Configuring and Applying User Update Settings for Policies

User Updates (UUs) are a simple and versatile tool for user-system interactions and for triggering user-related processes. The intuitive User Update interface combined with its ability to connect with multiple system functions make it a powerful tool.

User Updates can be accessed in the mobile app with a tap on a button, they may include a simple 2 word title, a text update or a responsive form. The update can be set to include the users' location and an update alert. All UUs are registered to the User's log as time tagged log entries. Historical User Updates can be searched for investigation in the User Panel.

User Updates can be sent the individual user via the mobile app or by the operator (via Dispatcher) or by a third party system (via API). User Updates can also be set to impact other operational processes (such as Policies) or even trigger events in external systems (like access control). User Updates are a simple and at the same time a powerful tool in your NowForce system.

User Updates are available for all mobile licenses from Monitored Reporter and above.

The monitoring user-system interactions are detailed in the Symphia NowForce User Guide.

Viewing the User Updates Settings

The administrator can view and edit User Updates in the Settings.

To view the User Update settings

  1. Click Settings (gear) in the upper left corner of the Dispatcher screen.

  2. Click USERS>User Updates.
  3. Hover over an Update's icon, select Edit User Updates to edit that Update.

Administrators can create new User Updates.

To add a new User Update

  1. Click Settings (gear) in the upper left corner of the Dispatcher screen.

  2. Click USERS>User Updates.

  3. Select the + to add a new update.

  4. In the General tab, enter a Name in the field.
  5. Select an Icon from the list.

    6. You define icons in the Icon settings page.

  6. Select a Category from the dropdown.

    7. Click Create new category to create new categories.

  7. Select the Format of the user update from the list:
    • Title only - This is the simplest format. The mobile user will only have to click the title button to send a User Update.
    • Title + Text - This format allows the user to attach text to the update.

    • Form - This is a format permits the administrator to design a form that will be attached to the user update. If Form is the option selected, then also select a form type from the Select Form dropdown. See Creating and Editing Form Templates.
  8. Attach Location by toggling the switch to Yes. This option will attach the user's location to the UU. This means the app location will be saved to the user's location history.

    9. This option will upload a single user's location also for Monitored Reporter licenses that do not upload app locations routinely.

  9. Attach Alerts by toggling the switch to Yes. This option will trigger an alert on the operator screen every time a user sends the user update.

    10. It is recommended to activate the alert only for unique important updates to ensure routine alerts do not flood the system.

  10. Click Save.

Applying User Updates in Policies

User Updates are one of the logical triggers that define a user's transition from one policy to another, for more information about transitioning in Policies see the NowForce Policies Guide.

To apply a User Update as a transition trigger in a Policy

  1. Click Settings (gear) in the upper left corner of the Dispatcher screen.

  2. Click USERS>User Updates.
  3. Hover over an Update's icon select Edit User Updates to edit that Update.
  4. Select the Triggers tab.

  5. Click the checkbox and select the required policy from the Switch to policy list.
  6. Click Save.

Read more about Creating and Editing Form Templates

Read more about Policies.