Here is a list of features and enhancements that have been released in Asset Essentials so far this year.
Update on Recently Released UI
Sometime ago, we introduced a new asset list UI. This new list incorporates elements from the existing parts and work order pages and applies them to the asset list.
The card view should feel familiar to users as it’s already used for parts and work orders. The floating action button and its options are the same as they were on the work order page. The search design mirrors that of the parts page.
This new UI brings the asset list in line with the WO and Parts list, ensuring that the three most important pages in the app look and feel consistent. This will facilitate onboarding for new technicians and make it easier for them to navigate the application.
List Display
We display the Asset Name, Asset Number, Full Location path, Asset Status, and Asset Category on the card. This provides technicians with essential information quickly, helping them determine the appropriate asset to click on for more details.
Floating Action Button (FAB)
The FAB contains frequently used actions that a user may want to perform on the asset list. Its placement allows for easy tapping to select one of the three actions. The words also help clearly indicate the action you are taking when you select each option. If you accidentally open the FAB, you can easily close it by clicking the X or clicking anywhere outside the menu options.
Selecting Scan QR Code will open our QR/Barcode scanner, which can be used to quickly search for an asset or to start a new work order for the scanned asset without the need to type and search.
Selecting Go to Top will return the user to the top of their asset list.
Selecting Refresh List will refresh the entire asset list.
Search
Users can search by Asset Name, Asset #, Serial # and Barcode when trying to locate an asset.
New Offline Capabilities
To improve performance and to expand offline capabilities of AE mobile application, we are now downloading asset data to the user’s local device. This process has already been occurring for the past few months, and we are now leveraging this data to provide a faster experience for the asset list and details pages.
View Asset List
While offline, you will still be able to view your list of assets. You can still use search and filtering capabilities while offline to find an asset.
View/Edit Individual Asset
While offline, you will be able to view and edit individual asset details, which will sync automatically when you return online. Not all fields available when online are accessible offline. Certain items, such as Meter Readings, Attachments, Asset Thumbnail, Associated Part, and Emergency Contact, cannot be retrieved offline at this time.
Create a WO for an Asset
While viewing an asset offline, you can select the +WO button to begin creating a work order for the asset. This work order will not appear in your work order list immediately, as it must first sync with AE web. Once you regain an internet connection, you will receive a prompt with a button that takes you to our sync data page, where you can sync your work orders.
Things to Look Out For
We have started relying on data stored locally on the device to load the asset list and details pages faster. However, this has its limitations as data can become “stale” if it is updated in AE Web. While users are logged into the app, their asset list will be updated with changes from AE Web every two hours. If they need to refresh their data sooner, they can navigate to the Settings page and select Refresh Account Settings.
Some normal features that can be used while online remain unavailable offline in this release. These includes QR code scanning, updating meter readings for assets, and others.
Developer Mode
We have added a “Developer Mode” on the settings page to allow users to check if data has completed downloading. To activate developer mode, go to the settings page and tap on the Default Mode header eight times quickly. You will get a pop-up window stating that you have entered developer mode. This will now present you with a list of four items we downloaded locally to the device and the status of the downloads. The three statuses that can be displayed are Finished, Downloading, and Failed.
Quick Reference to Work Order Address
An Ellipsis button has been added to the Work Order list view. This button will appear on Work Order cards for Work Orders with an address. When a technician taps on the Ellipsis button, a slide-up displays the address of the work order for the technician, thus eliminating the need to open the work order. This feature is available both online and offline.
Mobile App Dashboard Refresh
Technicians can now manually refresh the mobile app dashboard by tapping the Refresh icon to see the most recent work order updates, and reduce the navigation needed within the mobile application.
Quick Action Timer
We have added the Work Order Timer function to the Work Order list by leveraging the Timer functionality in the Work Order Details form. The Quick Action Timer eliminates the need for technicians to go into the Work Order Details to initiate the timer, reducing the time it takes to begin their work, and the load time needed to display the Work Order Details page. In addition, the Quick Action Timer starts the clock as soon as the Start Timer button is tapped, without requiring confirmation, reducing the number of clicks needed to begin work.
To access the Quick Action Timer from the Work Order list view, click on the ellipsis button (…), located on the top right-hand corner of the work order card.
Asset Details
With this release, AE mobile users can view more asset details before a Work Order or Work Request assignment. The AE mobile team is utilizing the ellipsis on the asset record to provide information, improve efficiency, and mitigate incorrect asset assignments.
To see these changes, set a Work order or Work Request source to be Asset, scroll down to the Asset card, and click +Asset; when the asset list is displays, click the ellipsis button.
Work Order Download
To improve usability and productivity for technicians, the AE mobile team has made enhancements to the Work Order download functionality. When work orders are being downloaded, we have removed the Loading icon and replaced it with a progress indicator banner. While the download is in progress, the Download icon will be disabled until the work order(s) are completely downloaded.
Another enhancement is that technicians can now navigate to other application sections while the download is in progress.
Work Order Details Form Load Time
To improve the efficiency and productivity of the technicians, the Asset Essentials Mobile team has made improvements to the Work Order Details Form load time. This enhancement aims at loading the Work Order details form faster than the older version of the application. We have achieved this by collapsing all the cards (excluding the General information card) and using placeholder cards when the Work Order Details form is opened. This enhancement will improve the efficiency of the technicians by helping them to access the relevant information quickly and get back to completing Work Orders faster.
To see these changes, navigate to the Work Order list and open an existing Work Order.
Additional Sort Options
To enhance the application's usability, the Asset Essentials Mobile Team has introduced additional sorting options to the Sort By functionality for the Work Order, Asset, and Parts.
Along with this enhancement, we have added additional labels on the cards; now, the technicians can quickly sort the respective lists with the new options and arrange them according to their preferences. This upgrade aims to improve the app's usability and increase the technicians' productivity.
Here are the changes in the respective modules:
Work Order
1. New Sorting options added
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Priority - Users can now sort their Work Orders by Priority in alphabetical order.
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Work Order Type - Users can now sort their Work Orders by Work Order Type in alphabetical order.
2. New Label added
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Work Order Type - a new "WO Type" label has been added to the WO card under the "Status" label.
Asset
1. New Sorting options added
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Criticality - Users can now sort their Assets by the weight of the Criticality assigned in the Asset Essentials Web application.
2. New Label added
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Criticality - a new label for "Criticality" has been added to the Asset card in the top right corner.
Part
1. New Sorting options added
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Criticality - Users can now sort their Parts by the weight of the Criticality assigned in the Asset Essentials Web application.
2. New Label added
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Criticality - a new label for "Criticality" has been added to the Part card in the top right corner.
Work Order Labor Entry Description
The mobile team has created parity with the Asset Essentials Web application. The AE Mobile Team has added the Description field to the Labor Entry card inside the Work Order Details form.
This description field will allow the technicians to enter a brief description for the logged time, this shall improve the reporting as managers can now understand the reason behind the labor entries.
To see these changes, go to the Work Order List, open an existing work order, and scroll down to the Labor Entry Card. The description text field will be visible.
Work Order List UI Enhancements
To provide technicians with relevant Work Order details, the Asset Essentials mobile team has added the Area/Room # and Expected Due Date/Time information to the Work Order list Quick Reference slide-out.
To view these changes on mobile, go to the Work Order List and click on the Ellipsis button on the top right-hand corner of the work order card.
Quick Action Labor Entry
We have added the Work Order Labor Entry to the Work Order list by leveraging the Labor Order functionality in the Work Order Details form. The Quick Action Labor Entry eliminates the need for technicians to enter the Work Order Details form, scroll down to the Labor card, and enter details, thereby reducing the time it takes to Log the labor entries, and the load time required to display the Work Order Details page. With this new feature, the technicians will be able to access the Add Labor Entry option directly from the Work Order List, reducing the number of clicks required to add a labor entry and hence greatly save their time and effort and in turn increase their efficiency and productivity.
To access the Quick Action Labor Entry from the Work Order list view, click on the ellipsis button (…), located on the top right-hand corner of the work order card.
Asset Details Refresh
To facilitate technicians’ work and improve their work efficiency, the Asset Essentials Mobile team has introduced a new Refresh functionality in Assets. This feature allows users to sync changes in individual assets from Asset Essentials Web to Asset Essentials Mobile in real time, even when a download is occurring in the background. Users will also be able to see the timestamp when the changes were synced from Web to Mobile. This new enhancement will make significant improvement in viewing and updating asset information directly from the Mobile app.
To see the changes, go to the Asset list, open any asset, then drag down the asset details from page. You will see a label indicating the time of the last sync.
Asset Details Page Enhancement
As part of our initiative to bring parity with the Web application and improve the Asset Essentials Mobile application, the Mobile team has added Unit of Measurement (UoM) fields in the asset details card on the Asset Details form page. Users will now be able to view and edit the UoM fields directly from their mobile app, both in online and offline modes. Any changes made to UoM fields in AE Web will be reflected in Asset Essentials Mobile and vice versa. Changes made in the offline mode will sync as soon as the device regains an internet connection. This enhancement will greatly improve the usability of the app, as technicians will no longer have to rely on AE Web to view or change the UoM fields in Assets.
The two new UoM fields added are:
1. Unit of Measurement (UoM): This is a picker field; users will see the same options in the dropdown as are available on AE Web.
2. UoM Qty: This is a numeric field; users can add any positive non-decimal value.
To view the changes, go to the Asset list, and open any asset, scroll down to the Asset Details card, and you will see the UoM fields.
Part Details Notes Card
With the release of this feature, the mobile team has created parity with the Asset Essentials Web application. The AE Mobile Team has added the Notes Card to the Part Details Form.
The Notes Card allows the technician to view the notes that have been entered for a part and enter a part note when needed if their user role permission allows it.
To see these changes, go to the Parts List, and open an existing part to view the Notes Card.
Projects Drop Down List
As the Asset Essentials team strives to meet the needs of our users, we have added the Projects drop down list to the Work Request form. This will allow users with the appropriate Projects permissions to assign new and existing work requests to a project for tracking and reporting purposes.
