Posting project updates from the field
Project updates are short posts that attach to a project's timeline. They can be internal-only (for your crew) or shared with the client. They support written notes, photos, and voice transcription — everything that makes sense on a phone, one-handed, in the van.
How to post an update
Inside a project, tap Post update. Choose the mode:
- Internal — team only. Good for crew coordination, scheduling notes.
- Share with client — shows up in the client portal. Good for progress photos, milestone completion.
- Share + progress payment — posts the update AND creates a progress invoice in the same action. Efficient when the update marks a billing point in the job.
Voice notes
Tap the microphone, speak for up to a minute, stop. Surfacely transcribes the audio using speech-to-text tuned for your locale — Australian, American, British, NZ, or Canadian English are all handled. You can edit the transcription before posting.
Photos
Attach photos directly from the camera or from your library. Photos upload fast and the full-quality originals are kept.
What clients see
Client-shared updates appear in the portal timeline with your photos and text. They get an email letting them know there's a new update when one lands.
Why it matters: clients who see regular updates don't call you to ask how it's going. A 30-second update saves a 10-minute phone interruption and keeps the client happy. Over a full job, that's hours of your time back.
Tip: a good cadence is an update at the start, at major milestones (undercoats done, first coat done, final coat done), and at completion. Clients who've been kept in the loop pay invoices faster.