link established on the GoPro app. (A GoPro subscription is required for this).

There are various platform options to stream to, i.e., YouTube and Facebook; however, we used GoPro.com as it appears safer, more appropriate, and more straightforward.

All in all, the audit went very well, and the feedback from the auditor was positive. The clarity of the video stream and no lag on the feed helped to give a real-time visual experience and a sense of authenticity to the site walk-through.

Some of the benefits of a remote audit are undeniable. Moving the entire audit to the virtual world might bring considerable benefits to a business when onsite audits aren't possible—and even when they are. Online audits reduce travel costs (driving, flights, hotels, meals), which can add up depending on audit location and duration. This all impacts the environment as well!

Remote audits are more versatile and can be done anywhere worldwide. Preparing for a virtual audit can also force the business and individuals to learn new skills, technology and processes that can assist the business in other areas. If one thing the last pandemic has taught me is that you need to remain flexible and be able to adapt to the current environment.

It’s not all roses; however, a purely virtual audit has inherent risks, especially since it's new to many organisations.

The ability of the auditor to view site conditions is constrained by the quality of the live-streaming video. Technology can create limits; Wi-Fi is not perfect and can sometimes be limited, which can cause dropout and lag. The auditor won't see it if it's not captured on the camera. Poor video quality might reduce the clarity of the image, which can be frustrating when viewing things like Scaff-tags or SPA’s.

It can be challenging for the auditor to read body language or hear what’s happening in the environment; low-light situations can be challenging.

All this being said, my experience with the right camera and a little planning was overall very positive, and it is a viable option.

Here are some things to keep in mind and suggestions to ensure the audit is of value and help mitigate the risks described above as much as feasible.

Take the time to familiarise the auditor with the site and scope of work. Align with the auditor on what IT platforms will be used for file sharing, video conferencing, screen sharing etc.

Ensure your network has enough bandwidth for a large online meeting. Ensure your audit team has been trained and confident with the technology and equipment (do a few trials first, trust me).

Suppose you need to hotspot your phone etc. Maybe backing up with Wi-Fi Dongle would be a good option if possible.

Remote audits require a timetable and agenda, just like on-site audits. I think interviews should be scheduled in advance, but ad-hoc discussions are acceptable.

If the internet connection is weak in some parts of your site, do not panic, the auditor will typically explain what they want to see and ask you to video or photograph those parts offline, then share the video through the conferencing app where you have a good connection.

There are many new cameras and options out there, and the technology has come a long way to make this a viable option. For this trial, we used the GoPro HERO11 Black V-log Creator Edition for around 800 euros, including a year’s subscription to GoPro.com. The new DJI Mini 3 Pro may be an excellent option for outdoor applications or in the civil environment. Its compact size, follow-me functions and collision detection capabilities could be a game changer in specific applications.

What have you used for remote audits? I would like to hear what other people are doing and what innovations and technology people are trialling.?Nothing better than innovation through collaboration!