Trial Toolkit: Your Roadmap to a Successful OnStation 30-Day Trial
Set your project and team up for success with this proven trial planning checklist.
This resource is designed for teams in heavy highway and civil construction looking to evaluate tools for digital stationing, jobsite documentation, and field-to-office coordination.
At OnStation, we’ve worked with hundreds of construction teams to successfully launch trials, and we’ve seen firsthand what works. The steps outlined below aren’t just suggestions—they’re best practices based on real-world results from field crews, engineers, and inspectors across the industry.
Whether you're a project manager, CEI firm, or contractor evaluating tools for digital stationing, jobsite documentation, or field-to-office coordination, this template will help you get the most out of your free, 30-day OnStation trial.
✅ These steps also unlock access to free training and ongoing support—so you're not going it alone.
📥 Want a printable version?
Download the PDF Trial Toolkit
(Formatted with checklists, tips, and OnStation branding for easy sharing)
Why it matters:
A clearly defined timeline keeps your trial on track and ensures both your team and OnStation’s team stay aligned. Don’t worry—while it might look like a lot, most teams are up and running right after their setup and kickoff meetings. From there, the trial flows naturally and delivers fast wins.
Your 30-Day Trial Plan
What Happens at Key Milestones?
Mid-Trial Check-In
This isn’t just a progress report—it’s a chance to:
Revisit goals and clarify expectations
Troubleshoot any setup or user adoption issues
Adjust project settings or answer advanced questions
Share early success stories or roadblocks
Assign quick next steps for your team and OnStation
| This step keeps the momentum going and ensures your trial doesn’t fizzle mid-way.
Trial Wrap-Up & Success Review
At the end of your trial, we’ll help summarize what worked and how it can carry forward into full implementation.
Together we’ll review:
Usage analytics (logins, flags, photos, features used)
Whether goals were met
Team feedback and adoption
Any lingering questions or hesitations
| OnStation will bring data and insights; your team shares real-world impact. This meeting helps everyone make a confident decision moving forward.
→ Project Selection Checklist
Why it matters:
Your trial is only as good as the project you choose. Selecting the right jobsite gives you real conditions to test features like documentation, stationing, and collaboration.
How you’ll benefit:
You’ll see how OnStation fits into everyday workflows—flagging, navigating to locations, tracking photos—and if it saves time or helps avoid mistakes.
☐ Project name and location identified
| Example: SR-35 Bridge Rehab, Dayton OH
☐ Active construction happening or about to start
| You’ll want a jobsite where real documentation is needed now—not one that's shutting down for the winter.
☐ Field team is accessible and open to trying new tech
| If your foreman or lead inspector is bought in, the rest will follow.
☐ Project involves documentation, coordination, or testing needs
| Projects with multiple crews, inspectors, or change orders will show more value from OnStation.
☐ Why this project is a strong candidate: ___________________
☐ Project has been uploaded
→ Team Setup Checklist
Why it matters:
Tech doesn't drive itself. The more people you involve, the better. Having more users will help you understand the impact across roles.
How you’ll benefit:
When your whole team is set up from the start, you won’t have to play catch-up mid-trial. Plus, your results won’t hinge on one person’s feedback.
☐ Champion(s) identified to lead the trial
| Choose someone who will guide the team, gather feedback, and coordinate questions.
☐ Field users listed and imported into the OnStation Portal
| Use mass import to get everyone in at once—it’s fast, and we can help.
☐ Office team (PMs, Engineers, CEIs) connected
| Engineers can view flags and location-based documentation in real time.
☐ Subcontractors invited if needed
| Linking subs helps capture full jobsite visibility for closeout and pay items.
☐ Customer Success contact from OnStation confirmed
| You’ll get trial support, training, and feedback loops.
→ Kickoff Meeting Checklist
Why it matters:
A quick kickoff sets expectations, teaches key features, and avoids wasted time. Most failed trials lack a strong start.
How you’ll benefit:
Teams that do this see better adoption and fewer support tickets later. You’ll also uncover immediate ways to use OnStation in your daily routine.
☐ Schedule kickoff within the first 3 days of the trial
| Earlier is better. Aim for Day 1 or 2.
☐ Review login + access to the OnStation app and Portal
| Ensure everyone can log in and open the project on their phone or desktop.
☐ Highlight core features to test:
Station Finder: No more guessing—know where you are and how to get to the next test point.
Design Layers: Avoid drilling into pipes or utilities with plan overlays.
Flags, Photos, and Chats: Drop flags with photos to document issues or work done.
☐ Define success and what you’re hoping to improve
| Sets the focus so users aren’t just “clicking around.”
☐ Share who to contact for help and questions
| Knowing support is available gives users confidence to test.
☐ Clarify expectations for using the app during the trial
| Daily use? Weekly? Define how it fits into their routine.
→ Setting Goals and Measuring Success
Why it matters:
A trial is more effective when your team defines what “success” looks like from the start. Clear goals help guide your trial activities and give you something concrete to evaluate at the end.
Whether you're focused on improving documentation, speeding up field operations, or enhancing team communication, goal-setting gives your trial direction—and a better shot at long-term adoption.
How to set your trial goals:
Start with pain points. What issues are you trying to solve—confusion about locations, poor documentation, delays in communication?
Match goals to roles. Field crews may want faster access to location info, while managers might want more documentation for closeout.
Think about outcomes. What does success look like? Faster decisions? Less rework? Better records?
Commonly Used Goals:
☐ Improved field location awareness
Goal: Reduce time spent finding test sites or referencing plans
Example: “Crews saved 10–15 minutes per shift by using Station Finder.”
☐ More consistent field documentation
Goal: Capture photos, flags, or notes for daily field activities
Example: “We flagged 18 utility conflicts and shared photos instantly with the office.”
☐ Better communication between field and office
Goal: Reduce lag time in sharing issues or updates
Example: “Issue flags were reviewed within the same day, not three days later.”
☐ Improved readiness for project closeout
Goal: Organize jobsite data to support final pay items, as-builts, or change orders
Example: “We captured documentation throughout the project that saved us 2 days during closeout.”
☐ User feedback on ease of use and value
Goal: Understand if the team sees this as a helpful tool
Example: “8 out of 9 users said it was easier than their old process.”
Measuring Success with OnStation
To help you track the success of your goals, OnStation can provide:
Usage analytics
See how many users are logging in, flagging items, or navigating the map regularly.Flag and photo reports
Track how many documentation events were captured, including categories and timestamps.Engagement insights
Understand who’s using the app in the field vs. the Portal, and how often.Feedback collection support
We can help your champion send surveys or gather insights to share during your wrap-up.
These data points can be reviewed with your OnStation Account Executive or Customer Success Representative during or after the trial to evaluate adoption, identify wins, and determine next steps.
Pro Tip:
Pick 1–3 measurable goals that align with your team's daily work. Revisit them mid-trial and use OnStation’s analytics to back up your results.
→ Bonus Tips That Pay Off Later
Why it matters:
These “extra” steps may seem small now—but they set your team up for long-term success, well beyond the 30-day trial. They also help push more usable data into the system, which gives your team better insights, stronger documentation, and often reveals value you wouldn’t otherwise see during a short trial window.
Even if the full impact of a tool like OnStation isn’t immediate, proper setup now pays off later—especially when it comes to project closeout, change orders, and getting paid without disputes.
☐ Create Groups in the Portal
| Organize users by company, role, or crew. Makes it easier to share information and pull data later.
☐ Set up Tags
| Helps categorize flags (e.g. "core sample", "utilities", "sign placement") for fast filtering, tracking, and reporting later.
☐ Import PLIs early
| Get your project data into the system upfront so users can reference exact locations and related documentation from Day 1.
☐ Encourage photo and flag documentation
| More data = better visibility for PMs, inspectors, and anyone reviewing the project down the line.
☐ Ask for feedback throughout the trial
| You’ll catch small frustrations early—and improve adoption before they become bigger issues.
Wrapping Up & Final Thoughts
If setting up a trial feels like a lot of work—don’t worry. Most teams find that once they complete their setup and kickoff meeting, things click into place quickly. You’ll be up and running fast, and the OnStation team will be right there to support you every step of the way.
Here’s a real example:
One of our current customers started their OnStation trial in the spring, right at the start of construction season. During the trial, they took time to upload their Project Line Items (PLI) and set up custom tags for better documentation.
They didn’t need everything immediately—but when project closeout came around in the fall, they were ahead of the game:
✅ Change orders were clearly documented
✅ All project photos were organized and easy to access
✅ They got paid faster and avoided unnecessary disputes
What took a few extra hours during the trial saved them days of work when it mattered most.
These small steps early on create big wins down the road. That’s why this trial toolkit isn’t just a guide for now—it’s a framework for long-term success.
📥 Want a printable version?
Download the PDF Trial Toolkit
(Formatted with checklists, tips, and OnStation branding for easy sharing)