For appointments with pickup-and-drop enabled, the customer gets a tracking link. They see, on a map, when the driver is leaving, en route, and arrived. Same logic on the return leg.
Enable it
- On the appointment, toggle Pickup & drop-off on.
- Enter the pickup address (or pick from the customer's saved addresses).
- Save. The tracking link is auto-included in the customer's confirmation email and SMS.
The driver's view
The assigned mechanic / driver opens the appointment on their phone (Autodots web app, no separate download). Three buttons:
- Start trip — broadcasts location to the tracking link.
- Mark arrived — stops the broadcast and updates the customer.
- Start return trip — kicks off the second leg with the car.
Location updates continuously while the trip is active (the browser's watchPosition API drives the refresh rate).
Battery saver: the broadcast only runs while the trip is active — not while sitting idle in the bay. Idle mechanics don't drain battery.
What the customer sees
A page with a live map, ETA, driver name, vehicle in service, and a one-tap call button to your shop.
Privacy & permissions
- The tracking URL is opaque (random) and only valid while the trip is active.
- Mechanic location is not stored after the trip ends.
- If the mechanic doesn't grant browser GPS permission, tracking falls back to status only (en route / arrived) without a map.
If you don't do pickup & drop-off
You don't need this feature. Leave Pickup & drop-off off on the appointment and the customer just gets the standard confirmation.