Hi everyone,
Long-time, part-time shopper and respectful lurker here. I learned something this weekend about the Maritz app that I am hoping is a feature and not a bug, that I thought I would share.

I had a weekend full of gas station photo audits to do, so I took my tablet and hot spot and went to work. After burning through 3GB in 7 shops (not sure if this was due to the Maritz app or something else), I decided to get into the 8th report, then shut down the internet connection while I did the audit. My backup is always my digital camera and paper, but since that usually takes longer than the app, I thought I would try this other way first. I was pleasantly surprised that it worked! I also found that if I downloaded more than one report, then went into each one to enter the date, then backed out, they would stay and not try to download again when I went into them a second time. When I got home, the app on the tablet synced up using the wi-fi connection at the house, and the remaining reports were submitted at that point. I'm going to have to experiment more with this next time I use it.

I still never figured out why it went through so much data. That is the second time that has happened to me recently. Is anyone else experiencing that? But it may not matter as much, if I can download the reports before I leave the house and not worry about having an active internet connection while I'm out.

Am I just the last to know about this offline capability in this app? I do like being able to submit the reports in real time if I can, so if the editor puts a hold on the report, I have a chance at still being close enough to the location to go back to get another picture if needed. But the offline feature is nice to have, especially in areas with spotty cell service.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2018 02:27AM by melaw5.

MobiAudit for Ipsos also will allow you to work offline. Then it will "synch" and upload to the server when online.

However, don't do some of the report on the app and then try to finish it on another device (laptop, tablet, computer) using a web browser. You must first go online with the app to allow it to upload to the servers what has been completed in the app before you continue on the other device. Otherwise it will tell you there are two different reports one in the app and one on the server which aren't the same.

My experience with the Maritz app is varied. One thing that is not varied is that if I don't wait to download the report until just before I leave my house, it will disappear and the app will download it again on the job site. In other words I do it at the last possible moment before leaving my wifi source.
I haven't tried to wait until getting back to wifi before uploading the shops because I'm a little paranoid that it won't work, and I"ll have to reshop, even though they claim I could do that.

... it will disappear and the app will download it again on the job site.

Yes, I have had that happen as well, consistently. However, if I go into the report and enter the date, then hit "next," it will stay put and not try to download again on the job site.

That is good to know. I will try that sometime.

Very useful, thanks!

@melaw5 wrote:

... it will disappear and the app will download it again on the job site.

Yes, I have had that happen as well, consistently. However, if I go into the report and enter the date, then hit "next," it will stay put and not try to download again on the job site.

Thank you. I just did 6 gas station audits this past weekend and did burn through data. I will have to try that next time.