Managing Patrol Routes and Checkpoints

Patrols ensure guards visit designated locations at specified intervals. Atlock supports NFC, QR code, and GPS-based checkpoint verification.

Accessing Patrols

1. Navigate to Operations > Patrol Manager in the sidebar.
2. The Patrols page loads with multiple tabs.

Patrols Tabs

Overview Tab

Summary of patrol activity:

• Active patrols.
• Completion rates.
• Missed checkpoints.
• Guard compliance scores.

Checkpoints Tab

Manage all patrol checkpoints:

• Add new checkpoints.
• Edit existing checkpoints.
• Delete or deactivate checkpoints.
• Reorder checkpoint sequence.

QR Codes Tab

Manage QR code checkpoints:

• Generate QR codes per checkpoint.
• Download QR codes for printing.
• QR code scan history.

Routes Tab

Define guard patrol routes:

• Create routes linking multiple checkpoints.
• Set checkpoint sequence.
• Estimate time between checkpoints.
• Assign routes to shifts or guards.

Reports Tab

• Patrol completion rates.
• Check-in history.
• Guard performance by route.
• Missed checkpoint reports.

History Tab

• Full timeline of all patrol activity.
• Filter by guard, route, date.
• Export patrol data.

Creating a Checkpoint

1. Go to the Checkpoints tab.
2. Click Add Checkpoint.
3. Fill in the details:
   • Name — Descriptive label (e.g., "Main Lobby", "Parking P2 East").
   • Location — Click on the map to place, or enter coordinates.
   • Description — What the guard should check or do here.
   • Scan Type — NFC Tag, QR Code, or GPS Proximity.
   • Scheduled Check Time — When the checkpoint should be visited.
4. Click Save.

NFC Tag Management

1. Go to Operations > Patrols > NFC Tags (or from the Checkpoints tab).
2. Register NFC tags:
   • Scan the tag using an NFC-enabled device.
   • Link to checkpoint — Associate the tag with a specific checkpoint.
   • Label — Give the tag a human-readable name.
3. Install the physical NFC tag at the checkpoint location.
4. Guards scan the tag with their mobile phone during patrols.

NFC Scan History

View all NFC scans:

• Guard who scanned.
• Timestamp.
• Checkpoint location.
• On-time or late indicator.

QR Code Management

1. Go to the QR Codes tab.
2. For each checkpoint:
   • Generate — Atlock creates a unique QR code.
   • Download — Save the QR code image for printing.
   • Print — Print on weather-resistant labels.
3. Install QR codes at checkpoint locations.
4. Guards scan with their mobile app camera.

Creating a Patrol Route

1. Go to the Routes tab.
2. Click Create Route.
3. Configure:
   • Route Name — (e.g., "Perimeter Patrol", "Floor Sweep").
   • Checkpoints — Add checkpoints in order.
   • Estimated Duration — Total time to complete the route.
   • Frequency — How often the route should be completed per shift.
4. Click Save.

Assigning Patrols

Patrols can be assigned through:

1. Shift assignment — Link a route to a specific shift.
2. Guard assignment — Assign directly to a guard.
3. Site assignment — All guards at a site follow site patrol routes.

Monitoring Patrol Completion

Real-Time

• The Patrols Overview shows which checkpoints have been scanned today.
• Missed checkpoints trigger alerts to supervisors.

Historical

• The Reports tab shows completion rates over time.
• Drill down by guard, route, or site.
• Export data for compliance documentation.

Tips & Best Practices

• Place NFC/QR tags at eye level in weatherproof locations.
• Test all tags after installation — Have a guard do a test scan.
• Set realistic checkpoint schedules — Account for travel time between points.
• Review completion reports weekly — Identify guards who consistently miss checkpoints.
• Use GPS proximity as a backup for environments where NFC/QR isn't practical.

Troubleshooting

Guard can't scan NFC tag

• Ensure their phone has NFC enabled (Settings > NFC on the device).
• The phone must be within 1-2cm of the NFC tag.
• Some phone cases may interfere with NFC scanning.
• The NFC tag may need replacement if damaged.

QR code not scanning

• Ensure adequate lighting.
• Clean the QR code surface.
• Check if the QR code is damaged or faded.
• Regenerate and reprint if needed.

Checkpoint appearing as missed when guard visited

• The guard may have scanned outside the scheduled window.
• GPS-based checkpoints require the guard to be within the configured radius.
• Check the scan history for exact timestamps.

Related Articles

• Creating a New Site
• Setting Up NFC Checkpoints at a Site
• Creating a New Shift
• Building Custom Reports with Report Builder