There can be a lot to manage when running a pet care business. User tasks in BusyPaws allow you to easily keep track of your ever-changing to-do list. Add tasks to your own list or delegate tasks to your team members. Easily set due dates for tasks, have team members leave notes on their progress, and check things off as they get done. In this guide we will take a look at how you can use tasks to help your business.

To locate your existing task list, click the tasks icon found at the top-right corner of any page in BusyPaws.

When you have one or more assigned, uncompleted tasks on your list, the tasks icon will display with a purple dot.

This dot will turn red if you have any overdue tasks (i.e. tasks that have passed their due date but have not been marked complete).

Selecting the icon opens your main Tasks page. This page lists all of your assigned tasks at the top, followed by tasks assigned to the rest of your team. Each task is listed with its name, a count of the comments made, its due date (if any), and a set of action icons. Tasks are sorted by their due date, with un-dated tasks shown at the top followed by those tasks with the closest date. Tasks that have been marked as completed are marked in green and are automatically moved to the end of the task list. Any overdue tasks will appear in red.

Each user will have access to all of the action icons for their own tasks. Those with business owner or manager level designation will have access to the action icons for tasks assigned to other users. Team members with employee or lite level designation will have access only to view and comment on tasks assigned to others.

Click the name of any listed task to see more details about it. From there you can view and make new comments on the task, or use the "Actions" button to edit it, change its status (mark it complete or work-in-progress), or delete it. This view will also show the profile photos for any assigned users, the deadline (if any), the date it was marked completed (if done), and the name of the team member that created the task.

To add a new user task, click the "New Task" button found at the top-right of the main Tasks page.

The New Task page includes a variety of fields for configuring the task.

Use the options at the top of the page to assign team members to the task. Click the first user field to open a drop-down menu with a list of your team members.

Click the button to the right of the user field to add another team member.

Click the trash can icon next to any user field to remove it.

Use the "Due By" field to set a due date for the task. This is the date on which assigned team members will be reminded about the task, if it is not yet completed. This field is optional, and may be left blank if desired.

Type an appropriate task name into the "Name your task" field, then add a description to the rich text field. The description may include formatted text, file attachments, and photos, if desired. It is recommended to set the name as something concise, but easy to identify. The description can then be used to elaborate in more detail on everything the task entails.

Once you're happy with your selections, click the "Create Task" button.

You will then be taken to the new task's info page, with a green "Task created" banner at the top of the page.

All users have access to edit tasks they are assigned to, and any team member with manager/business owner designation will have access to edit tasks assigned to others. To make edits to a task, locate it on the main tasks list and click the pencil icon on its line entry.

Alternatively, if you are on the task's information page simply click the "Actions" button and choose "Edit" from the drop-down menu.

Once you have opened the Edit Task page, you may adjust the assigned provider(s), change the due date, and modify the task name or description.

When you're happy with your changes, click the "Update Task" button to save them.

As your many tasks get underway, you and your team may wish to touch base on task progress, or even bring other team members into the discussion. You may also wish to link tasks to specific clients or pets. Tagging in tasks allows you to do this easily, in both the task description and any comments made on a task.

While users can be assigned to tasks directly, they can also be tagged in comments made on the task or even directly in the task description. This is a useful option for cases where a team member may not be directly involved with a task, but their input would be helpful. When a user is tagged in a task, or in a comment on a task, they will receive a Tasks Mentioned notification (provided they have that notification type enabled).

To tag a user in a task comment, start by opening the task from your main tasks list. This can be done by selecting the task name or clicking its view icon.

Use the rich text field beneath the task description to add comments to the task.

When adding comments to a task, type an at symbol (@) to open a drop-down with a list of your team members. This same drop-down will also appear if @ is typed into the description field for a task. Select a team member or type their name in full to tag them.

Though clients do not receive notifications when they are tagged in tasks, it can still be useful to add them. Including a client or pet tag in a task or in a task comment will allow team members to easily navigate to their profile page directly from the task.

To tag a client or pet in a task comment, start by opening the task from your main tasks list. This can be done by selecting the task name or clicking its view icon.

Use the rich text field beneath the task description to add comments to the task.

When adding comments to a task, type a single pound symbol (#) to open a drop-down with a list of clients. Similarly, type two pound symbols (##) to open a drop-down with a list of pets. These same drop-down swill also appear if # or ## is typed into the description field for a task. Select any client or pet or type their name in full to tag them.

If you don't immediately see the name of the client or pet you are looking for in the drop-down, begin typing their name. As you type, the drop-down options will update to reflect only names matching the typed value.

Just as with all other notifications, users may choose which task notifications they receive. To adjust the notification settings for your account, start by clicking/hovering your mouse over your profile photo icon at the bottom of the left-hand menu bar.

Then select "Your Profile" at the top of the menu.

The various available user notification settings are all found under "Notifications" on your user profile page. For task-specific notifications, locate the "Tasks" sub-header partway down the notifications list, just beneath the booking notifications. Each available notification can be set to trigger as a web, email, or mobile (push) notification.

For more information on your user notification settings, check out our help guide on Managing Your Notifications.