Offline sync for field technicians (outbox-first MVP)

[TCash92]

The Problem We're Facing

Our field technicians work in areas where cell signal drops constantly - inside metal buildings, underground, at remote sites. When they lose connection, Fizzy just stops working. They can't close out completed work orders, move cards, or add notes.

What happens now:

• Techs write updates on paper and enter them later (if they remember)
• Work order status gets out of sync with reality
• Supervisors don't have accurate visibility into what's actually done
• Techs get frustrated and stop using the system consistently

What We'd Like

When a tech is offline, let them keep working:

• Mark cards as complete
• Move cards between columns
• Assign cards to themselves or others
• Add comments/notes

Then when signal comes back, everything syncs up automatically. If someone else changed the same card while they were offline, show them what happened so they can sort it out.

Why This Matters

• Techs stay in the app instead of falling back to paper
• Status updates happen in real-time (well, as real-time as the signal allows)
• Less "I forgot to log that" at the end of the day
• Better data for planning and reporting

We don't need to create brand new cards offline - just update the ones already assigned to them.

Is this something that fits with where Fizzy is headed?

[TCash92]

Not asking for "full offline Fizzy." That's a different shape entirely. The appetite here is narrow: let techs update existing cards when offline.

What's in:

• Close/reopen cards
• Move cards between columns
• Assign/unassign
• Add comments

What's deliberately out:

• Creating new cards offline
• Uploading images offline

Those could be separate pitches if this proves valuable. But for now, the constraint is the feature. Update-only offline keeps this achievable without dragging on forever.

[Michoels]

From recent commits is seems likely that they’re working on official iOS/Android apps.

That would probably be a better place to pursue offline support.

[TCash92]

Thanks for the heads up, @Michoels.

Techs are often working on equipment at the bottom of a quarry with absolutely zero cell signal. If the screen goes blank down there, they are going to stop using fizzy. We are fine mandating the "Add to Home Screen" procedure on our iOS devices to ensure the offline data sticks, we just need the software to function when the signal dies.