yncTL;DR — A checklist app for field work needs five things: full offline operation, e-signatures, versioned templates, an immutable log and automatic PDF. Without all five you end up back on paper.
1. Does it work without coverage?
Field work happens in basements, tunnels, boiler rooms and out on country roads. An app that needs a connection to save is useless precisely where the inspection has to be done. The requirement is not "works reasonably offline" but that the entire flow — open, fill in, photograph, sign, complete — can be carried out with no network at all, and that syncing then happens automatically without anyone having to remember to press something.
2. Can you sign, not just tick?
A tick shows somebody clicked. A signature shows who, when, and that the person took responsibility for the statement. The difference only shows up in a dispute. The signature should capture full name, date and exact time — and lock when the inspection is approved.
3. Are the templates versioned?
Templates change: new requirements, new items, rewordings. If a change to the template also changes how already-completed inspections look, the history is destroyed. A completed inspection must stay on the template version it was performed with.
4. Can the log be edited?
If an administrator can go in afterwards and adjust an answer, the record is worthless as evidence. The whole point of an audit trail is that it cannot be rewritten — every edit, signature and approval stays, with name, time and device.
5. Does it produce a report someone else can read?
The inspection has to end in something you can send to a client, an inspector or an authority — without anyone manually pasting together screenshots. A finished PDF with items, photos, deviations and signatures, automatically.
Paper, spreadsheet or app?
| PAPER | EXCEL / PHOTOS | FIELDSYNC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offline | Yes | Partly | Yes, the whole flow |
| Signing | Pen | Missing in practice | Digital, locks on approval |
| Several at once | No | Conflicts | Yes, per-line stamps |
| Traceability | Can be rewritten | Can be rewritten | Immutable log |
| Find 3 years back | Binder in storage | The inbox | Searchable history |
What does a checklist app cost?
FieldSync is €20 per technician per month on Standard, with one admin and one manager free. For teams up to four people, Lite is €10 per month flat. Every feature is included in both — no feature unlocks, no lock-in. Add-ons exist for water sampling and ERP integration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a checklist app and an inspection app?
In practice none. Self-inspection (egenkontroll in Swedish) is the statutory check an operator performs and documents themselves; the checklist is the format it is done in. FieldSync is used for both.
Do the checklists work fully offline?
Yes. Opening, filling in, photographing, signing and completing all work without coverage. Everything syncs automatically when the network returns.
Can we use our own forms as templates?
Yes. Send an existing form and we build it as a template. Templates are versioned, so already-completed inspections are unaffected when a template changes.
Does everyone on the team need a licence?
Everyone who fills in needs an account. One admin and one manager are included free on Standard, and guest fill-in via QR code needs no licence at all.
What does it cost?
Standard €20 per technician per month, or Lite €10 per month flat for teams up to four people. Every feature included in both.
Try it on your own work
Send one of your current forms and we will build it as a digital checklist and show it filled in and signed. [email protected]
Read more
- Shared inspections — several people on one checklist, stamped per line.
- Checklist app for business — the five requirements that decide in field work.
- Comparing inspection apps — six questions to ask every vendor.
- Digital self-inspection · Water sampling