How to Resolve Field Issues Faster with GoCanvas Follow-Ups

| | | |

In field work, even small issues can snowball into big delays if they aren’t caught and handled quickly. Missed repairs, failed inspections, and incomplete work all impact timelines, budgets, and customer satisfaction.

That’s why GoCanvas® created Follow-Ups—a new feature designed to make field issue resolution faster, easier, and more organized. Whether you’re on a construction site, managing maintenance teams, or overseeing inspections, Follow-Ups gives you a better way to track, assign, and close the loop on issues before they become bigger problems.

Here’s how it works—and how it can transform your day-to-day operations.

What Are Follow-Ups in GoCanvas?

Follow-Ups are digital tasks that are automatically created based on information collected in a form.

Example:

  • A technician notes a failed inspection point during a site visit.
  • Instead of sending an email or hoping someone remembers, a Follow-Up is triggered automatically.
  • The issue is assigned to the right person, with all the details and deadlines needed to fix it fast.

Follow-Ups are directly tied to submitted forms, so everything stays organized, searchable, and trackable—no paper notes, no missed handoffs.

Want to see how? Take a quick tour below!

Instead of waiting for office teams to review forms and flag problems, Follow-Ups allow you to assign tasks the moment an issue is found. The right team member gets notified in real-time, reducing lag and speeding up issue resolution.

Up to 35% of a field worker’s time can be lost dealing with unplanned work due to unresolved issues. Catching problems early helps teams stay on track.

–McKinsey & Co.

Every Follow-Up includes:

  • A clear issue description
  • A due date
  • An assigned team member
  • A direct link to the original form submission

This level of transparency keeps everyone aligned and accountable—with no confusion over who’s responsible or what needs to happen next.

Nearly 48% of all construction rework stems from poor communication or project data disconnects.

 –Autodesk + FMI Report

With the Follow-Ups dashboard, you can see the status of every issue at a glance, giving you immediate insight into:

  • What’s open
  • What’s overdue
  • What’s been completed

Managers and admins can monitor workflows and manage timelines so every project stays on track.

Give customers full visibility into completed work by including Follow-Ups in your PDF reports. You can choose to include or omit Follow-Ups depending on your reporting needs.

You can download a detailed report showing:

  • The original issue
  • The assigned team member
  • Resolution step
  • Completion status

This is especially powerful when working with customers, clients, or auditors, as it creates a clear documented trail of what was reported, when action was taken, and how it was resolved.

The average direct cost of rework in U.S. construction is over $30 billion annually, with rework often costing 5–15% of a project’s total budget.

 –Construction Industry Institute + FMI Research
  • Construction: Track punch list items, safety hazards, and incomplete work.
  • Facilities management: Assign urgent repairs before they escalate.
  • Inspections: Resolve failed checkpoints faster with clear next steps.
  • Field service: Manage callbacks, warranty repairs, and return visits.

Follow-Ups are included in your GoCanvas platform—no add-ons or complicated setups.
Start using them to catch problems early, respond faster, and keep your projects moving forward.

👉 Request a demo to see Follow-Ups in action! Already a GoCanvas customer? Learn how to get started with this step-by-step guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Follow-Ups in GoCanvas, and how do they work? +

Follow-Ups in GoCanvas are digital tasks that are automatically triggered based on information collected during fieldwork. For example, if a technician notes a failed inspection point, a Follow-Up is created immediately. The task is then assigned to the appropriate team member with all relevant details, such as deadlines and specific actions to resolve the issue. This feature helps ensure that no issues are overlooked, as everything stays organized, searchable, and trackable, eliminating the need for manual notes or email notifications.

How do Follow-Ups in GoCanvas improve issue resolution speed? +

Follow-Ups improve issue resolution speed by allowing tasks to be assigned instantly when an issue is identified in the field. Instead of waiting for the office team to review forms and flag problems, the relevant team member is notified immediately and given all the details needed to fix the issue quickly. This real-time task assignment reduces delays, ensuring that problems are addressed promptly and preventing small issues from escalating into bigger problems that could affect timelines and budgets.

What are the key benefits of using Follow-Ups in GoCanvas? +

The key benefits of using Follow-Ups in GoCanvas include:

  • Instant Task Assignment: Assign issues as soon as they’re identified, with no waiting for approvals or reviews.
  • Built-In Accountability: Every Follow-Up includes a clear issue description, a due date, and a designated team member, ensuring transparency and responsibility.
  • Centralized View: Managers can track the status of every issue, from open to completed tasks, in one centralized dashboard, making it easier to manage workflows.
  • Transparent Reporting: Follow-Ups are included in reports, providing clear documentation of issues, resolutions, and progress, which is especially useful for clients or audits.

How does using Follow-Ups help reduce rework in construction? +

Using Follow-Ups can significantly reduce rework in construction by addressing issues as soon as they arise. Poor communication and disconnected data often lead to mistakes that require rework, costing time and money. Follow-Ups ensure that issues are clearly documented, assigned, and tracked, preventing miscommunication and delays. With transparent accountability and a streamlined process for issue resolution, teams can avoid the costly and time-consuming process of revisiting problems that were not addressed promptly.

How can Follow-Ups in GoCanvas be used across different industries? +

Follow-Ups in GoCanvas are versatile and can be applied across various industries. In construction, they help track punch list items, safety hazards, and incomplete work. In facilities management, Follow-Ups allow urgent repairs to be assigned and addressed before they escalate. For inspections, Follow-Ups ensure failed checkpoints are resolved faster, with clear next steps outlined. In field service, Follow-Ups manage callbacks, warranty repairs, and return visits efficiently. This feature is valuable for any industry where field issues need to be tracked, assigned, and resolved quickly.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

Check out even more resources

Two people in an office looking at a tablet.

Improving Your Operations with Field Service Management Software

Whether you have two or 200 employees, your business’ success depends on their hard work. Passionate, motivated team players are the difference between…

Two people in hard hats looking off camera.

Should You Connect Field Service Management Software with QuickBooks?

Field service management software has shown to increase productivity both for employees in the field and operations teams in the office. You may be wondering how field service…

Person in safety vest smiling.

How the Best Field Services Businesses Use Mobile Apps

Mobility and field service: the talk has been happening forever. The idea that real-time information improves customer service and boosts technician productivity is changing…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.