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 included — and the results sync back to the server automatically when connectivity returns.
Note: Offline functionality is limited to audits. Other work instructions still require an active connection.
How Offline Mode Works
- An internet connection is required when starting an audit. At that moment, the entire audit is downloaded to the device and cached.
- During execution, the connection can drop at any time. The operator can keep working on that audit without interruption, since everything needed is already stored on the device.
- When the connection is restored, all recorded data syncs back to the server automatically.
How to Make an Audit Available Offline in Advance
Besides being cached when an audit is started, audits can also be downloaded to a device ahead of time:
- On a schedule: audits can be pushed to devices automatically, so they're already available when the operator needs them.
- By pinning: operators can pin specific audits to their device before entering a low-connectivity area.
Each audit clearly shows its offline availability status, so operators know at a glance whether it can be executed without a connection.
On simple entry devices, offline mode can also be toggled directly from the UI by clicking on the version number.
Restrictions to Keep in Mind
- A connection is required when accessing any work instruction. The download to the device only happens at that moment, so an audit can't be opened for the first time while offline.
- Clearing the device's cache removes stored data — including any results that haven't been synced back to the server yet. 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 has re-established a connection and the data has had time to sync back.
- Offline functionality is limited to audits. All other functionality requires an active connection.