Getting started with a new platform can feel overwhelming. FieldGrid is designed to be intuitive from day one, but knowing these ten things upfront will make your experience faster and smoother from the very first login.

1. Your Dashboard Is Your Home Base

The moment you log in, your Dashboard shows you exactly what needs your attention: active projects, upcoming tasks, recent activity, and any open issues assigned to you. You don't need to dig. FieldGrid puts the most important information front and center.

2. You Have Your Own Permission Layer

FieldGrid knows you're a technician — not an admin. Your view of every project is scoped to what you need. You'll see tasks, files, team members, checklists, and inventory. You won't accidentally touch anything that could disrupt admin workflows. This isn't a limitation; it's by design, and it protects you.

3. Checklists Are Fully Yours

Unlike tasks (which admins set), checklists in FieldGrid are completely within your control. You can create, edit, and delete your own custom checklists for any job. Use them for pre-work inspections, safety walkthroughs, punch lists — whatever your workflow demands.

4. Time Tracking Has a Built-In Safety Net

FieldGrid enforces a maximum of 8 hours of manual time entry per day. This prevents accidental double-logging and keeps your timesheet compliant with standard labor rules. If you need to log overtime, that flag goes to your manager — not through a workaround.

5. Requesting Inventory Is One Click

Need materials from the job site stock? You can request inventory items directly from the project's Inventory tab. Your request is logged, timestamped, and routed to the right person automatically. You don't need to call, text, or email anyone.

6. Mileage Reimbursement Is Automatic

When logging travel expenses, FieldGrid applies the standard $0.70/mile rate automatically. Just enter your mileage. The dollar amount calculates itself, and the entry is tagged to your project for the admin's approval.

7. Files Are Always in Sync

The Files tab in every project mirrors your team's connected cloud storage — Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Egnyte. You can upload directly from your device or pull from any connected source. Everything is versioned and searchable.

8. Issues You Submit Are Yours to Manage

If you spot a problem on-site and log it as an issue, you have full edit and delete control over that record. If someone else filed it, you can view it but not change it. This keeps accountability clear and traceable.

9. The Activity Tab Is Your Paper Trail

Every action in a project — uploads, checklist completions, status changes, comments — is automatically logged in the Activity tab. If there's ever a question about what happened and when, the answer is already there.

10. You Can't Break Anything

Seriously. FieldGrid's permission system means the things that matter most to your admin — billing, project settings, team permissions, sharing — aren't even visible to you. Explore the platform with confidence. You're in a controlled environment designed for your role.