DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF AN OFFLINE-FIRST SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SERVICES IN VARIABLE CONNECTIVITY ENVIRONMENTS: THE CASE OF REGIDESO KISANGANI

Abstract

In developing countries, the instability of internet connectivity constitutes a major obstacle to the digitalization of public services. Applications designed for permanent online operation become inoperative as soon as the network fails. This article proposes an offline-first approach for field agents of public services. Through the case study of REGIDESO Kisangani, we describe the design and evaluation of a mobile meter reading system that operates offline. The mobile application (developed with Flutter) allows agents to record meter readings even without connectivity, store them locally (SQLite), and synchronize them automatically as soon as the network is restored. Results from the pilot deployment show a reduction in processing time from 7–10 days to less than 24 hours, a complete elimination of paper-based media, and data reliability in offline mode. The article concludes that the offline-first approach is a necessity for the digitalization of public services in Africa.