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When considering the different platforms to use, as of June 2023 PSI has decided to use as development platforms either RapidPro or for more technical complex implementations MS Bot Framework. We As of July 2023, we are also evaluating the use of Rasa.
On this page
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RapidPro
RapidPro is an open-source platform designed for building and deploying communication workflows, particularly in low-resource settings. It is supported by UNICEF, and endorsed by PATH/Digital Square. It is also used by DHIS2 to enable chat-based integration.
RapidPro provides a visual interface for designing communication workflows. The platform supports multiple messaging channels, including SMS, voice calls, social media platforms, and chat applications.
MS Bot Framework
The Microsoft Bot Framework is a platform for building and connecting bots. It provides a set of services, tools, and SDKs to connect to various channels and platforms. Microsoft Bot Framework is an open-source. The Bot Framework Composer, a visual authoring canvas for developers, is also an open-source.
When do I use what?
The table below could be use to provide guidance on when to use what technology
RapidPro | MS Bot Framework | |
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Engagement channel | SMS, web chat, varios chat platforms: WA, FB messenger, Line, others | SMS, USSD, web chat, all bot platforms.varios chat platforms: WA, FB messenger, Line, others |
Engagement type | Structure conversation: users follow a scripted conversation, with multiple path and starting points | Database driven: users are presented with questions that are sourced from the metadata on a system. Examples:
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Examples | Most of PSI’s bot implementation are based on structured conversations, hence they have been implemented in using RapidPro | Laos: DHIS2 Malaria reporting e-Learning: Moodle BotBI: USSD household ITN survey |
RapidPro and DHIS2
A project that provides a fast development path/ integration between DHIS2 and RapidPro exist at https://github.com/dhis2/integration-dhis-rapidpro . As of June 2023, the solution enables DHIS2 users to report data on a dataset. This is a use case that rarely exist at PSI, hence we have not yet tried this library. There are plans to later enable the process of TEI registration and event creation. We should review the provided integration once this new version becomes available.
USSD
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a core mobile technology that can be used to deliver a variety of services. The duration of a USSD session is typically limited to 90-180 seconds. This is because USSD is a real-time protocol, and the network needs to be able to release the resources that are being used by the session after a certain amount of time.
USSD messages are limited to 182 characters, which means that they cannot be used to transfer large amounts of data. Images are not supported. This makes USSD not suitable for complex transactions: USSD is not suitable for complex transactions.
When developing a USSD application, it is important to consider the duration of the sessions. You should try to keep the sessions as short as possible, while still providing the user with a good experience. In general, a session should not contain more that 10 questions (about 15 seconds per questions).