Abstract: The present invention pertains to a data collection apparatus, including a data input interface which is configured to receive electronic data items from a plurality of electronic application components, a data collection processor coupled to the data input interface, a data storage coupled to the data collection processor and configured to store electronic data items received by the data collection processor as electronic report data, a trigger module coupled to the data collection processor and configured to trigger the read-out of selected electronic report data by the data collection processor from the data storage, at least one communication module coupled to the data collection processor, and a storage management unit coupled to the data collection processor and configured to select one or more of the communication modules for the data collection processor to output the read out electronic report data to a communication module of a remote station.