January 2026: GPS tracking, SMS messaging, and more

The upcoming release introduces enhanced workforce monitoring and communication capabilities that improve operational visibility and field coordination. GPS tracking has been upgraded with configurable geofence and signal monitoring alerts, enabling proactive response to location-based events. SMS messaging provides direct communication channels to field workers through template-based messages, organized contact lists, and flexible scheduling options. Punch forms now support signature capture, allowing you to collect employee acknowledgments digitally during time tracking workflows. These updates strengthen your ability to monitor workforce activities, maintain consistent communication, and document compliance requirements across job sites.

GPS tracking and alerts

GPS tracking now provides enhanced location monitoring capabilities with configurable alerts. This update introduces system-wide tracking controls, geofence monitoring, and notification settings that help you maintain visibility of employee locations during work hours.

What's new

GPS tracking operates as a separate system within MobiClocks, providing battery-efficient location tracking that respects employee work status. Location data is collected and monitored only when employees are punched in and actively working.

Administration settings

GPS tracking is now configured through dedicated administration settings that provide system-level controls. Enable or disable GPS tracking across your entire organization from a single location. When enabled, the module begins monitoring employee locations according to configured settings.

Job site settings

When GPS tracking is enabled at the job site level, it takes priority over employee-level settings, ensuring consistent tracking policies across all workers at that location.

Geofence and signal monitoring

The GPS tracking module includes two types of alerts about tracking condition changes:

Out-of-geofence alarms. The alert is generated when employees leave designated job site geofence zones while punched in. Configure alert timing with options for 5 minutes, 15 minutes (default), 30 minutes, 1 hour, or never. Job sites can override the default timing to match specific operational requirements.
Signal lost alarms. The alert is generated when Personal App loses GPS signal while employees are punched in. Configure alert timing with the same interval options as out-of-geofence alarms: 5 minutes, 15 minutes (default), 30 minutes, 1 hour, or never. These alerts help identify potential tracking issues that may require attention.

Note that the alerts can be activated or deactivated for each individual employee.

Notification delivery

For both alarm types, you can configure how notifications are delivered:

Push notifications: Send alerts directly to Personal App for immediate visibility.
SMS messages: Deliver notifications via text message to ensure critical alerts reach you regardless of app access.

When you select Never for either alarm type, notification delivery options are hidden since no alerts will be generated.

How it works

The GPS tracking system manages the complete lifecycle of location monitoring based on employee punch status and server configuration. Personal App actively monitors location data only when employees are in a trackable state.

If an employee moves outside the job site's geofence zone or if GPS signal is lost, the system starts monitoring for the configured alarm threshold. When the threshold is reached, notifications are sent through the configured delivery methods. The app continues attempting to track location even during network interruptions, synchronizing stored data once connectivity is restored.

The tracking service stops automatically when employees punch out or begin a meal break, ensuring location data is collected only during active work periods.

Benefits

Improved workforce visibility: Monitor employee locations across job sites in real time, making it easier to coordinate field operations and respond to changing project requirements.

Proactive issue detection: Receive alerts when employees leave geofence zones or when tracking signal is lost, allowing you to address potential problems before they impact operations.

Flexible configuration: Customize tracking intervals and alarm settings at the organizational, job site, and employee levels to match your specific operational needs and privacy requirements.

Reliable data synchronization: Ensure location data reaches the server even after temporary network outages, providing complete tracking records for payroll and compliance purposes.

SMS messaging

MobiClocks now includes SMS messaging capabilities that enable you to communicate directly with field workers through text messages. This new module provides template management, contact list organization, message scheduling, and delivery tracking to help you coordinate workforce activities and distribute important information efficiently.

What's new

The SMS messaging module operates as a separate system within MobiClocks with flexible permission controls. You can configure role-based access to ensure appropriate users can create and send messages.

Message templates

Create and manage reusable message templates to maintain consistent communication across your organization:

Template library: Build a collection of templates organized by visibility level—global templates accessible to all users, organizational unit templates shared within specific regions, job site templates limited to individual sites, and personal templates for individual use.
Template variables: Insert dynamic content into messages using the $employee_name variable. When you type the $ symbol, the system suggests the variable through autocomplete.
Template visibility: Configure template visibility to make them accessible at the organizational unit, job site, or global level.
AI assistance: Use built-in AI capabilities to fix grammar, translate messages to different languages, or rewrite content to fit within character limits.

Contact lists

Organize recipients into reusable contact lists that combine individual employees with dynamic groups:

Individual and group selection: Build contact lists by selecting specific employees or choosing from predefined groups such as all project managers, all HR staff, job site assigned employees, job site crew members, organizational unit administrators, or other role-based categories.
Mixed recipients: Combine multiple recipient types in a single contact list, such as company administrators, multiple job site project managers, and individual employees.
Contact list sharing: Share your contact lists with other users, making them available for message sending. Public contact lists are visible to all authorized users across the organization.

Message scheduling

Schedule messages for future delivery with flexible timing and recurrence options:

Schedule creation: Select a message template, choose a contact list or specific recipients, set a delivery date and time, and configure whether the message sends once or repeats until a specified end date.
Schedule management: View all scheduled messages in a sortable, filterable table that displays delivery times, recipients, message content, and status. Access detailed information about which employees are currently included in dynamic recipient groups.

Delivery tracking

Monitor message delivery status through multiple stages:

Send status: Track when messages leave the MobiClocks system, view the final message content and recipient list, and identify any errors, such as missing or invalid phone numbers.
Carrier confirmation: Receive delivery confirmation when messages are successfully delivered or review error descriptions when delivery fails.
Delivery dashboard: Access comprehensive delivery information showing where messages were sent, whether they reached recipients, and any delivery issues that require attention.

Benefits

Efficient workforce communication: Reach field workers directly through SMS, ensuring important information reaches employees regardless of their location or access to other communication channels.

Reduced administrative overhead: Automate routine communications and eliminate manual phone calls or individual text messages, freeing up management time for higher-priority operational tasks.

Consistent messaging across teams: Maintain standardized communication through reusable templates and shared contact lists, ensuring all workforce coordinators deliver the same information with approved language and formatting.

Punch forms signature

Punch forms now support signature capture, allowing employees to provide digital signatures during punch-in and punch-out processes. The signature field enables touch or mouse-based signature input directly within the form, making it ideal for shift acknowledgments, safety confirmations, or compliance documentation that requires employee authorization. Signatures are captured as images and stored with the punch record for audit and verification purposes.