Updates

Get the full picture on your team's progress without interrupting anyone's flow. Choose questions, set a rhythm, and get those needed updates delivered on autopilot. 👨‍✈️

👉 Before you start: 

• The updates feature is available as part of Trainual's operations suite, which includes three other powerful tools. ↗ Learn how to unlock all four here.

Updates overview: 

The days of vaguely asking 'so... how's everything going?' are over! Updates gives you real, detailed answers on your team's progress, delivered on the schedule you set.

💬 What makes updates worth it? Let us recount the ways...

• ⏱️ Standardize check-ins with customizable templates sent on a recurring schedule (weekly, biweekly, monthly, or custom) to automate async check-ins.

• 📥 A searchable log of every check-in that builds over time, so you can revisit past responses, catch recurring themes, and track people and team progress without relying on memory.

• 💪 Real-time info on people and team progress and challenges, so you can give targeted feedback, ask better questions, and remove obstacles.

Once your template is live, everything runs in the background. Ready? Let's goooo! 👇

Build a new update template:

Creating your first update template is a simple four-step process. Let's show you how!

1. Expand "Operations" from the left-hand navigation menu.
2. Choose "Updates."
3. Hit the "Create new" button in the top right corner. 
4. Fill out the basics.
   
   
   
   • Template name. Add a clear title that reflects the purpose of the async update.
   • Update type. Does this update repeat, or does it only need to happen once?
   • Set the cadence. Daily, weekly, monthly, or custom.
   • Set the due time. The update submission deadline your team sees, displayed in their local time zone.
   • Confirm the owner. Defaults to you. Change it to another user, if needed.

📝 Please note: Due times display in-app based on each user's profile settings. If time zones are not set, deadlines will not be aligned. Have your team confirm their settings.

1. Enter your first question in the field provided.
2. Include more by hitting "Add another question." 

💡 Examples

1. Decide which individuals and groups should complete this update.
   
   
   
   • Use the "Share" button under “Assign to” to select eligible recipients (which will display your direct reports or managed groups only).
   • Search for and select people and groups in the pop-up window. 
   • Hit the "Save" button to apply your choices. 
2. Decide which individuals and groups can see and track these updates.
   
   
   
   • Use the "Share" button under “Visibility” to select eligible reviewers.
   • Search for and select people and groups in the pop-up window. 
   • Hit the "Add" button to apply your choices. 

Hit the "Save and set active" button to launch your newly minted update! 🚀

Fill out an update: 

Here's how to find and complete your assigned updates.

1. Expand "Operations" from the left-hand navigation menu.
2. Choose "Updates."
3. Open your pending updates list under the "need to complete" queue by clicking the down arrow.
   
   
4. Hit the "Write update" button to begin filling out an update.
   
   
   
5. Answer all of the assigned questions in the pop-up window. 
6. Hit the "Submit update" button when you're ready to send it.
   
   

Review an update: 

Ready to see what your teammates shared? Here's how to check update responses.

1. Expand "Operations" from the left-hand navigation menu.
2. Choose "Updates."
3. Locate an update for a group or person you'd like to review. 
   
4. Hit the "View all" button to look over update submissions.
   
   
5. Choose a date from the left-hand panel to review.
6. (Optional) Leave a note on the update using the comment box.
7. Click the "Mark as read" button when you're done reviewing.

Edit an existing update template: 

Need to make changes to an existing update template? Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to any update template to access the following options: 

• ✏️ Edit. Change the name, cadence, due time, questions, owner, assignees, or visibility choices for an update.
• ⏸️ Pause. Temporarily stop sending updates without losing the template setup. Resume it anytime by filtering your view to "Inactive" status → clicking the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the title → selecting "Resume template."
• 🗃️ Archive. When you no longer need an update, but you want to preserve its response history, archive it. Archived templates can be found under "Archived" in the status filter.
• ❌ Delete. This permanently removes an update template and all its response history and data. Proceed with caution, as this cannot be undone or recovered!

Search and filter your updates page: 

Everything is organized and searchable. Here's how to navigate and filter your updates...

Tips and additional resources for updates:

🎁 Bonus learning

Explore these extra materials to expand your understanding of how to set updates.

• 👨‍🏫 On-demand learning: Operations suite basics — super quick workshop.
• ♟️ Strategy guide: How to roll out the operations suite.
• 🔔 Webinar invite: Redefining how teams operate.
  
  

FAQs:

Are updates available on the Trainual mobile app?
Not yet. But this is on our roadmap. Stay tuned! 🛣️


How can I submit my feedback and ideas about features?
If you'd like to share your thoughts about the operations suite or think of something else you'd like to see added in the future, send us your feature requests and ideas.

Learn more about Trainual: 

• Add-on the training suite so all your who does what and hows are captured.
• Access a library of 400+ expert-built training courses to stay compliant.
• Consistently onboard and educate your team at scale using training paths.