BQE CORE Mobile on Android

Overview

BQE CORE has a smart mobile app for Android phones that you can use to manage your business on the go. Using this app, you can create projects, enter time and expenses into your company database remotely, submit and approve entries, create invoices and bills, and even run reports. BQE CORE Mobile is built on highly optimized APIs that can track visits undertaken by you without undermining the battery life or Internet usage of your phone. It even allows you to easily convert your visits into time entries and track your mileage. Click to watch this video overview of the CORE Mobile app.

Your Android mobile settings are applied globally on the remote server, thus reflecting in the web application also. In addition, the web app settings such as Manage Access, Project Assignments, Custom Labels, User Permissions and Settings are applied on the mobile app.

The CORE Android app provides offline support for few actions such as viewing records that have already been downloaded. It does not provide offline support for the add, edit and delete actions in any of its screens. A working Internet connection is required to do so. The search applies against both the records that have been downloaded by the app and records that are on the server not yet downloaded.

You can check the CORE Mobile FAQs here.

The CORE Android app is available for free and can be downloaded on your smart phones with the below Android operating systems.

• CORE Android app (Android 8.0 or later)

Common Gestures

CORE Mobile App vs. Web App

How To

Enter Time in Time Card

Use Daily Time Card

Use Visit Tracking for Time Entries

Record Expenses from Receipts

Track Trips for Expense Entries

Convert Trips to Expense Entries

Apply Filters in Time Card

Customize Home Screen

Use Workflow Cards

Quickly Create Records or Items

Access BQE CORE Resource Center

Mark Screen as Favorite

CORE Mobile App vs. Web App

The CORE Mobile app for Android includes almost all the features that are available in the CORE web app, allowing you to complete everyday workflows and tasks while on the go. However, the mobile app is optimized for real-time entry and quick actions. Here are some differences between the web and mobile app.

Enter Time in Time Card

Time Card is the simplest and easiest way to enter your time in CORE Mobile on a weekly basis. It requires a minimal amount of data entry and allows you to reuse the commonly performed activities on various projects. You can add, edit, and submit time entries from here.

Alternatively, you can use the Timers for entering your time. These timers work in the offline mode also, wherein you can start/stop them without any Internet connection. Timer data is synced with the server whenever the network becomes available. You can edit various fields while the timer is running in the offline mode. However, you cannot create time entries in the offline mode. Please note that if you start the timer in the offline mode, the CORE Mobile app allows you to delete the timer, however, if you start the timer in the online mode and then go into offline mode, the timer cannot be deleted.

To enter time in Time Card, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, tap Menu on the bottom navigation bar.
   
   
    
2. Next, in the Time & Expense menu, click Time Card.
3. The week view shows entries for the currently selected week. You can tap the < left and > right arrows to navigate to the relevant week.
4. Each row in the Time Card displays the project, activity, and description in the header and includes a cell for each day of the week. By default, Status, Weekends, and Column Totals are also visible.
5. CORE uses the project and activity that is currently in the Time Entries screen. Tap on a cell to open a pop-up.
6. Click on a grid cell to open the Memo dialog, which also displays the workflow status. Enter Hours here and then tap Submit to save the entry. Please note that the Memo dialog is only visible if the Memo option is checked in the overflow menu.
   
   
    
7. Tap x on the top or click anywhere outside the grid to close the modal. You can click on Next Cell to save the entry automatically and move to another cell on the right. 
8. You can press More Options to view and edit more fields of a time entry. 
9. If you want to add another row for a new project/activity/description, tap + Add New at the top. Please note that the Description field can save up to 200 characters. CORE supports both numeric and alphanumeric IDs. 
10. On the Add New pop-up, enter Project, Activity Item, and Hours.
11. Press Done. 
12. The Weekly Total at the bottom displays the total hours entered in the current week. The overflow menu at the top provides various options to filter the displayed entries, show/hide items, submit entries, etc.  
13. The multi-select rows action is also possible by tapping-and-holding on one of the rows. When rows are selected, all the included entries can either be submitted or deleted in batch by pressing the Submit or Delete button, respectively. You can find the Delete button in the More menu. Alternatively, you can submit the entire time card by clicking Submit All on the screen. This automatically submits all time entries within the current period. You can also select time entries on the grid and click Submit.
    Note: You can view a summary of unsubmitted expenses in the Time Card screen. CORE allows you to submit these expenses along with your time for that week.

As a manager, you can choose to select a resource to change your time card to reflect that of another employee or vendor (as per your user permissions).

Use Daily Time Card

The Daily Time Card panel lets you track time using timers or direct time entry. You can access your weekly calendar, open active timers, create draft entries from recent work or allocations, and manage all your daily entries in one place. The floating timer icon follows you throughout the app for quick access.

To use Daily Time Card, follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, go to the Home screen. You may see an Overlay permission needed prompt shortly after signing in. This permission allows CORE to display the floating timer on top of other screens. If prompted, tap Yes and follow these steps.
   
   
    
2. Tap the Daily Time Card icon on the top bar. This icon displays your total hours for the current day. You can also tap the floating timer icon to return directly to your Daily Time Card; an active timer is not required. CORE opens the Daily Time Card panel for the current week, with the current day highlighted.
3. Use the week selector at the top of the panel. The current day always appears highlighted in yellow.
   
   
    
4. Tap any other date to select it; selected dates appear in blue. Weekends appear based on your company’s work week settings. 
5. If you have any active timers, the floating timer shows only the most recently interacted running timer. The floating timer is movable; you can drag it anywhere along the screen edges, and expand or collapse it as needed.
6. Tapping the floating timer always takes you back to the My Time Entries screen. When the floating timer is positioned on the right edge of the screen, swiping left expands it and swiping right collapses it. When it is on the left edge, the behavior is reversed: swiping right expands it and swiping left collapses it.
7. Use the row actions to Reset or Delete a timer.
8. To convert a timer into a time entry, tap Finalize and then Create Time Entry. The new entry appears under the date selected in the week panel.
9. Below your running timers, CORE displays your Time Entries for the selected date.
10. Swipe left on any entry to take actions such as create timer or un-submit time.   
    
    
11. To add a new time entry, tap the Add (+) button in the top panel. A bottom panel opens with three sections:
    • Recent Activities
    • Allocated to Me
    • All Activities
12. To create time manually, press + Create New and enter the required details.
13. Tap Save to add the entry to the selected date.
14. Next, open the Recent Activities section. CORE loads activities on which you recorded time. As you type, CORE filters the list using smart search behavior, matching any part of the project, phase, activity, or description. If more than five days contain matching entries, tap View More to load entries from up to 14 days with progressive scrolling.
    
    
     
15. Swipe a row to:
    • Start Timer
    • Create Entry
16. Use checkboxes to select multiple activities at once. When selections are made, CORE adds draft entries to the Time Entries list. These drafts contain project and activity details without hours.
17. Next, open the Allocated to Me section. CORE displays up to five activity allocations assigned to you for the selected date.
18. Swipe a row to:
    • Start Timer
    • Create Entry
19. Use checkboxes to select multiple activities. If more items are available, tap View All to load the full allocation list with progressive scrolling. Selected rows are added as draft entries in the Time Entries list.
20. Draft entries are created when you select items in Recent Activities or Allocated to Me. Draft entries are tied to the date that was selected when they were created and remain in draft status until hours are added. This allows you to prepare entries based on recent work or allocations and complete them later for that date.
21. When you enter hours, CORE converts the draft into a regular time entry for that date. If you attempt to leave the screen while draft entries remain unsaved, CORE shows a message indicating that changes are pending.
22. Review your entries for the selected date. Tap Submit Time at the bottom right of the panel.
23. Enter the required workflow information and tap Submit.

Note: The floating timer icon is available regardless of whether a timer is running. When a timer is active, it displays the elapsed duration and remains visible as you navigate through the app. You can drag it along the screen edges, and it snaps into place automatically. Tapping the floating timer opens the My Time Entries screen. When no timers are active, the icon appears in a faded state.

Use Visit Tracking for Time Entries

The CORE Android app uses the GPS-backed technology called Google Location Services and motion sensors to track your stops such as visit to a job site or your office. If you stop for more than 5 minutes, it then collects the coordinates and allows you to record time entries from the visits. The benefit is that you can track your locations on the job sites and also the time spent on the job. The result is better accountability, productivity, and efficiency. Visits are not editable, but when you create time entries out of them, you can edit that information. You can also merge multiple trips to a single entry. 

To use visit tracking for time entry, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Android app and go to the context menu > Settings.
2. Under Visits & Trips, turn on Visit Tracking. Alternatively, you can turn on visit tracking from the Home screen.
   
   
    
3. Next, set the Default Project (or Engagement) and Activity Item (Task) for the time entry. These are used only when you create time entries out of visits. You can change it later, if needed.
4. After turning it on, all your visits are tracked by it within the tracking start/stop time set by you.
5. You can set a break period during which your visit tracking is halted within the established work hours. You can do so by turning on that option and setting the Start/End break, say 1 pm to 2 pm. 
   Note: The auto-logout settings do not apply if the visit tracking is on.
6. Weekend tracking can be kept on if you want to record your visits during the weekends also. To view your tracked visits, go to the menu from the bottom navigation bar, then open the Time & Expense menu. From there, select Visits to see a list of all your tracked visits.
7. Tap the visit that you want to record. It displays Visit Detail (address, date, duration, etc.).
   
   
    
8. Tap Convert to Time Entry. It takes you to the New Time Entry screen where you can add more information or edit it.
9. Tap Save on the top-right. You can just save, or save and submit the time entry for approval.

Record Expenses from Receipts

The OCR-based scanning of receipts allows you to pre-fill your expense sheet with the details directly from the receipt of, say, a restaurant, an air ticket, a gas station, etc. You can then select the relevant project and expense item along with the markup, etc. CORE Mobile remembers your selection next time. You can choose to disregard purchase taxes, tips, etc. when creating expenses from receipts. The idea is to make the entire process of entering expenses easier and faster for CORE Mobile users.

To make an expense entry from a receipt, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, tap Menu on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Next, in the Time & Expense menu, click Expense Entries.
3. Tap the + icon on the bottom-right to add a new expense entry.
4. Next, tap 'New Entry' to add the expense from a receipt.
5. Tap the camera icon to capture a photo of the receipt or 'Import Receipt' to choose an existing receipt image from your photo library.
   
   
    
6. In both cases, CORE Mobile uploads the image to the AWS server and scans the receipt using the OCR technology. It pre-fills the expense entry with the data read from the receipt.
7. You must enter or select the rest of the details for the first time.
8. Tap Save (or Save and Submit). The receipt gets attached as PDF to the expense entry if the Save Attachment as PDF setting is turned on in the Settings screen. 

In the future, the app gets smarter and guesses the project, expense item and description with matching attributes based on the merchant address.

Track Trips for Expense Entries

Trips is a highly powerful and useful feature in CORE Mobile. It is used for automatic mileage tracking for reimbursement of expenses and tax purposes. Trips works similarly in the background, without user intervention and records your drives using the Drive Detection Technology. The CORE location technology determines your device's geographic location and uses your Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and cellular hardware to gather data. The CORE Motion technology reports motion and environment-related data. After providing the required permissions and setting up options, you are ready to go. You can merge multiple trip records into a single entry.

To use Trips for expense entry, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Android app and go to the context menu > Settings. 
2. Under Visits & Trips, press Trip Options and turn on Trip Tracking. Alternatively, you can turn on Trip Tracking from the Home screen.
   
   
    
3. After you turn on the Trip Tracking option, CORE prompts you to grant location permission. This gives access to your location even when the app is closed. 
4. Next, under Other Options, select a Default Project and Default Expense. These defaults are then used for all mileage-based expenses.
5. Next set the Location Accuracy (High or Balanced Mode) and Unit System (Metric or Imperial) for the tracking. This step is optional.
6. Set the Rate per mile value, say $0.58. This step is optional.

You are ready to track your mileage and trips.

Convert Trips to Expense Entries

The primary and most important goal of tracking your drives is to allow you to convert them to trip expenses. In CORE Mobile, you can easily create trip expense entries from previous drives. It memorizes the project association with a particular drive so that it is automatically applied on the next drive. You can also categorize drives as business or personal.

To convert trips to an expense entry, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, tap Menu on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Next, in the Time & Expense menu, tap on Trips.
3. In the list view, you can see all the trips made along with the approximate trips and potential value. Press All Trips In... to select your filters such as Trip Dates (This Week, Last Week, This Month, etc.) and Trip Types (Business, Personal, etc.).  
4. Press the relevant trip to see its details.
   
   
    
5. You can edit some details, if needed.
6. Press Create Expense to convert the trip to an expense entry.
7. On the Add Expense Entry screen, enter or change the expense details.
8. Press Save at the top-right. You are prompted to Save the expense entry or Save and Submit the entry.

Apply Filters in Time Card

To view selective data on the time card grid, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, tap Menu on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Next, in the Time & Expense menu, click Time Card.
3. In the Week or Day view, click on the right.
   
   
    
4. Next, toggle the Enable/Disable switch to apply filters or remove them, respectively. You can filter by activity, client, project, or workflow status drop-down and specify individual records or range.
   
   
    
5. Select a filter from the activity, client, project, or workflow status drop-down and specify individual records or range.
6. Click X to remove filters.
7. When you have finished, click Save. You can see selective data now.

Customize Home Screen

CORE Mobile app gives you the ability to customize your Home screen by adding, removing, and repositioning sections directly within the app settings. This customization helps you improve your app experience and adjust the layout to your preferences.

To customize your Home screen, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Mobile app and open the context menu > Settings.
2. Tap on Home Screen settings under the General section.
   
   
    
3. In the Home Screen settings, tap the + icon to open a list of available sections (e.g., Weekly Time Card, Recent Visits, etc.). The sections that have already been added will not appear in the Add Section modal.
   
   
    
4. Tap the + icon on the Add Section screen you want to add to your Home screen and then tap Done.  When all available sections are added, the + button is disabled to prevent further additions.
5. On the Home screen, each added section will display a remove icon (-).
6. Tap the remove icon (-) next to any section you want to remove from this screen. The section is deleted immediately and disappears from the screen.
7. Tap and hold on to a section to reorder the sections. Drag the section to the desired position within the list of sections.
8. As you drag the section, it will visually indicate its new position to help with alignment. Release the section in the desired position to finalize the reordering.
9. When you have finished adding, removing, and repositioning sections, simply exit the settings. Your changes will be immediately reflected on the Home screen with the sections arranged as per your preferences.

Use Workflow Cards

The Workflows section in the CORE Mobile app is designed to help you manage tasks that require approval or rejection. These tasks include time entry approvals, expense approvals, invoices, and more. This section displays tasks as interactive cards that allow you to approve, reject, skip, or undo actions with swipe gestures.

To approve or reject various tasks, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Mobile app and from the home feed, tap on the Workflows section to view the pending tasks.
   
   
2. Each task is represented by a card that provides key details for approval or rejection, such as project name, amount, and date.
3. Swipe right to approve the task. The card turns green with a check mark. Swipe left to reject the task. The card turns red with an X mark.
4. The drop-down menu at the top allows you to filter cards by specific categories (e.g., Time Entries, Expenses, Billing). Each category shows the number of pending items in parentheses.
5. Tap View All next to a category to view all items in that category. 
   Note: Budgets and Estimates do not have this option.
6. Tap Skip to move to the next task. The Skip option is hidden if only one card remains in the category. After swiping or skipping a card, an Undo button appears at the bottom. Multiple successive swipes lock the ability to undo earlier actions. Only the most recent swipe can be undone.
7. You will receive a notification when a new task requires your approval or rejection.
   

Quickly Create Records and Items

The Quick Create feature in the CORE Mobile app allows you to quickly add records such as time, expenses, projects, and payments directly from the main interface. With just a single tap, you can access the create modal and add entries without having to navigate through multiple screens. 

To create a record, follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Mobile app and tap on the Create icon on the bottom navigation bar.
   
   
    
2. The Create modal displays available record types such as time entry, timer, employee, etc. You can use the search bar to quickly search the record type you want to create.
3. Tap the + icon next to a record type to create a record. Add the necessary details in the Create screen and tap Save. You will be redirected to the Create modal. 
4. On the Create screen, the Recent Action section displays a list of the three most recent screens where records were created. The most recent action is displayed at the top.  You can check All Actions to check other screens for which records can be created. 
5. Tap anywhere outside the modal to close the screen.

Access BQE CORE Resource Center

The Resource Center for CORE Mobile serves as an in-app hub for all our self-service and support resources. You can get on-demand access to help resources, community forum, and app updates, all within the app. You can also contact support with the tap of a button.

To use the CORE Resource Center, follow these steps:

1. In your CORE Mobile app, tap Menu on the bottom navigation bar, and tap Help at the bottom.
   
   
    
2. Choose any of the CORE Resource Center options:
   
   
   • CORE Help Center: Access the help articles and other resources from our knowledge base including videos, FAQs, best practices, and troubleshooting articles.
   • CORE Community: Engage in discussions, post questions, request features, or report issues through our user forum.
   • App Updates: Stay up-to-date on what’s new in the CORE Android app.
   • Contact Support: Contact our Support Team by calling them with one tap, 24 x 7 or submitting a support ticket.
3. Tap x on the homepage to close the CORE Resource Center.

Mark Screen as Favorite

You can mark or flag the most often used and important screens in the CORE Mobile app as your favorites These favorite screens then display separately under the Favorites list. 

To mark a screen as your favorite, watch this video or follow these steps:

1. Log into your CORE Mobile app and tap on the Favorites icon on the bottom navigation bar. This opens the Favorites screen, where you can view and manage your existing favorite screens.
   
   
2. At the top-right of the Favorites screen, tap the + button to add a new favorite.
3. Tapping the + button opens the Add Favorites screen, which contains a list of available screens you can add as a favorite. The screens are grouped under their relevant modules (e.g., Time Card will be listed under the Time & Expenses module).
4. Each screen name in the modal has a Favorite icon next to it. Tap to add it to your Favorites list. Only one screen can be added to favorites at a time. Alternatively, you can mark any screen as a favorite from the overflow menu. 
5. You can scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top of the modal to find the screen you want to add as a favorite.
6. Tap on the top-right of the screen to edit the list or remove your favorite screen.