Q4 2024 Updates for a More Streamlined Experience

As we wrap up the final quarter of 2024, we’re excited to share the latest updates that enhance the Ushahidi platform's functionality, user experience, and performance. This quarter, our team has introduced new features, refined workflows, and resolved key issues to ensure a seamless experience for our deployers.

 

Introducing the New Features to Expand Functionality and Connectivity

1. Multimedia uploads in posts: Users can now attach documents, images, and audio files to posts, making reports richer and more informative. This feature allows for more detailed storytelling and enables a deeper level of evidence collection in crisis response and civic engagement efforts.

2. Improved post creation options: We’ve added checkboxes and radio buttons as new field choices, offering more flexibility when structuring posts. Plus, the option to include "Other" in checkboxes and radio groups allows for more inclusive responses, giving respondents the ability to provide answers beyond the predefined choices.

3. Lock post feature: To prevent conflicts and accidental overwrites, we’ve implemented a locking mechanism that restricts simultaneous edits on the same post. This ensures that users do not unintentionally override each other's changes, promoting data integrity and reliability.

4. WhatsApp integration: We’ve introduced WhatsApp as a data source for a sample of our deployers, making it easier to collect reports through one of the world’s most widely used messaging platforms. This integration allows communities to submit reports in real time using a familiar and accessible tool.

5. Creating WhatsApp user flow with questionnaires: This addition enables structured data collection through WhatsApp, streamlining engagement and reporting. Deployers can now configure dynamic questionnaires to collect more precise and relevant information from their users.

6. Performance enhancements: The platform’s data retrieval process has been optimized, resulting in faster loading times and smoother navigation. Users will experience reduced waiting times when accessing large datasets, improving overall efficiency.

Applied "only" parameters to surveys and collection APIs for a more efficient data-fetching experience, ensuring that only the most relevant data is retrieved.

7. Multilingual report translations (in progress)
We are actively working on enabling automatic translation of reports into multiple languages, expanding accessibility for global users. This feature will allow reports to reach broader audiences without language barriers limiting understanding and engagement.

8. UI updates for translations
A new interface allows users to mark translation tasks as completed, improving workflow clarity and coordination within teams handling multilingual reports.

 

Bug Fixes for a Smoother and More Reliable Performance

We understand how frustrating bugs can be, and this quarter, we’ve tackled a range of issues to enhance the stability and usability of the platform.

• Post count fix for saved filters to ensure accurate reporting. Previously, some users experienced discrepancies in the count of posts when applying filters. This issue has now been resolved.
• Mobile surveys permissions now correctly restrict survey visibility based on user roles. Users without the necessary permissions will no longer see surveys they are not authorized to access.
• Photo upload previews are now visible in the mobile app. A bug that prevented users from seeing thumbnails of uploaded images has been fixed, making it easier to confirm correct uploads before submission.
• Collection management fix ensures that removing a post from a collection does not mistakenly send it to the bottom. Now, posts maintain their order when removed or repositioned.
• Post editing fix for surveys that included image fields, preventing submission issues. Some users experienced failures when attempting to edit posts that already contained images—this issue has been resolved.
• Post details visibility improved, so no content is cut off. A visual bug caused some reports to be truncated on certain screens, which has now been addressed.
• Unlogged-in user restrictions now properly hide post action options. Unauthorized users will no longer see options intended only for logged-in users.
• Status filters on android no longer display draft and archived statuses for logged-out users. This prevents confusion and ensures only relevant data is shown to each user group.
• Deployment switch notification now warns users that switching deployments will log them out. This prevents unexpected logouts and helps users make informed decisions before switching.
• Long survey questions fix ensures text is fully visible in the mobile app. Previously, longer survey questions were getting cut off, affecting the user experience—this has been resolved.
• Editing error fix prevents issues when modifying posts multiple times, even with image additions. Users can now edit and update posts seamlessly without encountering error messages.

 

These updates reflect our commitment to continuously improving the Ushahidi platform. We’re grateful for the feedback from our community and excited to see how these enhancements empower your deployments. Stay tuned for more updates in 2025, and as always, we welcome your thoughts and insights!

Got feedback or questions? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear from you!