topic Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile) in ArcGIS Workforce Questions

Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

PlaninforAdmin — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:01:09 GMT

Hello GIS friends. I am having trouble getting my field workers to receive notifications in real time.

I do not know what configuration I should touch to speed up the search for new tasks on the devices, all my users are android and the notifications take up to an hour to appear on the device.
I have activated in the app the option that says automatic synchronization. But it is useless.

There is some solution for this big problem. Since it is useless if this continues to work like this.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

Anonymous User — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 20:31:10 GMT

Hi @PlaninforAdmin

Currently Workforce syncs every 15 minutes while in the foreground. It does not sync in the background. Some more details are available here: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/workforce/faqs/faqs-general.htm#anchor16

How frequently would you need a sync to occur? Would a way to configure it be every 5 minutes work?

Do you need to receive updates while the app is back-grounded?

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

PlaninforAdmin — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:11:06 GMT

Thanks for answering.

In real time it would be optimal, because we need it to send resources to the field in emergency situations (fire calls for example), where 5 or 15 minutes of delay can make a difference.
Unfortunately it doesn't work like that. I remember last year creating demos that worked instantly.

So you would not have any possibility to configure this time according to need?

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

Anonymous User — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 14:54:35 GMT

That makes a lot of sense. Yes, in the older version of Workforce where offline was not supported, the app polled for new assignments at a higher frequency. Since the app now needs to sync which is a heavier operation we chose to decrease the frequency when checking for new assignments.

That said, we can discuss and potentially make the sync frequency configurable. However, in order to really support the near real-time delivery, Workforce would need to support push notifications when an assignment is assigned to a worker. This is on the roadmap and may be something that is tackled in 2021.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

PlaninforAdmin — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:14:54 GMT

What a pity that there is so much missing, considering that I had my client ready to offer the service. I will have to give explanations to the case.

Thank you very much for answering and clarifying the doubts. Now in the heat of fire season I will have to evaluate options to take.
Grateful.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

PlaninforAdmin — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 10:54:34 GMT

Hello again :). query regarding this answer. It is then possible to configure the synchronization every 5 minutes and what it looks for in the background? It serves me for demonstration.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

Anonymous User — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 14:08:17 GMT

At this time, it's not configurable - we will have some internal discussions on this after the holidays. If you make a change to an assignment on the device, that will trigger a sync within 1 minute of the change. You could also do a manual sync in the app.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

JPowell — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 19:49:39 GMT

What is the status of this implementation for real time assignment notification in the new Workforce? This is a critical feature for users that we work with.

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

aspen01 — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:40:23 GMT

Yes please we really need this implemented!

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

CraigGillgrass — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 17:24:22 GMT

Hello,

We're planning to start the work to support Background sync in Q1 of this year and have a release available before the the User Conference with that ability.

Craig

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

MarcusVDSilva — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 10:59:30 GMT

That's great news @CraigGillgrass. Heard the other day from a customer that he would like to receive notifications "in the same way social media apps do".

Re: Problem with automatic notifications (they take time to reach the mobile)

slee_igh — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:59:56 GMT

Hi @CraigGillgrass ! Is there any updates on this? Our workers still don't get app notification unless Workforce is running in the background.
We're trying to get the crowdsource tool to work, but that is also not working. Even if it did work, it would be nice if we didn't have to work around the notification. Task scheduler hasn't been working reliably.