A Workforce project is the item type used by the Workforce web app and Workforce mobile app to provide a common view in the field and the back office. When opened in the web app, a project allows dispatchers to create and assign work assignments. When opened with the mobile app, a Workforce project lets mobile workers see and complete their assignments, launching other apps as required for their workflows. The project includes references to maps, assigns users dispatcher or mobile worker roles, tracks workers, and defines the apps mobile workers can launch through Workforce, such as ArcGIS Collector.
During project creation, the project, along with the maps and layers it uses, is created for you. The maps include one for your mobile workers (used by the mobile app), and one for your dispatchers (used by the web app). Two maps are used to present different but similar views of the system to the workers and dispatchers. The maps are created based on a template, with feature layers that use predefined symbology and configuration, such as pop-ups, and using the topographic basemap. You can modify these maps, adding additional operational or asset feature layers based on the work the users will be doing with the project. For an example, see Customize the map in Create your first project.
The four layers that are created are based on predefined templates and are used to store the information specific to the Workforce project. The layers contain the assignments, mobile workers (including their last known location), dispatchers, and tracking information about where the mobile workers have gone if location tracking is enabled. Both the web and mobile apps require the feature layers to contain required fields.
When the project is created, a folder and a group are created for it in your ArcGIS organization. The project and all its associated items (maps and layers) are stored in the folder that was created, and they are all shared with the group. As you add dispatchers and mobile workers to the project, they are automatically added to the group, granting them access to the project, maps, and layers. As the project owner, you are the only one who can configure or delete the project. You, as the project owner, are also added to the project as a dispatcher so that you can test the project.
Since Workforce puts all of these components in place for you, you can use the Workforce project immediately following creation, with minimal configuration.
Caution:
Although the project, maps, layers, and group are in your portal and can be edited when signed in to ArcGIS in a browser, you need to be careful with the changes you make outside of the Workforce app. If you decide to manipulate these items outside of Workforce, you should avoid these actions:
- Unsharing any of these items with the project's group
- Deleting the project's group
- Deleting or modifying the predefined fields in the layers
- Deleting or modifying the predefined layers
While you can change ownership of the items, do so carefully, making sure to follow all the guidelines in Troubleshooting: How do I move project ownership to another member?
Workforce supports integration with ArcGIS Collector, ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGIS Navigator, and ArcGIS Survey123. App integrations maximize the efficiency of your mobile workers by providing directions as well as the maps and surveys needed to complete their work.
Collector is a mapcentric field data collection app used to collect new information and inspect existing data managed in your organization. Add Collector integration so that Workforce opens the right map and locates the assignment for rapid data collection. You can also pass the GlobalID, assignment ID, and location to particular fields in Collector.
Explorer is a map viewing app used to access your data and asset information. Add Explorer integration so that Workforce opens the right map, centered on your assignment.
Navigator gets your mobile workers to the locations of their assignments using Esri-provided maps or your own maps. Add Navigator integration so that Workforce can open Navigator to provide directions from the worker's current location to the assignment location. Integration with Navigator is enabled by default.
Survey123 is a formcentric data collection app used to conduct a survey with predefined questions that use conditional logic to provide answers that are easy to fill in. Add Survey123 integration so that Workforce opens the right survey. You can also pass the GlobalID, assignment ID, and location to particular questions in Survey123.
The following versions are required:
- ArcGIS Collector 17.0.3 or later
- ArcGIS Explorer 17.1.0 or later
- ArcGIS Navigator 2.0 or later
- ArcGIS Survey123 1.6 or later
When integrating with Explorer or Collector, you'll need to provide a map. When integrating with Survey123, you'll need to provide a survey. For details on configuring the apps, see Tip: Integrate other Esri apps.
Caution:
Mobile workers need to sign in to each app separately, as credentials are not passed between apps.
Notifications are used to draw your mobile workers' attention to certain assignments when the assignments list refreshes, which occurs every 60 seconds.
When the app is in the foreground, a banner is added for newly assigned assignments. If the assignment is critical, the banner is red and persists on the screen until you interact with it or the assignment. Additionally, critical assignments present a dialog box on other screens, such as the Projects screen. If the assignment is not critical, the banner is blue and displays temporarily. Notifications for noncritical assignments only display on the assignments list.
If the app is in the background, Apple notifications are used, which are less predictive. The notification timing is based on the frequency with which you use the app. So notifications for more frequently used apps come in faster than new or less-used apps.
If the app is closed, notifications aren't sent. The team is currently looking into this behavior.
Integration with a work order or asset management system is a common request. Usually, this is to automate creation of assignments. You can create assignments that work in Workforce through automation and scripting.
Creating recurring or repeating assignments is a common request. You can use automation and scripting to create these types of assignments in Workforce.