New Permission Option with Automatic Updates

Simple In/Out has always been the original in/out board to support automatically updating your status. We pioneered Geofences back in 2011, Beacons with iOS 7, and Networks (first on Android, and we’re the only product ever to support Networks on iPhone). We also have Desktop Presence for our Windows and Mac users.

Today, we’re announcing a significant change to Simple In/Out’s permissions, which allows administrators to restrict users to automatic status updates only. Administrators can now limit a user to update their status automatically via Geofences, Networks, Beacons, and Desktop Presence, but not allow them to update their status manually in any way using our apps or website. Doing so significantly simplifies the user’s Simple In/Out interface while maintaining the ease of use of automatic status updates.

We’ve resisted this change over the years, just in case a user’s automatic update fails (due to poor network conditions, a dead battery, or a faulty setup on their phone). The user’s only recourse when a failed status update occurs is to contact a manager/administrator and have them correct the record. However, after careful consideration, we realized that for many of our customers, this workflow is a significant benefit. Some administrators would rather be contacted directly by their users if an automatic status update does not occur. Alternatively, some administrators prefer that users correct the record only via a device running FrontDesk or TimeClock in a physical location they control.

Administrators can now realize the above use cases within Simple In/Out. Importantly, these permissions are only options. Everyone’s Simple In/Out behavior today remains the same as it was yesterday, unless an administrator changes the permissions.

We hope that these additional options for our administrators around the world unlock new use cases and make Simple In/Out more beneficial than ever.