Create your first repair

A repair in RepairNode is the central record for a job. It holds the customer, the device, the issue, the cost, and the timeline of status changes — and it is the thing you generate invoices, receipts, and tracking links from. Here is how to create one from scratch.

Open the new-repair form

There are three ways to start a new repair:

• Tap the blue + button in the dashboard header and pick New Repair.
• Open the Repairs tab and tap the + in the header.
• From a customer's detail screen, tap New Repair in the action sheet — the customer is pre-selected for you.

Pick or add a customer

Every repair belongs to one customer. Tap the customer field to open the picker — start typing and existing customers (including archived ones, marked with a gray badge) appear in the list. If the customer is new, tap Add new customer at the top to create one inline without leaving the form.

The minimum required for a new customer is a name and a phone number. Email, WhatsApp number, address, and notes are optional and can be filled in later from the customer detail screen.

Device, brand, and serial number

The brand field is a dropdown backed by the manufacturer list (Apple, Samsung, etc.). If the brand is missing, tap Other in the picker and type a custom name, or open Settings → Presets & Data → Manufacturers to add it permanently.

• Model — free text. Be specific (iPhone 14 Pro Max, not just iPhone) so future searches and analytics work better.
• Serial number / IMEI — optional but recommended. Printed on receipts and used in QR codes.
• Accessories — optional list of items the customer left with the device (charger, case, SIM tray).

Describe the issue

The Issue description field accepts free text, but you do not have to start from a blank box. Tap the Insert preset chip above the field to open the issue preset picker — a scrollable list of common problems (Screen cracked, Battery drains fast, Water damage, etc.). Tap a chip to insert it; tap several to chain them.

You can manage your own preset list from Settings → Presets & Data → Repair Issue Presets — add, edit, reorder, or restore the defaults at any time.

Cost, deposit, and payment status

The Estimated cost is what you quote the customer up front. RepairNode uses it for revenue projections on the dashboard. When the job is finished, you can also enter a Final cost (the amount actually charged) — that is the number invoices and receipts use.

The payment selector below the cost has three states:

• Unpaid — no money received. Deposit cleared.
• Partial — customer paid a deposit. Enter the deposit amount; balance is calculated automatically.
• Paid — paid in full. Deposit is set equal to the cost so balance shows zero.

Optional fields worth using

These are not required but make a visible difference once you have more than a handful of tickets:

• Priority — Low / Normal / Urgent. Urgent repairs show with a red marker on the list and surface in the dashboard Urgent section.
• Expected completion date — surfaces a Due tag on the list, plus an overdue indicator after the date passes.
• Technician — assign one of your technicians (managed under Settings → Presets & Data → Technicians). Their name appears on the ticket and on their own profile.
• Device passcode — opens a small picker for PIN, password, or pattern lock. Stored encrypted; revealed in the detail screen by tapping the eye icon.

Save and what comes next

Tap Save. RepairNode generates a sequential ticket ID (e.g. #RM-00042), logs a created activity entry, and opens the repair detail screen. From there you can:

1. 1
   Move the status forward

   Tap the hero button to advance to the next status (Pending → In Progress → Waiting for Parts → Completed → Delivered).
2. 2
   Capture a drop-off signature

   Open the action sheet → Signature → Drop-off. The customer signs on screen; the PNG is saved to the ticket.
3. 3
   Add photos

   Action sheet → Add Photo. Categorize as before / during / after, with an optional caption.
4. 4
   Share the invoice

   Action sheet → Invoice → Preview, then share via the system sheet, email, or print to your thermal printer.