Customer Reviews (140)

Latchenstien • 2025-02-03T15:48:05-07:00

Will it do a 2 wk on and 1 wk off schedule? I’ve been using it for yrs on 2 and 2 schedule.

Mans293 • 2025-01-11T20:50:51-07:00

On my oilfield calendar my new you will not highlight my days off it’s just a blank calendar

dont waste time 29 • 2025-01-02T13:45:01-07:00

It’s great to keep track of the dates, but if they work actually you can add it in and if they work switch shifts as far as night and days I can’t edit it

Summary of Key Insights

The Oilfield Calendar app is generally well-received, particularly for its ease of use and ability to help oilfield workers and their families manage complex schedules. Its core functionality of tracking hitches and planning around them is a major strength. However, the app suffers from a lack of updates, some functional limitations regarding scheduling flexibility (especially for non-standard rotations and shift work), and recurring bugs. While many users find it invaluable, the unaddressed issues and feature requests indicate a need for active development and maintenance. The overall sentiment is positive, with a high percentage of 5-star reviews, but recent negative reviews stemming from bugs after an update highlight the importance of addressing these issues promptly.

  • Strengths: Ease of use, helpful for planning around oilfield schedules, allows for multiple schedules.
  • Weaknesses: Limited scheduling flexibility, bugs, lack of updates, missing features (alerts, widget, shift tracking, vacation tracking), PDF sharing issues.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, but declining due to bugs and lack of updates.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • Overall Rating: 4.3 stars (approximate)
    • Score Distribution: 5-star (63%), 4-star (15%), 3-star (11%), 2-star (5%), 1-star (6%)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 140 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be the app's lifetime since its release. Some reviews mention years of usage, while others reference recent updates.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on the language used.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned keywords and phrases related to features, bugs, and user experience.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouping reviews based on common themes, such as scheduling flexibility, feature requests, and bug reports.

Key User Pain Points

  • Scheduling Inflexibility: The app struggles with non-standard schedules, swing shifts, and rotations that aren't simple on/off patterns. Many users request the ability to customize schedules with greater granularity, including night/day shift alternations.
  • Bugs and Stability Issues: Recent updates seem to have introduced bugs that prevent the app from opening for some users. Other users report issues with year view, exporting PDFs, and incorrect date displays.
  • Lack of Updates: Many reviews mention the app hasn't been updated in years, leading to concerns about its long-term viability and the lack of new features.
  • Missing Features: Users frequently request features such as alarms/notifications for upcoming shifts, a widget for quick schedule viewing, and the ability to track vacation time and paydays.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Alarms/Notifications: Reminders for upcoming shifts.
  • Widget: A quick view of the schedule on the home screen.
  • Shift Tracking: The ability to indicate whether a shift is a day or night shift.
  • Vacation Tracking: Highlighting vacation days on the calendar.
  • Payday Tracking: Marking paydays on the calendar.
  • Syncing/Sharing: The ability to sync schedules with other calendars (e.g., Google Calendar, iCal) and easily share them with family members and employees.
  • Dark Mode: A dark mode option for better visibility in low-light conditions.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: Many users praise the app's simplicity and ease of use, even for those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Effective Schedule Tracking: The core functionality of tracking oilfield hitches and planning around them is highly valued.
  • Family Planning: The app is useful for families to coordinate events and plan around the oilfield worker's schedule.
  • Customization: Users appreciate the ability to customize hitches and color-code them.
  • Multiple Schedule Support: The app allows for the creation and comparison of multiple schedules.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Fix Critical Bugs: Address the issues preventing the app from opening after the recent update. This is a critical issue affecting usability and needs immediate attention.
    • Improve Scheduling Flexibility: Implement more flexible scheduling options to accommodate non-standard rotations, swing shifts, and the ability to specify day/night shifts.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Implement Alarms/Notifications: Add alarms and notifications to remind users of upcoming shifts.
    • Add Vacation Tracking: Allow users to mark and track vacation days on the calendar.
    • Address PDF Export Issues: Fix the bug that prevents users from sharing schedules as PDFs.
    • Provide Regular Updates: Commit to a regular update schedule to address bugs, add new features, and keep the app compatible with the latest iOS versions.
  • Low Priority:
    • Add a Widget: Create a widget for quick schedule viewing.
    • Implement Payday Tracking: Add the ability to mark paydays on the calendar.
    • Consider Dark Mode: Explore the possibility of adding a dark mode option.
    • Improve Instructions/Tutorials: Provide clearer instructions on how to set up and use the app's features.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Comprehensive Oilfield Workforce Management Platform: Expand the app into a full-fledged workforce management platform for oilfield companies, including features for scheduling, time tracking, payroll, and communication.
  • Specialized Calendar App for Shift Workers: Create a calendar app specifically designed for shift workers in various industries, with advanced scheduling options and integration with other productivity tools.
  • AI-Powered Schedule Optimization: Develop an AI-powered tool that analyzes shift worker schedules and provides recommendations for optimizing work-life balance and reducing fatigue.

Trends and Observations

  • Positive Sentiment, but Declining: While the app has a high overall rating, recent negative reviews related to bugs and lack of updates suggest a decline in sentiment.
  • Feature Requests Focused on Convenience: Many feature requests (alarms, widgets, syncing) are focused on making the app more convenient and integrated with users' existing workflows.
  • Need for Flexibility: A recurring theme is the need for more flexibility in scheduling options to accommodate diverse work patterns.

Conclusion

The Oilfield Calendar app is a valuable tool for oilfield workers and their families, but its lack of updates and functional limitations are hindering its potential. Addressing the critical bugs and implementing the frequently requested features, particularly those related to scheduling flexibility and convenience, will significantly improve the user experience and ensure the app's long-term success. Prioritizing bug fixes and then focusing on adding features like alarms, vacation tracking, and improved scheduling options is crucial. Consider a shift towards a more proactive development approach with regular updates and a focus on user feedback.

Overall Recommendation: Address critical bugs immediately and prioritize development efforts towards improving scheduling flexibility and adding highly requested features. A renewed focus on user feedback and regular updates is essential to maintain user satisfaction and competitiveness.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/oilfield-calendar/id862869041?uo=2