For organizations developing mobile solutions with Pega, the expansion of Pega Mobile Client’s offline capabilities in Pega Platform '25 marks a significant step forward. These advancements enable users to remain productive even when network access is unreliable or unavailable.
The Importance of Offline Functionality
In today’s always-on digital world, we expect everything to work instantly. But what happens when the internet drops? Whether you're on a plane, in a remote location, or just dealing with flaky Wi-Fi, the ability to keep working without interruption isn’t just convenient - it’s critical.
Consider the challenges faced by field inspectors in remote areas, sales representatives traveling between client sites, or caseworkers operating in locations with inconsistent network connection. Losing access to critical data or being unable to update cases can lead to delays, frustration, and missed opportunities. Mobile offline is built to address these issues, ensuring that mobile apps remain functional and responsive wherever work takes place.
What’s already in the Pega Platform?
While working with Pega Platform 24, you can use these offline capabilities:
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Browse Case and Work Lists Offline: Users can view lists of their assignments and cases without an active network connection, facilitating organization on the move.
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Read-Only Access to Cases and Assignments: Cases and assignments are accessible for review in offline mode, allowing users to monitor details and progress.
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View Attachments: Attachments such as PDFs and images are available offline, supporting workflows that require reference materials.
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Dynamic UI with Visibility Conditions: The app intelligently displays or hides interface elements based on context, even when offline.
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Flexible Data Sync: Data synchronization can occur automatically or be triggered manually with a swipe-down gesture, ensuring updates are captured as soon as connectivity is restored.
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Gradual Offline Enablement: Parts of the application not designed for offline still work as usual but require a valid network connection. This makes it easier to gradually add offline support to any app, step by step.
What’s new in Pega Platform '25?
With the latest Pega Platform ’25 release, we expanded offline capabilities:
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Edit Case Data Offline: Users can update case information while disconnected by using optional "Collect information" steps, either case-wide or stage-only. The "Edit details" action is a typical example, but any such action can enable offline editing.
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Sync Indicator: Users can see a visual indicator of synchronization status, helping them understand when data is syncing, pending, or up-to-date.
Best Practices for Implementing Offline
To make sure your offline-enabled mobile app is successful, follow these best practices:
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Configure Offline at App Creation: Planning for offline capabilities from the beginning yields the best results, though offline can be enabled later.
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Test Frequently: Regularly test offline-enabled parts of your application without a network connection (for example, by using flight mode) to ensure they function as expected and deliver a reliable user experience.
Resources
For those ready to explore further, essential resources are available to guide you:
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How to Enable Offline Case Types on a Mobile Channel: https://docs.pega.com/bundle/platform/page/platform/mobile/enabling-case-types-offline-apps.html
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Overview of Supported Features and Offline Configurations: https://docs.pega.com/bundle/platform/page/platform/mobile/constellation-ui-features-for-offline-enabled-mobile-apps.html
Conclusion
Offline in Pega Platform '25 is more than a technical upgrade - it represents a commitment to enabling users to work anywhere, anytime. Whether developing apps for field service, inspections, or case management, these capabilities unlock new possibilities. Try out the new features, share your feedback with the Pega Community, and help shape the future of work.
