Overview
The Fentu Mobile Technician app is built for field work — including situations where internet connectivity is limited or unavailable. The Offline Data feature ensures that you can continue working without interruption, and that all your work is safely stored on your device until it can be synced to the Fentu server.Offline mode is automatic. The app detects when you lose connectivity and switches to offline mode seamlessly. There is no need to manually enable it.
How Offline Mode Works
When the app loses internet connectivity:- The app displays a small Offline indicator in the top status bar.
- You continue working normally — completing tasks, filling in checklists, logging time, and adding notes.
- All changes are saved locally on your device in a secure offline queue.
- When connectivity is restored, the app automatically syncs all pending changes to the Fentu server.
What Works Offline
The following actions can be performed without an internet connection:Task Execution
Task Execution
- View task details and task line items
- Complete checklists (yes/no, pass/fail answers)
- Fill in readout values
- Progress through wizard steps
- Update task status (e.g. In Progress, Paused)
- Add notes to tasks
Time Tracking
Time Tracking
- Start, stop, and switch timers
- Add manual time entries
- View your time log for the day
Assets
Assets
- View asset details for assets previously downloaded to the device
- Add condition notes
- Log readouts
- View service history (for cached assets)
Photos & Attachments
Photos & Attachments
- Take photos and attach them to tasks or assets
- View previously downloaded file attachments
What Requires Connectivity
Some actions require an active connection and will be queued or unavailable in offline mode:| Action | Behaviour Offline |
|---|---|
| Submitting a material request | Queued — sent automatically when online |
| Creating a new service request | Queued — sent automatically when online |
| Downloading new task attachments | Not available — requires connection |
| Receiving new task assignments | Not available — received when back online |
| Push notifications | Not received while offline |
Offline Actions Queue
The Actions tab in the Offline Data screen shows every change you have made while offline that is waiting to be synced. This gives you full visibility into what is pending.
Reading the Queue
Each item in the Actions queue displays:| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Action Type | What was done (e.g. Checklist Completed, Status Updated, Time Entry Added) |
| Related Item | The task, work order, or asset affected |
| Timestamp | When the action was performed |
| Status | Pending / Syncing / Synced / Failed |
Failed Actions
If a sync attempt fails (for example, due to a conflict with a change made in the back office), the action is marked as Failed with a red indicator. Tap the failed item to see the error details and choose how to resolve it:- Retry — Attempt to sync the action again
- Discard — Remove the action from the queue (your local change will be lost)
- View Conflict — If there is a data conflict, compare your version with the server version and choose which one to keep
Sync Data
The Sync Data tab shows the current synchronisation status between your device and the Fentu server.
Sync Status Indicators
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| All synced (green) | Everything is up to date — no pending changes |
| Syncing… (blue spinner) | A sync is in progress |
| X items pending (orange) | You have offline changes waiting to be synced |
| Sync error (red) | One or more items failed to sync — review the Actions queue |
Manual Sync
The app syncs automatically whenever connectivity is available, but you can also trigger a manual sync:- Go to Offline Data → Sync Data tab.
- Tap Sync Now.
- The app will immediately attempt to upload all pending changes and download any updates from the server.
Pre-Downloading Data for Offline Use
To ensure you have all the data you need before going into the field:- Go to Offline Data → Sync Data tab.
- Tap Download for Offline.
- The app will download your assigned tasks for the next 7 days (or as configured by your administrator), along with all linked assets, attachments, and manuals.
Pre-downloading large files (such as PDF manuals) requires a Wi-Fi connection. The app will warn you if you attempt to download over a mobile data connection.
Storage Usage
At the bottom of the Sync Data screen, a storage indicator shows how much of your device storage the app is using for offline data. If storage is running low:- Tap Manage Offline Data.
- Review and remove downloaded files for tasks and assets that have already been completed.
- Tap Clear Completed Task Data to free up space automatically.