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Construction Logistics - Managing Email & Schedule Requests

Construction Logistics - Managing Email & Schedule Requests

Owned by Matthew Garrett
Last updated: Jan 17, 2025 by Sam Pitts
5 min read

Article Index

Overview

In Framework v8, Logistics SupplierConnect Notifications (eg. call-ups, rescheduling, call-offs, etc.) are now called “Schedule Requests”.

SupplierConnect notifications were previously sent via email. They are now queued and sent via Framework Cloud.

The Logistics Tablet solution no longer uses/requires Microsoft Outlook. Email sent from the solution is now also sent via Framework Cloud.

 

Schedule Request Outbox

New screens have been introduced to manage the Outbox for Schedule Requests and for Communications (email).

From the Logistics Tablet context bar, two new icons have been implemented which will direct the user to the “Outbox” screens in Logistics Tablet.

image-20241029-033838.png

  1. Outbox - Scheduling Requests (ie. SupplierConnect Requests)

    image-20241029-034119.png

     

  2. Outbox - Communications (ie. Email)

The value shown against each icon displays the current number of items in the Outbox.

When there is an item with an issue to be resolved, the Outbox icon will flash Red. It will flash until the issue is resolved.

Outbox - Scheduling Requests

Filter Options

  • All - Display items for any job on your Tablet device

  • Current Jobs - Display items for only the current job

  • To Send - Display items that are waiting to be sent

  • Sent - Display items that have been sent

  • To Dismiss - Display items that have not yet been dismissed

  • Dismissed - Display items that have been dismissed

Filtered Sent/Dismissed requests are only shown for the last 14 calendar days.

Note: When both the “To Dismiss”/”Dismissed” filters are selected, this would show any issue notifications (active or dismissed).

Dismissing Schedule Requests

From the screen, tap on the Dismiss column (red X icon), a dialog will appear.
Note: The Dismiss action is specific to the Schedule Request row selected.

Press ‘Yes’ to finish dismissing the item, to remove it from your Outbox.

Note: Your call forward will update for the dismissed notification, and the icon that will appear next to the task will be a yellow exclamation mark (Issue Status), in place of the existing notification status.

eg.

If required, the Schedule Request can be attempted again once the cause of the original issue has been resolved.

Viewing Sent/Pending Items

From the filter view, select the To Send (pending) or Sent filters.

Note: You cannot dismiss a pending or sent item.

Outbox - Communications

Filter Options

  • To Send

  • Sent

  • To Dismiss

  • Dismissed

Filtered Sent/Dismissed emails are only visible for the last 14 days.

Dismissing Items

From the screen, tap on the Dismiss column (red X icon), a dialog will appear.
Note: The Dismissed action is specific to the Communication row selected.

Press ‘Yes’ to finish dismissing the item, to remove it from your Outbox.

Please note that items such as “Gateway Failure” relate to potential connectivity or preference/setup issues.
Note: You do not need to dismiss all items as soon as they appear, as Framework will retry sending emails with “Gateway Failure” status.

If required, the email can be attempted again once the cause of the original issue has been resolved.

Email Monitoring with Perspective Gateway

All communications (ie. email, SMS, notifications, etc.) from Framework applications are sent via the Framework Cloud solution.

IT Support teams can monitor the status of sent communications via the Perspective Gateway Portal.
Please contact Insula Support for the correct URL for your Gateway Portal and the Contact Roles required to use it.

eg.

 

Technical Details

The following provides technical details on the implementation of these features.

Component

Polling

Action

Component

Polling

Action

Outbound Schedule Request & Email Monitoring

In Framework Logistics Tablet a check for failed Schedule Requests and failed email occur every 1 minute.

If any failed emails or Schedule Requests exist the user will be alerted via the flashing icons in the context bar (top right).

If after 10 minutes (or more) the Notification Monitor has not been able to send outbound email or Schedule Requests the Tablet user will be alerted via the flashing icons in the context bar (top right).
Important: If the Tablet does not have Internet connectivity for 10 minutes (or more) this situation will occur, which is normal. When connectivity is restored, the items will send. The flashing warning is a reminder to the user to reestablish connectivity and ensure the items are sent before exiting the Tablet software.

Notification Monitor Monitoring
The Notification Monitor is responsible for sending emails and managing schedule requests.

In Framework Logistics Tablet a check to confirm that the Notification Monitor is operating occurs every 1 minute.

If after 10 minutes (or more) the Notification Monitor has not successfully operated the Tablet user will be alerted via the Notification monitor icon both appearing and flashing in the Context Bar (top left).

Sending Email & Schedule Requests

The Framework Logistics Notification Monitor will attempt to send emails and Schedule Requests every 1 minute.

Important: If the Tablet does not have Internet connectivity emails and Schedule Requests will be queued in an Outbox until connectivity is available. The number of items in each outbox is displayed on the context bar (top right).

Receiving Schedule Requests Activity

Schedule Request Activity includes supplier responses, updates from other Logistics Tablets sharing the same jobs/projects, and office-based updates from Framework ECM.

The Framework Logistics Notification Monitor will check for Schedule Request updates based on the “(-11052) Notification Monitor (minutes) - Tablet” preference value managed in Framework ECM.

Insula recommend this value be no less than 5 minutes, to ensure Tablet performance is not impacted.

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