How to run field operations offline (and sync clean)

The offline-first principles

A field process that survives dead zones follows a few rules:

• Capture locally first. Never block a report on a network call.
• Queue, don't drop. Reports and media wait in a local outbox.
• Sync in order. Upload media, then write the record, so nothing is half-saved.
• Make sync invisible. It should drain automatically when connectivity returns.

Setting it up in Prime RP

Prime RP is offline-first by design:

1. Engineers open assigned items and capture structured reports with photos, video, and audio.
2. With no signal, each report is saved to a local outbox.
3. When the device reconnects, the outbox drains automatically — media first, then the record.
4. Supervisors review each submission as a task and approve or return it.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Uploading the record before its media (creates broken references).
• No retry/backoff, so one failure stalls the queue.
• No visibility into what's still pending sync.
• Forcing engineers online to submit — the fastest way to lose field data.