Once the PVX warehouse management system (WMS) is operating, many of the day-to-day activities in the warehouse are carried out using a mobile device equipped with the PVX mobile app. This article gives a brief overview of the app and how you can use it to perform various tasks. It also describes how you can configure the settings in the app and set up printing of documents.

Basic operations with the app

Once you've logged in using your Peoplevox client ID, user name and password (the same credentials as for logging in to the web app), the first screen you see is a menu showing your recent transactions and the actions that you can perform using the app (depending on your permissions the list you see may be different to the images below).

Flick through the menu until you find the action you've been asked to perform, and tap to display the options (if any). For example, there may be several ways of picking items that you can choose from, but your supervisor will indicate which type you should use.

Once you've chosen the type of action, you will see a screen which breaks down the action into a sequence of steps that usually involve scanning a barcode or entering a number. For example, many actions involve scanning the locations in the warehouse where the items are being picked, counted or transferred, and the barcodes on the items themselves (or possibly the container in which the items are packed). The exact sequence of steps depends on the type of action, but they are all very similar.

Once focused on a field you can use a dedicated scanner button on your device if it has one, use this with the 'Switch focus' setting described below to complete all fields without touching the device. If your device doesn't have a dedicated scanner and trigger you can tap and use a built-in camera to scan the barcode (if this is set up on your device); you can also tap and search for the location or item, or you can enter the code manually using the device's keypad. Simply complete the steps in the order shown on the screen and, once everything is ready, tap the green button to complete the pick.

The app will allow you to continue with the remaining steps in the action. Once completed, tap in the top left corner to display the complete menu of action types and choose another type of action to perform.

The green buttons in the app workflows will only become active once all the steps have been completed correctly. In some cases you have to select or scan the barcode for a pre-defined reason why an action can't be completed so that the failed action can be handled in the web app.

If you need to remove an item or location from the action, click and then scan the correct barcode.

Note: If you are interrupted while completing an action in the mobile app for some reason, you can return to the task using the Recent Transactions section of the actions menu.

Sending feedback

If you experience an issue with using PVX on your mobile device, you can immediately use the Send Feedback feature to send enhanced logs from your device to the PVX support team. However, note that Send Feedback is independent from the PVX helpdesk system, so a ticket still needs to be raised to request assistance with solving the issue.

In the mobile app, tap .
Tap in the top right of the screen.
Tap Send Feedback.
Add an optional message to explain more about the issue if you want.
Tap SEND.

Customising workflows

The sequence of steps for certain functions in the mobile app can be quickly and easily adjusted, which may improve the speed with which you can complete the actions.

Select an action from the menu.
Tap if it is available in the top right of the screen.
Re-order the steps in the action by dragging the prompts on the screen, and then tap .

You can find out more about customising workflows in this video.

Updating the WMS

The PVX mobile app regularly synchronises its records over the Internet to update the web app so that inventory can be precisely tracked through the warehouse. You can also tap to run the synchronisation routine yourself at any time. If you are in an area of the warehouse where the wi-fi doesn't work, the app will allow you to continue working and then will automatically synchronise once the wi-fi signal is regained.

Database snapshots

The PVX system prepares a copy of the master database for your WMS in the early hours of each day (your local time). This is called a daily snapshot. When you log in to the mobile app on your device, this snapshot is automatically downloaded into the app. This ensures that your device begins each working day with an exact copy of the system database, so that the inventory recorded by the WMS is as accurate as possible.

After the initial snapshot download, the device only checks if there is a new database snapshot available when you next log in to the app. At this stage, you may be given the option to download or ignore the latest database snapshot.

We recommend that all users of the mobile app log in and out of the app at the start and end of every shift. If you do not log out of the system, no prompt will be provided to download the database snapshot when you resume working. As a result, there will be a gradual increase in the discrepancies between the data on the server and the local devices.

Troubleshooting - Generating new snapshots

If you have suspected synchronisation issues with your mobile devices, the support team may advise that you try to generate a new snapshot. This function becomes available only after the support team has granted the necessary permissions to the mobile device.

Note: Generating a new snapshot can be triggered from any mobile device and will apply to all. It should NOT be triggered from multiple devices at the same time. You can only trigger a snapshot once every 30 minutes. Generating multiple snapshots in a working day may significantly slow down your system due to the downloading process. Because of the impact this may have on device performance, it is typically not the first step in troubleshooting, and the ability to generate snapshots is controlled by the support team.

To generate a snapshot, after receiving access to the function:

Open the mobile app and tap .
Tap in the top right of the screen.
Tap Generate Snapshot. The system will then create a new snapshot, which will be available to all users upon their next login to the mobile app.

Configuring settings

Tap at any time to display the settings for the mobile app and adjust them as required using the guidance below. Tap SAVE to save your changes.
If you change your settings, tap in the top right and then tap Send Settings. The app settings are sent to PVX for safe storage on a server.
If you re-install the app on your device, then you can restore your previous settings by tapping and tapping Restore Settings.

Setting	Description
Version	The version number of the application is displayed under the screen header 'Settings'.
Device Id	The identifier for the mobile device; cannot be changed but is needed when registering the device in the app.
Client Id / User Name / Password	Your login credentials for both the mobile and web apps in PVX; tap to change your password.
Remember Credentials	Set to ON to avoid having to enter your client ID, user name and password each time you log in to the app. Not recommended if you share the mobile device with other operators.
Site	Tap the arrow to select the site in which you are working from those on your PVX account. Note: Changing sites cancels all pending transactions.
Printing	Allows you to define templates and printers for printing despatch documents from the mobile app. See Printing from the mobile app for more details. Note: These settings are only used if you have the Mobile Despatch option enabled on your account.
Prefix	If using a Bluetooth scanner or keyboard simulator with your mobile device, consult its documentation and set the prefix code to the required value here.
Suffix	If using a Bluetooth scanner or keyboard simulator with your mobile device, consult its documentation and set the suffix code to the required value here.
Camera Scanner	Tap Barcodes and select the barcode formats that you want the app to scan by switching the options on or off as required.
Switch Focus Button	Switch focus is a navigation feature that moves the cursor to the next entry position on the screen. The Switch Focus Button feature can be used to change the default behaviour of a button on the mobile device (e.g., volume up) to make it switch focus in the app. If you are using a barcode scanner with built-in screen, you can assign the app to switch focus when the scanning trigger is pressed. Tap Switch Focus Button and then press the button you want to assign to this function. Notes: You can only assign the Switch Focus Button to one device button. To remove Switch Focus, tap Switch Focus Button and then tap CLEAR.
Scan Sound	Select ON to generate an audible confirmation that a barcode has been scanned correctly.
Error Sound	Select ON to generate an audible warning of an error.
Auto Sync Mode	Select ON to continuously communicate with the web app server (if a wi-fi signal is available).
Retain History	Select the duration in days for which the history of your activity in the app is stored on the mobile device.

Printing from the mobile app

You can print a variety of documents directly from the mobile app, such as information on items and their locations.

Tap the icon next to an item shown in the app and then tap PRINT.
Select a printer from those available for the site you are working on. Click here for more information on setting up printers in PVX.
Select a template from the list of registered templates available for the type of document you are printing. Click here for more information on print templates.
Select the number of copies you want to print, and tap PRINT.

In the Settings screen, you can set up the printer and the template that the mobile app will use to print despatch documents. You can only print despatch documents from the mobile app if you have the Mobile Despatch option enabled on your account.

Paid Feature: Mobile Despatch is a chargeable feature. You need to raise a ticket with the PVX helpdesk to have this option enabled on your account.

In the mobile app, tap .
Tap the arrow next to Printer to choose a device from the list of those set up for the selected site in your PVX account. Remember that the type of printer you select (Generic or ZPL) will affect the templates you can use to print documents.
Tap + to add a new despatch document.
Choose from the list of document types on your system, making sure that the type of printer associated with the document is the same as the printer you selected previously.
Check that the printer and template are correct or change them if required. The app will inform you if there is a mismatch between the document you want to print and the printer or template selected.
Select the number of copies of the document that you want to print when despatching, and then tap ADD. The document is now set up and will be printed using the specified template and printer when despatching orders from the mobile app.

You can delete a document at any time by tapping . You can find more details on Mobile Despatch in the despatch user's guide.

PVX Mobile App User's Guide