Regardless of how you import data into the system, you can use Work Orders to send instructions to your field operators. Conservis knows it can be valuable to communicate to operators, whether or not you’re also collecting data from a Machine Integrated system.
There are 2 ways to create work orders: from Field Plans, or starting from Scratch. We'll show you both.
If you’ve created Field Plans, follow these instructions (otherwise, skip below to Creating a Work Order from Scratch).
Creating a Work Order from Field Plans
Go to PRODUCTION > WORK ORDERS > Manage.
Click New Work Order.
Select Create from Field Plan from the drop down menu.
Fill out the Required Fields:
Order #: Most users leave this field blank so Conservis will automatically number the work order
Order Name: Having a consistent naming pattern will make it easier to navigate your work orders. What you name the work order is up to you and your operation.
Select Activity type, Crop type, and Equipment type from the drop down menus.
Applicator: Indicate whether this is an internal or external applicator
Operators: Add the user who will be assigned this work order. Assigning the work order to a specific operator is not required but helps your team know who is expected to do the work. But don't worry - when things change mid season your team can use the mobile app to see work orders assigned to other operators so you can switch who does the work while you are on the go.
Status: There are 2 status options, created or released. Typically you will create your work orders well in advance in the Created status and then change the status to Released in order to release them to your team when it is time to do the work. But if you are already in the thick of the season, you can release them as you create them by selecting Released as the status.
Crop Year: This will default to your current crop year so if you are adding a work order for next year (cover crops are a common example of work done this year that should be assigned to next year's crop), remember to change that to the year when harvest will take place.
Due Date is when you’d like the activity to be completed. Tasks turn red on the mobile device as the date draws near.
Expire Date is when the tasks are automatically removed from operators’ devices if the work doesn’t get done. Leave blank if you require that the work be completed.
Notes field: Putting something here will send that note to all tasks in this Work Order.
Press the blue Select Activities button.
You’re seeing a list of all Field Plan activities that fit the criteria (Crop, Crop Year, and Date). Tip: If you don’t see the activity you’re looking for, try widening the date field.
Click on all tasks you want to add to this Work Order (notice that it’s separated by field). Selected tasks will turn blue. Click the Apply button.
Notifications: If you would like someone on the team to get an email notification when the work order is released, enter the email address in the Notifications area. Press Select.
The tasks will have populated in the task list (you may need to scroll down to find it). They also show a map with the task order.
Change the Sequence number [Seq] of any one task to automatically rearrange the list.
Edit the details of any task by clicking the down arrow next to it or clicking Expand All.
Leave equipment blank if you’re not sure which piece of equipment will do the task.
The chat icon indicates a message you’d like to leave for that one task only.
You can also add new tasks or additional inputs not originally in your Field Plans by expanding the existing tasks and clicking Add Input/Activity. For Activities, enter the Field Name, Crop and Equipment. For Inputs, include the Input, Acres, Rate, Units and Source.
When ready, scroll down and press Create!
Releasing Work Orders: If the Status is listed as Created, then your team cannot see the work yet in the mobile app.
To release the work order:
Select the work order you want to release.
Click on the Actions Button.
Select Release from the drop down options.
Tip: Alternatively, you can release tasks in this work order one at a time. To do that, open the Work Order, Click Edit, and change the status on individual tasks to Released. Be aware that if you do this, the Work order list will show this work order as Released, even though you did not release all the tasks. So this is typically only used when you have tasks that no longer need to be completed.
Tip: Clicking Complete won’t create records indicating that the work was done - It’ll only close out the Work Order (and remove the tasks from devices)! You need to create activity tickets to complete the work.
Creating a Work Order from Scratch
Create Activity Templates to capture all inputs, labor, or third party services for all activities.
Select PRODUCTION > ACTIVITY TEMPLATE > View. This will show a list of existing activity templates. If you already have all the activity templates that you need for your work order, move on to create your work order. But if you need to create a new activity template, then continue with the following steps.
Select the New Activity Template tab.
Tip: To make this faster, if there is an existing template you want to copy you can select it in the Copy From Drop down. This will auto-populate the template information. Then you can edit any fields that need to be edited and click create.
Enter the Template Name, Activity Type and Equipment Type.
Tip: Enter Crop Type only if you use this Template for one crop type, otherwise leave blank and you will be able to use this template for multiple crop types.
Tip: Leave Crop Year blank if you plan on performing this activity year over year. This will allow you to use this template in any crop year.
Include Instructions if appropriate.
Select Add Input.
Confirm the default Unit and Rate are correct and add the Source.
Repeat for each input that needs to be included.
Click the Create Button.
Create Work Orders
Go to PRODUCTION > WORK ORDERS > Manage.
Click New Work Order.
Select Create New.
Tip: To save time, if there is an existing work order that is similar, you can choose that work order in the Copy From dropdown menu and then edit fields that need to be changed for this work order.
Fill out Required Fields.
Order #: Most users leave this field blank so Conservis will automatically number the work order.
Order Name: Having a consistent naming pattern will make it easier to navigate your work orders. What you name the work order is up to you and your operation.
Select Activity type, Crop type, Equipment type, and Equipment from the drop down menus.
Applicator: Indicate whether this is an internal or external applicator
Operators: Add the user who will be assigned this work order. Assigning the work order to a specific operator is not required but helps your team know who is expected to do the work. But don't worry - when things change mid season your team can use the mobile app to see work orders assigned to other operators so you can switch who does the work while you are on the go.
Status: There are 2 status options, created or released. Typically you will create your work orders in the Created status and then change the status to Released in order to release them to your team when it is time to do the work.
Crop Year: This will default to your current crop year so if you are adding a work order for next year, remember to change that to the year when harvest will take place.
Due Date is when you’d like the activity to be completed. Tasks turn red on the mobile device as the date draws near.
Expire Date is when the tasks are automatically removed from operators’ devices if the work doesn’t get done. Leave blank if you require that the work be completed.
Scroll down to finish creating this work order from scratch.
Notes field: Putting something here will send that note to all tasks in this Work Order. You can use the chat icon at a later stage if you want to add a note to an individual task.
Notifications: If you would like a member of the team to get a notification when the work order is released, enter the email address in the Notifications area.
Now it is time to add the tasks that need to get done. Press Add Tasks From Template.
Press Select to add each applicable activity template.
After choosing the activity template, select all fields where the work should be done for this Work Order.
Click Apply.
The tasks will populate in the task list. They also show a map with the task order.
Change the Sequence number [Seq] of any one task to automatically reorder the task list.
You can edit the details of any task by clicking the down arrow next to it or Clicking Expand All.
Leave Equipment blank if you’re not sure which piece of equipment will do the task.
Click the chat icon to add instructions for just that one task. Press Ok.
If you need to add inputs, you can do so within each task by clicking Add Input/Activity or to create a new task, click the Add Inputs and then Add Input. Verify the Input includes, Acres, Rate, Units and Source.
When ready, scroll down and press Create (or Create+ if you have more work orders to add right now!
Releasing Work Orders: If the Status is listed as Created, then your team cannot see the work yet in the mobile app.
To release the work order:
Select the work order you want to release.
Click on the Actions Button.
Select Release from the drop down options.
Tip: Alternatively, you can release tasks in this work order one at a time. To do that, open the Work Order, Click Edit, and change the status on individual tasks to Released. Be aware that if you do this, the Work order list will show this work order as Released, even though you did not release all the tasks. So this is typically only used when you have tasks that no longer need to be completed.
Tip: Clicking Complete won’t create records indicating that the work was done - It’ll only close out the Work Order (and remove the tasks from devices)! You need to create activity tickets to complete the work.