As Trimble struggles to transition smoothly from TCC to WorksManager, what are the community’s thoughts on alternatives to Trimble’s field data workflows? Are there any alternatives available that show some promise without adding too much pain to getting data in and out of TBC? I’m thinking in terms of a Siteworks replacement that includes a live project database for multiple devices to see each others’ survey data instantaneously…
this sounds like a non-Trimble product in a Trimble specific environment? seems the question is better posed in reddit. Works Manager has come a long way in the last few years and while it has growth left yet, i am finding the advances made so far worthwhile. All controller data is now available for download from Works. Uploaded designs can be reviewed in the platform (so long as its not a .pro or a .csv) Remote assistance is pretty robust anymore - i have full access to the controller and all of its drives. Control point files no longer disapear…generally it is a much better product and i expect it to only get better. native background maps would be nice and i suppose it would be cool to see how much more work my peer is getting done than i, but…
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Agreed Nate. I have been using WM since its infancy, and it has come a long way and getting better slowly. Does it have its quirks yes but for the most part very good. If nobody has used the TBC import routine, then you are missing out. No more downloading the .spj files and manually importing. You can just import work order data straight from TBC. Kind of like the old SCS Data Manager and synchronizer. I honestly never really liked TCC but to be fair I didnt use it that much.
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I haven’t messed with Emlid, so I’m not much help there.
However, a hardware/software agnostic software to manage projects and files similar to WM would be incredible. Maybe that exists already?
I setup a synology drive client to sync theTrimble sync data folder to the TSC7s. It has been working for a few years.
Not sure about machines
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TCC explorer still works for this task. As the TSC7s are Windows (or at least all of mine are) TCC explorer can be installed and perform that same function.
There are even cad-grippy things in the Design review from WM…couldn’t tell you what they do just yet beyond showing line/end line, but i am sure big thigs await. disappointment or otherwise 
It also would appear that 3D viewer will bring some additional functionality for review of both design and field measurements, at a “Pro” price point of course. The Netflix model for services is getting annoying for sure though. Imma-bout 10 bucks a month-ed out.
I have spent an lot of time working on this exact issue. My take on Emlid is that it is rather generic survey software so, right off the bat, no support for machine control like Siteworks has natively. Siteworks is a really decent construction-focused piece of software that does everything you need and nothing you don’t. Unlike Trimble Access it works directly with machine control. We only use Access to gain the use of the “deeper features” of our total stations that Trimble intentionally locks out from Siteworks (for example, scanning with an S7).
I gave up ages ago on TCC; too slow, unreliable connections, weird interface etc. and likewise gave up on “Did You Manage To Getting It Working?” A.K.A Trimble Works Manager.
Works Manager has some nice features (and has got better) but the nice features tend to work shall we say, less than ideally. Even my Sitech rep said it’s not 100% (not sure if he meant yet?).
So, I created my own setup similar to what @Eric_PetersenEric_Petersen said above. It wasn’t hard even given that I had never messed with cross platform networking ever.
Basically, I run a software/VPN system called Tailscale on all our TSC7’s, and desktops/laptops. It runs on Windows (desktop/laptop/and TSC7’s) and Android devices like the new TSC7’s (Why TF did they change?!) and TSC5’s. Tailscale is a mesh-like VPN that creates device to device fully encrypted communication. So, if Surveyor A needs to send data/files etc. to Surveyor B they just connect their controllers to an internet connection and move the data directly between them. Same exact for desktop running TBC: send designs, receive field data, whatever you want, all directly. No Trimble servers acting as ‘relays’. This works on any internet connection even hot spotting a phone in the field.
Tailscale is free for 3 users and 100 devices. There is no data harvesting, you are a customer not the product and if you expand beyond the free tier it is WAY MORE AFFORDABLE than anything Trimble could do. The hardware I used is a simple, inexpensive NAS. The NAS acts as my data server, backup storage, archive etc. You could use any NAS that has native software (like @Erik_Petersen did with his Synology). It doesn’t really matter. Tailscale will install on 99% of NAS devices.
The next thing I used is an open source File Manger software to control backups, syncing between desktops and devices. I chose FreeFileSync and use the donation edition ($20). It is free to run on all your devices. It is FAST (19,000 TBC to disk backup files with error checking in about 15 seconds). And, it runs over your Tailscale network. NOTE: Do not use REAL TIME SYNCING…just sayin’
What you end up with: Your own, inexpensive, 100% private, 100% works every time, TBC/Siteworks file and data and backup management. Maybe not the funky features of Works Manager but way fewer headaches. No Trimble subscrition fees. No downtime.
I know this might sound complicated but it truly isn’t. 1) Get a NAS with whatever storage you think you’ll need for day to day data and backups. Always backup. 2) Install Tailscale on your devices. So, so simple. Do it in 10 minutes or less: https://youtu.be/sPdvyR7bLqI?si=4Gt2RZZwklSPmGJ4 3) Get some kind of File Management software. I like open source and chose FreeFileSync but there are many choices. Many NAS devices will include this software so experiment with what works.
That’s it.
A thought: How about a Rockpile Version of Works Manager… that would be cool.
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Thanks everyone for your thoughts, this is all good stuff!
I agree that the WM Workflow is a couple leaps ahead of TCC as far as taking fewer steps to get the job done. I just hate being dependent on a system that moves as slow as molasses when it comes to improvements and tech support. Seems like you can either pay for convenience or spend more time and control the process.
With all devices actively connected with TCC Explorer or a VPN, how do you keep bad actors from reaching the main office network through rover tablets that are sometimes less than secure?
@Marshall, do rover tablet users shut down Siteworks and then manually sync with FFS?
There is theoretically no need to shut down Siteworks. However, TBC and Siteworks do not tolerate real time syncing. I ran into this when first experimenting with our new system.
So, we shut down Siteworks on the controllers to make sure there are no issues that way. Then we fire up an internet connection (hot spot…whatever). Turn on Tailscale (shortcut on Tasbar, or just have it running on boot up, uses very little system resources). Fire up FFS, and sync up, or backup… No need to worry about ‘bad actors’ as Tailscale is 100% ‘private’. We have about 25 devices running on Tailscale: TSC7’s, our cell phones (for quick file exchanges if needed - instantly drop a file from one device to another), our computers and the NAS server. And on this account I could add 75 more…
Once you’ve created shortcuts in FFS to do specific tasks (backups, file transfers, field data syncing etc) it’s is super quick even on a weak internet like a hot spot.