How to Use Ask SentryTech

First Visit - Confidentiality Acceptance

The first time you open Ask SentryTech, you will see a confidentiality acknowledgment screen. This is required because the app contains proprietary vendor documentation and trade secrets.

• Read the notice carefully
• Type your full legal name in the signature field
• Tap I Acknowledge & Accept

You only need to do this once. The acceptance is stored on your device and on our servers.

The Search Bar

The search bar is the main way you interact with Ask SentryTech. You can type:

• Questions: "How do I calibrate an Encore 700S?"
• Work order numbers: "WO-00961234" (pulls up WO details automatically)
• Error codes: "CR-02" or "E0401" (auto-detects vendor and severity)
• Equipment names: "FlexPay 6" or "TLS-450"
• Plain descriptions: "slow flow on dispenser 3"

Vendor Filter Chips

Below the search bar, you will see two rows of filter chips:

• Vendor row: Gilbarco, Wayne, Veeder-Root, Bennett, Franklin, OPW
• Equipment row: Dispensers, ATG/Tank, POS, CRIND/EMV, Submersible, Hanging HW

Tap a vendor chip before searching to restrict results to that vendor's documentation only. This is the most important thing you can do for accurate results. The app auto-detects vendors from your query, but tapping the chip guarantees it.

When you select a vendor and equipment type, a third row of Model chips may appear with specific models (like "Encore 700S" or "TLS-450").

How to Ask Good Questions

Be specific. Include the equipment model, vendor name, and the exact symptom whenever possible.

Error Code Lookup

Just type the error code directly into the search bar. The app automatically detects it, identifies the vendor, and shows severity, cause, and related codes.

• "CR-02" - Recognized as a Gilbarco CRIND error
• "E0401" - Recognized as Gilbarco CRIND Motor Overload
• "Error 4012" - Looked up against the error code database

The answer will include a colored error code banner showing the code, description, severity level, likely cause, and any related codes.

Work Order Lookup

Type a work order number (like WO-00961234) into the search bar. The app detects it and pulls up a full work order context panel showing:

• Site name, customer, equipment, territory, status, assigned tech
• Problem reported
• Pre-arrival briefing with key intel
• Active site alerts from SentryTech monitoring
• Site equipment inventory (CRINDs, dispensers, tank monitors, etc.)
• Software versions installed at the site
• Tank levels
• Similar past issues and how they were resolved
• Parts commonly used at this site
• Recent site service history
• Recommended actions based on the reported problem

Follow-Up Questions

After getting an answer, you can ask follow-up questions naturally. The app remembers the context of your previous question - the vendor, the equipment, and the topic.

• First question: "How do I replace an Encore 700S meter?"
• Follow-up: "What torque spec for the bolts?"
• Follow-up: "Where do I find the part number?"

The app also suggests related follow-up questions as clickable chips below each answer. Tap one to ask it instantly.

Voice Search

Tap the microphone icon next to the search bar to use voice input. Speak your question clearly. The app will:

1. Show a recording indicator on the mic button
2. Convert your speech to text in the search bar
3. Let you review and edit the text before searching
4. Press Enter or tap Ask to submit

Search History

When you tap the search bar and it is empty, your recent searches appear as a dropdown. Tap any previous search to run it again. You can clear your history from the dropdown header.

Every answer from Ask SentryTech follows a consistent structure designed to keep you safe and give you the information you need fast.

Vendor Isolation Banner

At the top of every answer, a banner confirms which vendor's documentation was used. For example: "Results from Gilbarco documentation only." This lets you verify you are getting the right vendor's procedures.

Safety Warnings - Always Read First

If the procedure involves safety-critical work, a red safety banner appears at the top of the answer. This includes:

• Required PPE (personal protective equipment)
• LOTO (lockout/tagout) requirements
• Hazardous material warnings
• Electrical safety precautions
• Detailed safety requirements you can expand

For elevated safety situations, you will see a red "STOP - READ SAFETY FIRST" header. The safety section starts expanded so you read it before the repair steps.

Step-by-Step Procedures

Technical answers are formatted as numbered steps you can follow in order. Bold headings identify each step, and details are provided beneath.

Source Documents

Below the answer, a collapsible "Sources" section shows exactly which documents the answer came from. Tap to expand. Each source shows:

• Document title and vendor
• Page number (when available)
• A "View" link to open the original PDF

Work order sources are tagged with their system (ServiceMax, Mobile Tech, etc.).

Confidence Indicator

Every answer shows a confidence badge at the bottom:

• High Confidence (green checkmark): Strong match in vendor docs. Proceed with confidence.
• Medium Confidence (blue info): Good match but may need verification on some details.
• Low Confidence (yellow warning): Limited documentation found. A prominent warning banner tells you to verify with your supervisor or vendor rep before proceeding.

Parts Intelligence

When available, the answer includes parts information - part numbers, quantities, estimated prices, and whether parts are typically in stock. You will see colored badges like "Parts Intel," "Lifecycle," and "Time Est" when intelligence engines provide extra data.

Site Intelligence

If site data is available, you may see collapsible sections for:

• Site Intelligence: Risk score, correlated failure predictions
• Field Intelligence: Site health grade, fix patterns, device health

Safety Gate (High-Risk Procedures)

For high-risk procedures involving high voltage, LOTO, or confined spaces, the app blocks the answer behind a Safety Gate modal. You must:

1. Read the safety warnings displayed in the modal
2. Check the box confirming "I have read and understand the safety requirements"
3. Tap Proceed to Answer to view the procedure

You can also tap Cancel / Get Help if you are not comfortable proceeding. The Safety Gate has three levels:

• Elevated Hazard (yellow): Standard safety precautions required
• High Voltage / LOTO Required (red): Lockout/tagout and electrical safety required
• Permit Required - Confined Space (red): Do not proceed without a confined space permit

Safety Guardrails

The app has additional built-in safety checks. If a potential issue is detected, you will see alert banners:

• Verification Required: The answer may contain information not found in official docs. Cross-check everything.
• Vendor Mismatch: Some information may reference other vendors. Verify part numbers match your equipment.

Below every answer, you will find a row of action buttons. Here is what each one does:

Generate Work Order Notes

Tap the "Generate Work Order Notes" button to open a form that helps you create professional work order notes fast. The form pre-fills what it can from your search and any active work order. You fill in:

• Work Order number
• Site name
• Problem description (pre-filled from your search)
• Resolution status (Resolved, Partially Resolved, Parts Needed, Escalated, or Diagnostic Only)
• What you did (describe the work performed)
• Parts used (optional, comma-separated)
• Checkboxes for Customer Notified, Follow-up Needed, Leak Test Passed

Tap Generate Notes and the app produces formatted notes you can copy and paste into your WO system. It also generates a fault cause summary when applicable.

Start Guided Troubleshooting

When an answer contains 2 or more numbered steps, a "Start Guided Troubleshooting" button appears. This launches an interactive walkthrough of the steps. See the next section for details.

Diagnostic Script Download

When an answer contains SQL queries or references GlobalStore database commands, a "Download Diagnostic Script" button appears. This generates a script file you can run on the POS controller.

What It Is

Guided Troubleshooting transforms the numbered steps in an answer into an interactive, one-step-at-a-time walkthrough. Instead of reading a wall of text, you work through each step and tell the app what happened.

How to Use It

1. Tap Start Guided Troubleshooting on any answer with numbered steps. The answer card transforms into the guided view.
2. You see a progress bar with numbered dots, the current step number ("Step 1 of 5"), and the step title and details.
3. Perform the step on the equipment, then tap one of three buttons:
   • Fixed it - The step resolved the issue. You are done.
   • Not the issue - The step did not fix it. The app advances to the next step.
   • More detail - You need more information about this step. The app sends a follow-up question scoped to this specific step.
4. The progress bar tracks your progress. Completed steps show a green checkmark. Skipped steps show a dash.

When You Fix It

If you tap "Fixed it" on any step, the app shows a completion screen confirming which step resolved the issue. From here you can:

• Generate WO notes that document every step you attempted and which one fixed it
• Return to the original answer

When All Steps Are Exhausted

If you go through every step and none resolved the issue, the app shows an "All Steps Attempted" screen. You can still generate WO notes documenting everything you tried. This is useful for escalation - it shows the next tech or the vendor exactly what was already checked.

Generating WO Notes from Guided Mode

The "Generate WO Notes" button on the completion screen creates notes that include:

• The original question/problem
• Vendor and equipment
• Each step attempted, whether it resolved the issue or was ruled out
• Resolution status (resolved or unresolved)
• Fault cause and remedy (when determinable)

Tap Copy to copy the notes to your clipboard and paste into your WO system.

Below the search bar, you will see four Quick Start cards for the most common field issues. Tap a card to open a smart builder that asks you a few questions before searching, so you get a more targeted answer.

What Tapping a Card Does

Each card opens a Smart Builder - a short guided form that collects context before searching. For example, the Card Reader builder may ask:

• Which vendor? (Gilbarco, Wayne, etc.)
• Which terminal? (FlexPay 6, CRIND, iGEM, etc.)
• What is the symptom? (won't read cards, EMV decline, error code, etc.)

This builds a precise search query behind the scenes so you get the right answer the first time.

Tap your avatar (the circle with your initial) in the top-right corner to open the settings panel.

Essential Settings (Always Visible)

• Dark Mode: Toggle between dark and light themes. Defaults to your phone's system preference. Light mode is better in direct sunlight.
• Field Mode: Choose between Basic, Advanced, Expert, and Dashboard modes.
  • Basic: Search bar only. Clean, minimal. Best for quick lookups.
  • Advanced: Search bar plus vendor filters, Quick Start cards, and tool links. Default for most techs.
  • Expert: Everything in Advanced plus additional data panels.
  • Dashboard: Intelligence panels, search insights, analytics, work order stats.
• Sign In / Sign Out: Sign in with your JFP Microsoft account for personalized features.

Advanced Settings (Tap to Expand)

Tap "Advanced Settings" to reveal additional options:

• Assistant Name: Choose your AI assistant's name - SCOUT, PETE, SAM, OCTANE, or TANK. Each has a different personality tagline. This is just for fun and does not affect the quality of answers.
• Command Center: Dashboard, Executive, and Sales modes (Executive and Sales require leadership role).
• Training Simulator: Practice mode for learning and training scenarios.
• Push Notifications: Enable or disable push notifications for alerts.
• Language: Choose from 21 languages including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, and more. Answers are translated to your selected language.
• Voice Settings: Configure voice auto-read (answers are read aloud automatically) and voice preferences.

1. Tap a vendor chip BEFORE searching. This is the single most important thing you can do for accurate results. The app auto-detects vendors from keywords, but manually selecting guarantees it.
2. Use specific equipment model names. "Encore 700S" gets better results than "Gilbarco dispenser." "TLS-450PLUS" gets better results than "tank monitor."
3. After getting an answer, ask follow-up questions naturally. The app maintains conversation context. "What about the O-rings?" works after asking about a meter replacement.
4. Bookmark answers you use often. Tap the star icon on any answer. Access your bookmarks from the hamburger menu under "My Bookmarks."
5. Generate WO notes to save time on paperwork. Use the notes button after resolving an issue. The app pre-fills your problem description and generates professional notes you can copy-paste.
6. Use Guided Troubleshooting on multi-step repairs. It keeps you on track and documents what you tried - great for complex issues and for generating detailed WO notes.
7. Try the Smart Builder cards for common issues. Card Reader, Slow Flow, ATG Alarm, and POS Error cards collect the right context before searching.
8. Check the Sources section when you need to verify a procedure or find the original document. You can open the source PDF directly.
9. Use voice search when your hands are dirty. Tap the mic, speak your question, review the text, then press Enter.
10. The app works offline-first. Bookmarks and search history are stored locally. Answers require an internet connection, but the app will tell you if you are offline.

Starting a New Chat

After you get an answer, a "New Chat" button appears. Tap it to clear the conversation and start fresh. This is useful when you are switching to a different issue or a different piece of equipment. On desktop, use Ctrl+N (or Cmd+N on Mac).

Keyboard Shortcuts (Desktop)

If you are using Ask SentryTech on a laptop or desktop, keyboard shortcuts are available. Open them from the hamburger menu under "Keyboard Shortcuts."

If something is not working right with the app itself, try these fixes:

Problem	Fix
Ask button not working / stuck	Wait 45 seconds (the button auto-resets). If still stuck, refresh the page. If it persists, clear your browser cache and try again.
Page won't load	Check your internet connection. Try loading another website. If other sites work but Ask SentryTech does not, the server may be undergoing maintenance.
Getting results from the wrong vendor	Tap the correct vendor chip before searching. Look at the "Results from [vendor] documentation only" banner at the top of the answer to confirm. Tap the "Clear" button on the active filter display to reset filters.
Confidentiality screen keeps appearing	Your browser may be clearing localStorage. Try signing in with your Microsoft account so the acceptance is stored server-side. In Safari, make sure "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" is not deleting site data.
Voice search says "access denied"	Go to your browser settings and allow microphone access for the site. On iPhone: Settings, then Safari, then Microphone, then Allow. On Android: tap the lock icon in the address bar, then Site Settings, then Microphone.
Work order lookup timed out	The server may be busy. Wait a few seconds and try again, or search without a work order number - you can still get technical answers.
App looks broken or unstyled	Force-refresh the page: pull down on mobile, or Ctrl+Shift+R on desktop. This clears cached CSS and JS files.
Dark mode text is hard to read	Switch to Light mode using the sun/moon toggle in the header or in Settings. Light mode is designed for outdoor use.
Answers are in the wrong language	Open Settings (tap your avatar), expand Advanced Settings, and change the Language dropdown to English.