PeerAssist mobile app moves to online connection.
At PeerAssist we strive to keep up with the fast-paced changes in construction technology, through features in the app, as well as unseen improvements like maintaining our API. While this month's mobile release may not look very different to the naked eye, there is a fundamental change which users will "feel" and will enable us to continue making exciting advancements in the future.
In previous versions:
When the PeerAssist mobile app was originally built, it was rare to have a connection at most jobsites, and the app was centered around working offline. Until now, when a user logged in on mobile, all projects and information would sync in one go which could take several minutes depending on the amount of data being called up. Additionally, changes and submissions were saved locally until the user tapped the round arrow to "save and refresh" and send updates to the office.
What's different:
Since most users have a data plan or WIFI on their devices these days, we have redesigned the PeerAssist mobile app to work "online" by default, with the ability to switch to "offline mode" as needed. In the new "online" mode, users will undoubtedly notice faster loading time at login, while navigating the app, as well as syncing changes. Now, only relevant information will be called up, resulting in a smaller data exchange, making for much quicker loading time.
Here are some things that change the user experience:
- Automatic Sync!
- When "Online" you no longer need to tap the round arrow to "save and refresh"
- When you tap to Save or Submit changes, emails will be sent and updates will show up to office users on web automatically and instantaneously
- The "View All" permission now applies on mobile
- When we first introduced the "view all" projects permission, it only applied to the web view for office users. It did not apply to mobile users, who could only access projects they were assigned to. Now, mobile users with View All permission can see all projects even when they aren't an assigned team member - but only when they are "Online"
- When "Offline" mobile users will only see projects they're assigned to
- When we first introduced the "view all" projects permission, it only applied to the web view for office users. It did not apply to mobile users, who could only access projects they were assigned to. Now, mobile users with View All permission can see all projects even when they aren't an assigned team member - but only when they are "Online"
- The Online/Offline toggle lets users switch between work modes. Online mode is ideal and requires a data or WiFi connection. Offline mode is similar to the (now) older versions of the app - more information about working Offline below.
Working Offline:
Here is what you need to know about using "offline" mode.
- Using the toggle: When you use the "offline" toggle, the app will need to do a comprehensive sync in order to load all your projects, documents in progress (and more) just like you are currently accustom to. This can take a few minutes and requires a connection.
- Plan ahead! The offline sync needs to happen while you still have a data or WiFi connection. If you know you will be working in a remote area or dead zone without signal, switch to offline mode and sync up while you still have a connection (from home, or the home office, or the coffeeshop across the street from the jobsite, etc.).
- Saving changes offline: Any work done "Offline" must be sync'd via the "save and refresh" circular arrow.
- Work in Offline mode is not accessible in Online mode (until it has been sync'd in offline mode via the "save and refresh" arrow)
- If you are working Offline but have a connection at any point, changes will not be sync'd automatically in Offline mode, even if you have a connection. The automatic sync only takes place in Online mode.
We hope you enjoy the new mobile experience. Please contact support with any questions or to schedule a refresher training for your fields teams.