> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fentufsm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Resource Dispatcher

> Visual resource scheduling and technician calendar management

## Overview

The Resource Dispatcher provides a technician-focused scheduling view where you can see each technician's availability and assigned tasks. Unlike the Dispatcher which focuses on work orders, the Resource Dispatcher focuses on **people** - showing who is available, when they're busy, and allowing you to drag-and-drop unassigned tasks directly onto technician calendars.

<Note>
  The Resource Dispatcher is designed for **resource management** - visualize technician workload, balance assignments, and ensure no one is overbooked or idle.
</Note>

## Assignment Sources

Technicians can be assigned to tasks through several paths before or alongside manual dispatcher assignment:

| Source                             | How It Works                                                                                                                             |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Preferred Technician**           | If the customer record has a preferred resource, that technician is suggested automatically when a task is created for that customer     |
| **Service Request / Wizard input** | The person creating the service request or using the work order wizard can specify a preferred technician at creation time               |
| **Dispatcher**                     | The Dispatcher or Resource Dispatcher assigns technicians manually via drag-and-drop or the task assignment form                         |
| **Manual (direct on task)**        | A technician field is editable directly on the task detail view — any user with appropriate permissions can set or change the assignment |

<Note>
  Suggested assignments (from preferred technician or wizard input) appear in the task but are not confirmed until a dispatcher or coordinator reviews and saves the assignment. The task will remain in the Waiting List until it is formally scheduled.
</Note>

***

## When to Use the Resource Dispatcher

Use the Resource Dispatcher when:

* Viewing technician schedules and availability at a glance
* Balancing workload across your technician team
* Assigning unassigned tasks to available technicians
* Managing technician capacity and preventing overbooking
* Seeing which technicians are free for urgent work
* Planning resource allocation for the week or month ahead

## Resource Dispatcher Interface

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/fentu/C3pzkSBx7BqIrzJP/images/fentu-fsm/service-apps/resource-dispatcher/resource-dispatcher-main.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=C3pzkSBx7BqIrzJP&q=85&s=ccb74737af9d7a44c47241bfbc9fbedc" alt="Resource Dispatcher Main View" width="1280" height="720" data-path="images/fentu-fsm/service-apps/resource-dispatcher/resource-dispatcher-main.png" />

The Resource Dispatcher consists of three main areas:

1. **Calendar Timeline** (Left) - Visual schedule showing technicians as rows with their assigned tasks
2. **Waiting List** (Right) - Panel showing unassigned tasks waiting to be assigned to technicians
3. **Control Bar** (Top) - Filters, view options, and tools

***

## Calendar Timeline

The calendar displays each technician as a horizontal row with time slots:

### Timeline Structure

| Element             | Description                                                   |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Technician Rows** | Each row represents one technician with their photo and name  |
| **Time Slots**      | Hourly (Day), daily (Week), or monthly (Month) time divisions |
| **Task Blocks**     | Colored blocks showing assigned tasks with duration           |
| **Empty Slots**     | Available time where new tasks can be assigned                |

### Task Block Information

Each task block shows:

* **Task name** or work order description
* **Time span** (start to end time)
* **Color coding** by work order type (Installation, Maintenance, etc.)

<Tip>
  Hover over task blocks to see full details. Click to edit task information, resources, or timing.
</Tip>

***

## Timeline Views

Switch between three view modes to match your planning needs:

### Timeline Day

Shows a single day with hourly time slots:

* **Best for**: Detailed daily scheduling and hour-by-hour planning
* **Time scale**: 24-hour view from midnight to midnight
* **Use when**: Managing today's assignments or planning tomorrow's schedule

### Timeline Week

Shows a full week with daily columns:

* **Best for**: Weekly planning and workload balancing
* **Time scale**: 7 days with hourly or daily divisions
* **Use when**: Planning the work week ahead or reviewing weekly capacity

### Timeline Month

Shows an entire month:

* **Best for**: Long-term planning and capacity overview
* **Time scale**: Full month with daily blocks
* **Use when**: Planning upcoming work or identifying busy/slow periods

<Info>
  Switch views using the **"Timeline Day"**, **"Timeline Week"**, and **"Timeline Month"** buttons in the control bar.
</Info>

***

## Waiting List

The right panel shows tasks that haven't been assigned to technicians yet:

### Task List Display

Each unassigned task shows:

| Information       | Description                        |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| **Task Name**     | Description of the work to be done |
| **Work Order ID** | Associated work order identifier   |
| **Customer**      | Customer name for the task         |
| **Date**          | Scheduled or planned date          |
| **Duration**      | Estimated time to complete         |

### Assigning Tasks

To assign an unassigned task to a technician:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find Task">
    Locate the task in the Waiting List
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag to Calendar">
    Click and drag the task to a technician's row
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drop in Time Slot">
    Release the task in the desired time slot
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust if Needed">
    Resize or move the task block to fine-tune the schedule
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  **Drag-and-drop is the primary way to assign tasks.** Make sure to drop tasks in time slots where the technician is available to avoid conflicts.
</Warning>

***

## Branch Filter

The **Branch** dropdown filters technicians and tasks by location:

| Option              | Description                                    |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **All**             | Shows all technicians across all branches      |
| **Specific Branch** | Shows only technicians assigned to that branch |

<Tip>
  Use branch filtering to focus on regional operations and ensure you're scheduling the right technicians for the right locations.
</Tip>

***

## Date Navigation

Control which date range is displayed:

### Navigation Controls

| Control          | Function                                           |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **Previous**     | Move back one day/week/month (depending on view)   |
| **Next**         | Move forward one day/week/month                    |
| **January 2026** | Date selector - click to jump to any specific date |
| **Today**        | Quickly return to today's date                     |

### Date Filter Checkbox

Enable **"Date Filter"** to filter unassigned tasks by date range:

* When **checked**: Only shows unassigned tasks within the currently displayed date range
* When **unchecked**: Shows all unassigned tasks regardless of date

<Info>
  The date filter helps focus on tasks relevant to the time period you're scheduling, reducing clutter in the unassigned tasks list.
</Info>

***

## Search and Tools

### Search Box

Filter unassigned tasks by typing:

* Customer name
* Work order ID
* Task description
* Location

<Tip>
  Use search to quickly find specific unassigned tasks when you have a long list.
</Tip>

### Excel Export

Export the current schedule to Excel:

* Click **"Excel Export"** button
* Generates spreadsheet with technician assignments
* Includes task details, times, and resource information
* Useful for reporting or printing schedules

### Column Chooser

Customize which columns appear in the Waiting List:

* Click **"Columns"** button
* Check/uncheck columns to show/hide
* Drag columns to reorder

### Row Height Controls

Adjust the density of the technician rows:

| Height     | Description                                    |
| ---------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Big**    | Large rows with more spacing - easiest to read |
| **Medium** | Standard row height - balanced view            |
| **Small**  | Compact rows - fit more technicians on screen  |

***

## Managing Tasks

### Editing Task Details

Click on any task block to open the task editor:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Time Settings" icon="clock">
    **From** and **To** fields let you adjust start and end times. Drag the time pickers to schedule exact work hours.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Products" icon="box">
    For Installation or Delivery work orders, add products that will be installed or delivered. Search and select from your product catalog.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Service Object" icon="barcode">
    For Maintenance or Repair work orders, add customer service objects. Select equipment from the customer's  list.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Checklists" icon="list-check">
    Attach checklists that technicians must complete during the task. Ensures standard procedures are followed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Technicians" icon="users">
    Add multiple technicians to a task if it requires a team. The task appears on all assigned technicians' calendars.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Tools" icon="wrench">
    Specify tools needed for the job. Helps with resource planning and ensures technicians bring the right equipment.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Vehicles" icon="truck">
    Assign company vehicles if needed (service vans, trucks). Prevents double-booking of vehicles.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Drag-and-Drop Actions

Tasks can be moved and adjusted visually:

| Action                   | How to Do It                                        |
| ------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Assign to Technician** | Drag from Waiting List to a technician row          |
| **Reschedule**           | Drag task block left/right to different time slot   |
| **Reassign**             | Drag task block to a different technician row       |
| **Adjust Duration**      | Drag the left or right edge of task block to resize |
| **Unassign**             | Drag task from technician row back to Waiting List  |

<Warning>
  When dragging tasks, watch for **conflicts** (overlapping task blocks). The system may highlight conflicts or prevent overlapping assignments.
</Warning>

***

## Adding New Tasks

Create new tasks directly from the Resource Dispatcher:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Add New">
    The **"Add New"** button opens the task creation modal
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Work Order">
    Choose which work order this task belongs to
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Task Details">
    Provide task name, description, and estimated duration
  </Step>

  <Step title="Assign or Leave Unassigned">
    Optionally assign to a technician immediately, or leave in Waiting List for later
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Technician Availability

### Visual Indicators

The Resource Dispatcher helps identify availability:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Empty Time Slots" icon="calendar">
    White/blank areas indicate technician availability - perfect for scheduling new work
  </Card>

  <Card title="Task Blocks" icon="square">
    Colored blocks show scheduled work - avoid overlapping unless technician can multi-task
  </Card>

  <Card title="Full Days" icon="calendar-xmark">
    Rows completely filled indicate fully booked technicians - consider other resources
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gaps Between Tasks" icon="clock">
    Small gaps may indicate travel time or breaks - be mindful when filling these slots
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Capacity Planning

Use the Resource Dispatcher to:

* **Identify overloaded technicians** - too many consecutive tasks without breaks
* **Find underutilized resources** - technicians with large gaps in their schedule
* **Balance workload** - move tasks from busy technicians to available ones
* **Plan for absences** - see who's available when others are off or unavailable

<Tip>
  Switch to **Timeline Week** or **Timeline Month** view to spot capacity issues before they become problems.
</Tip>

***

## Workflow: Typical Resource Dispatcher Use

Here's how dispatchers typically use the Resource Dispatcher:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Review Technician Calendars">
    Open Resource Dispatcher and check Timeline Day or Week view to see who's scheduled
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Waiting List">
    Review the Waiting List panel for work waiting to be scheduled
  </Step>

  <Step title="Identify Available Technicians">
    Look for empty time slots in technician rows
  </Step>

  <Step title="Match Skills to Tasks">
    Consider which technicians have the right skills for each unassigned task
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag and Drop">
    Drag tasks from Waiting List to appropriate technician time slots
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fine-Tune Timing">
    Adjust task start/end times by resizing or moving blocks
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Task Details">
    Click tasks to add products, service object, tools, and other requirements
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check for Conflicts">
    Scan for overlapping tasks or impossible schedules
  </Step>

  <Step title="Balance Workload">
    Move tasks between technicians to prevent overload
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export Schedule">
    Use Excel Export to share schedules with field supervisors or technicians
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Tips and Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Use Timeline Week for Planning Ahead" icon="calendar-days">
    The week view is perfect for planning several days in advance. You can see patterns, identify busy days, and balance work across the week.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Color Coding Helps at a Glance" icon="palette">
    Task blocks are color-coded by work order type. Learn the colors to quickly identify installation, maintenance, and repair work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Don't Overpack Schedules" icon="exclamation-triangle">
    Leave buffers between tasks for travel time, unexpected delays, or emergencies. A fully packed schedule has no flexibility for urgent work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Filter by Branch First" icon="building">
    If you manage multiple locations, always select the correct branch before scheduling. This ensures you're assigning local technicians.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use Search for Urgent Tasks" icon="magnifying-glass">
    When an urgent task comes in, use the search box to quickly find it in the Waiting List and assign it immediately.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Check Technician Skills" icon="user-check">
    Not all technicians can do all work. Consider certifications, experience, and specializations when assigning tasks.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Export Schedules Daily" icon="file-excel">
    Generate Excel exports at the start of each day and share with field supervisors. They can print or reference schedules offline.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Review Waiting List Daily" icon="clipboard-check">
    Make it a habit to clear the Waiting List daily. Tasks left unassigned too long may miss their deadline.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What happens if I drag a task to a time slot that's already occupied?" icon="question">
    The system may prevent overlapping assignments or allow it depending on configuration. If overlap is allowed, both tasks show on the technician's calendar - but this typically means they're overbooked and adjustments are needed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I assign one task to multiple technicians?" icon="question">
    Yes! Open the task editor and add multiple technicians in the **Technicians** section. The task appears on all assigned technicians' calendars, showing it's a team effort.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I see what tools or products are assigned to a task?" icon="question">
    Click on the task block in the calendar. The task editor shows all assigned resources, including tools, vehicles, products, assets, and checklists.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What's the difference between Resource Dispatcher and Dispatcher?" icon="question">
    **Dispatcher** focuses on work orders and task groups - organizing work by job. **Resource Dispatcher** focuses on people - showing technician availability and making it easy to balance workload.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I filter to see only specific technicians?" icon="question">
    Currently, the Resource Dispatcher shows all technicians for the selected branch. Use the row height controls to make the view more compact if you have many technicians.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why don't I see some tasks in the Waiting List?" icon="question">
    If you have **Date Filter** enabled, only tasks within the displayed date range appear. Uncheck Date Filter to see all unassigned tasks regardless of date.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can technicians see their own schedules?" icon="question">
    Yes, if you provide them access to the Resource Dispatcher. Alternatively, use the Excel Export feature to generate and share individual schedules.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens when I drag a task back to the Waiting List?" icon="question">
    The task becomes unassigned again - removed from the technician's calendar and returned to the Waiting List. Useful if you need to reassign work.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Related Documentation

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Dispatcher" icon="clipboard-list" href="/service-apps/dispatcher">
    Work order-focused scheduling and task group management
  </Card>

  <Card title="Technicians" icon="users" href="/workforce/technicians">
    Manage your technician roster, skills, and availability
  </Card>

  <Card title="Work Order Wizard" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/service-apps/wizards/work-order-wizard">
    Create work orders that generate tasks for scheduling
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tasks" icon="list-check" href="/work-orders/tasks">
    Understand task lifecycle and management
  </Card>
</CardGroup>