The Pega 7 Platform provides the ability to build offline mobile applications for mobile workers. It offers a seamless experience for a field service employee working in locations that have no network connection or whose device loses a network connection.

Mobile workers can log in, create cases, open items from their worklist, and complete assignments, all while working offline. This harnesses the Pega 7 Platform standards-based UI capabilities along with the custom mobile application. The mobile application with offline capability uses the same building blocks as all Pega applications.

Sample iOS app

Offline app for mobile workers

Mobile workers can perform tasks in a mobile application while their device is offline. This requires using the custom mobile app built from the application rule form that runs on the Android or iOS platform. Several key features are available to mobile workers in this mode. The mobile worker can log in or log off. Furthermore, a seamless offline to online transition takes place: data synchronization between the server and the mobile device occurs automatically. An indicator on the device screen displays whether the mobile app is currently offline, online, or syncing.

Mobile workers can perform various tasks while working offline. They can create a case, open an item from the worklist, perform work on such an item, and return the finished work item to the worklist so that the next work item can be started. When the mobile worker comes back online, any of the tasks that were completed while offline automatically syncs to the server.

Basic screen flow progression is supported while offline. The created business process at design-time decides which steps the worker takes in the mobile application. A screen flow that is just a series of simple assignment-to-assignment shapes can be performed offline, with all syncing to the server occurring when the worker reconnects online, in the order in which the steps were performed online.

Sample Android app

While their device is offline, mobile workers can attach photos by using the device camera roll or camera to capture new photos. Signatures can also be captured and attached while offline.

Building an offline mobile application

To build a Pega custom mobile application that works offline, read through the following instructions and restrictions.

• Enable offline in your access groups and cases
• Use supported controls – Every screen must be built using modern layouts and lists. Only the following set of controls is supported offline:
  • Dropdowns sourced from a local list or a data page
  • Autocomplete
  • Text inputs
  • Check boxes
  • Radio buttons
  • Date/time
  • Icons
  • Attach Content
  • Signature Capture
  • Address Map
  • Formatted text
• Use supported actions – Buttons, links, icons and menu items must only use the supported set of actions.
• Flow processing in offline mode
• Other considerations