How do I send a customer a link to follow their project, and see when they open it?

What you will do

You send the customer a link that opens their project page without signing in. It shows the completion, the items, their account and their payments. You see how many times they opened it, and you can stop it whenever you want.

Before you start

• The page is a saved snapshot. Its figures never change by themselves; only Refresh snapshot updates them, and the link stays the same.
• The link is the key. Anyone who has it can see the page, so send it to the customer only.
• The page shows the customer's side only: what they owe and what they paid. Contractor costs never appear on it.
• Each project has one statement link.

Steps

Create the link

1. Open the project, then click Reports and project tools.
2. Under "Customer portal and communication", click Customer portal and report sharing. A panel opens with the status "No link issued". Opening the panel does not create a link.
3. Click Create customer link. The status becomes "Link is active", the Customer link URL appears, and it is valid for 30 days.

Send it to the customer

• Click Copy and send it the way that suits you, or click Send on WhatsApp.
• Before sending, click Preview to see the page as the customer gets it. Your preview is not counted as an opening.

What the customer sees

• The project name, completion, value of work executed, what they owe now, and the contract value.
• The project items, with each item's completion.
• Their account: value of work executed, supervision fees, taxes, what they paid, and what they owe on the whole contract.
• Their payments received, and a button to download the statement as PDF.
• A form to send a question, with images or PDF attached. It reaches you in Client enquiries.

The page opens in the language of the customer's browser, with a switch between Arabic and English.

Update what the customer sees

After new vouchers or changes, click Refresh snapshot. "The report snapshot was refreshed on the same link" appears, and the customer sees the new figures on the same link. If the snapshot is 7 days old or more, the panel reminds you.

Control the validity and what shows

• Link validity: choose a period in Validity period, then click Extend validity. The period counts from today, so choosing 7 days can shorten a link that had more time left. No expiry removes the end date.
• Show progress photos to the client via this link: shows the customer the items' progress photos. Turn it on, then click Refresh snapshot.
• Share project timeline with the client: shows them the project stages. The link must have an end date.
• Show customer charge details via this link: shows them the description of each amount charged to them.

Follow link openings

Click Customer link tracker from Reports and project tools, or from the customer page. Each link shows Openings and Last opened. Your own openings while signed in aren't counted.

Stop the link

1. In the Customer portal and report sharing panel, click Revoke link, then Revoke the link.
2. The link stops at once, and the customer sees a page saying the link is not available (in Arabic only). The old link never works again.
3. For a new link, click Issue replacement link and send the new address. It is valid for 30 days.

What changes after you save

• After Create customer link: the link appears in Customer link tracker for the project and the customer.
• After Refresh snapshot: the Report snapshot date changes, and the address stays the same.
• After Revoke link or when it expires: the customer sees the link-not-available page.

Permission you need

You are the account owner, so you have every permission. If you want an employee to act for you:

• View Customer Details: to create, refresh and revoke the link.
• Share timeline with client: for the Share project timeline with the client switch.
• View Project Details and View Customer Details together: for Customer link tracker.

If you can't find the button or the link doesn't open

• The customer sees a page saying the link is not available: the link expired or you revoked it. If it expired, click Extend validity and the same link works again. If you revoked it, click Issue replacement link and send the new one.
• The customer sees old figures: click Refresh snapshot.
• No Email the client: the customer has no email address, and "The client has no email address — add one in their details" shows instead.
• No Share project timeline with the client: your account lacks Share timeline with client.
• Openings did not go up after you opened it: your openings while signed in aren't counted. Use Preview, or wait for the customer to open it.