What does Messaging in Onboard App help?
For most transit operators, communicating with dispatch means one thing – reaching for the radio. And while radios do make life easier for operators and dispatchers, they’re also the source of major headaches: cluttered radio lines, overworked dispatch teams, and distracted operators to name a few.
Messaging in Onboard App allows for operators and dispatch to have two-way communication asynchronously while minimizing distractions for operators and allowing dispatchers to respond and prioritize messages on their own time.
Within Onboard App:
- Operators can communicate with dispatch while on their route. Canned messages are available to operators to limit distraction and for ease of communication, such as: Restroom Break, Farebox Issue, Traffic on Route, Start of Shift, etc.
- Operators will see a red dot on the message menu icon to identify that they have unread messages.
- Operators can reply while at stops when dispatch sends them a message. Replies are canned replies to aid in ease of use.
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Operators are unable to use Messaging in Onboard App while driving, and Onboard App is disabled while driving more than 5mph.
Within the Swiftly Dashboard:
- As operations staff use the Live Operations product, messages can be sent to vehicles to communicate without bogging down the radio.
- When an operator sends a canned message through Messaging in Onboard App, dispatch can reply using free-text.
- Dispatcher can see whether an operator is logged into Onboard App or not so that they know whether to expect a quick response from an operator.
Different states when sending messages in Onboard App:
- An operator is logged in with their vehicle ID in Onboard App with a strong cellular connection: This means that the vehicle is assigned, and the cellular connection is strong enough to send bi-directional messages between the Swiftly dashboard and Onboard App. A dashboard user can see the route assignment for that vehicle ID when messaging.
- An operator has logged in with their vehicle ID in Onboard App, and the vehicle is driving through an area with poor cellular connection: The messaging panel in the Swiftly dashboard for the selected vehicle ID will display the status "Offline ּּּּּּ ּ Route XX" to dashboard users.
If a user attempts to message an offline vehicle, an error message will be displayed. Please, try later when there is stronger cellular connection.
- Onboard App has ever logged into a vehicle: If that's the case, a dashboard user will find the following message when attempting to send a message to that vehicle ID: "Can't connect to vehicle, operator needs to log in." Make sure that Onboard App logs into the vehicle without Training mode enabled.
- An operator has not logged in with their vehicle ID in Onboard App for that service day: The messaging status will display "Offline". If a user attempts to message an offline vehicle, an error message will be displayed. See screenshot below:
FAQs
Can the set of messages be customized to meet an agency’s needs?
Messages are not customizable within the Swiftly dashboard. If you need those messages changed, reach out to support@goswift.ly.
What are the messages currently offered?
- Bathroom break
- Farebox issues
- Wheelchair
- Traffic
- 10-7 stop shift
- 10-8 start shift
- 10-9 back to base
Is it possible to send a mass message to all operators that are online at a given time?
No.
How do I know a message has been received?
There is a red dot on the messages icon to indicate that a message has been received
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