Offline behaviour is a product decision
An app does not become offline-ready simply because its screen remains visible. Decide what users can read, create and change without a connection. A technician might need yesterday’s job details and a new inspection draft, while current stock availability may require the server. Make that boundary explicit in the interface.
Show the state of every change
Use distinct language for a draft saved on the device, a request waiting to sync and a change accepted by the server. A generic “Saved” message can mislead someone into assuming the office already has the record. Explain what remains pending and whether closing the app will affect it.
Plan conflicts before they happen
Suppose a dispatcher changes a job while a technician edits it offline. Decide which fields can merge and which need review. Silently overwriting one person’s work is rarely a good default. Preserve enough information to explain the conflict and let the responsible user resolve it without retyping everything.
Prevent duplicate submissions
Repeated taps and reconnect attempts must not create repeated business records. Give each intended operation a stable identifier and make the server recognize a replay. Disabling the button helps the interface, but the server still needs a rule for requests retried after a timeout or interrupted response.
Run a recovery rehearsal
Start a task, disconnect, edit, close and reopen, then reconnect. Repeat with a conflicting update and an expired session. Record what the user sees at each step. The acceptance criterion is not “works offline”; it is that data survives the agreed scenarios and the final server state is understandable.
Published by DevMania with AI assistance. Examples illustrate planning approaches and do not claim client results. Check current provider documentation before implementing product-specific features.