Audits don't need a constant network connection on the shop floor. Once an audit has been downloaded to a device, an operator can complete it fully offline. Answers, photos, and signatures will be included and synced back to the server automatically when connectivity returns.
Make an audit available offline in advance
Audits can be downloaded to a device:
- From the Audit Explorer view, by clicking the Audit and selecting Make available offline
- From the Audit Tasks view, by clicking the ⋮ (three-dot) icon and selecting Make available offline
- Defined by the Device's Offline settings
Each audit shows its offline availability status, so operators know at a glance whether it can run without a connection.
How offline mode works
- A connection is required to download an audit. At that moment, the entire audit is downloaded to the device and cached.
- The connection can drop at any time during execution. The operator keeps working without interruption, because everything needed is already on the device.
- Recorded data syncs back to the server automatically when the connection returns.
Every recording follows the same pattern: the operator captures it, the device stores it locally, the device queues it while offline, and it syncs automatically once connectivity returns. No progress is lost as long as the audit was already available on the device.
How sync handles changes
- A new audit revision published while you're offline does not interrupt the operator. Execution continues on the version already on the device, and the recording stays linked to that version.
- If the same record is changed elsewhere while the device is offline, the local recording still syncs once connectivity returns. Advanced conflict resolution is limited, since there is no way to reach the offline device in the meantime.
Restrictions to keep in mind
- Clearing the device's cache removes stored data, including any results not yet synced to the server. Don't clear the cache while un-synced audit data is on the device.
- Data only becomes visible in the cloud after syncing. Results recorded offline won't appear in reports or dashboards until the device reconnects and the data has had time to sync.
- Offline functionality is limited to completing audits. All other functionality requires an active connection.