MiniVAN

NGP VAN

About this app

miniVAN is a mobile canvassing application that integrates with websites provided by NGP VAN. The miniVAN system allows users to export canvassing lists from VAN onto an iOS or Android device. Canvassers can then enter data into their device as they talk to people on their list. When the canvassers connect their device to the Internet over a wireless or cellular network, they can upload their data back to the VAN with the touch of a button. Administrative users on the VAN can then review the data and apply it to the database in one quick step.

Canvassing with miniVAN allows NGP VAN clients to spend more time and resources on actually contacting people instead of on data entry. What’s more, it virtually eliminates the lag time between collecting canvass results and putting that data to work.

Ratings and reviews

Wish it would filter already canvessed by default. Pretty straightforward to navigate. Usually relied on map view to go to the next door since the list is based on map distance and the closest house may not necessarily the street I'm walking on. Overall a much easier experience than paper.

Could do better. In map view, pins are sometimes missing, so you need to constantly cross-reference with the text list to find EVERY pin. Also some pins don't hold a colour after canvassing i.e. when you tap a pin, it shows the colour but when you look at the map, it still looks uncanvassed. If two of you (or more) are working on a list together, there is a significant delay to show your partner's progress. Having said all that, it's still a great tool for canvassing, but please sort these bugs.

As others have reported, the GPS is completely off when using the map view, such that my location may appear anywhere from several blocks to multiple miles away from where I am. Compounding this problem is that you cannot copy/paste or share an address from the app into Google Maps, so I have to manually enter an address to see where to go next. The app otherwise is good, but this is such a fundamental flaw that I cannot reward the developers any extra stars.

What's new

Updates and fixes including
* You’ll now see the contacts you’ve canvassed after re-downloading your list
* MiniVAN will now only show age/sex/party on lists and contact detail those fields are included on the MiniVAN format