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VisiumKMS 12.27 Release

· 3 min read
Hussein Shaito
Product owner
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

Version 12.27 introduces our new Secure Reports API bringing Security and additional performance enhancements for reports. For users of the secure API, unsecured reports will be gradually phased out, ensuring that only secure links remain.

Additionally some key Bugs where addressed (refer to changelog for complete list)

Secure Reports API

Deployment

The new Secure Reports API is deployed on a separate app and a new API gateway is introduced. This deployment improves the performance of the reporting module.

To enable the reports API, you need to reach out to support team so they can set up the environment and enable the secure reports API from the app settings

Improvements

  • Token Authenticated requests: When secure API is enabled external access to reports through reports links is restricted to authenticated requests through the generated token.

  • KMS Portal Performance boost: Since the reports API is now deployed as a separate application, the KMS Portal no longer competes for resources with heavy reporting tasks, significantly improving performance.

  • Reports Caching: Additionally, the new API gateway enables report caching, improving performance when the same report is requested multiple times within a configurable time frame.

UI Changes

Once the Secure Reports API is enabled, the UI for creating a report is changed:

  1. An indicator displaying the current status of the Secure Reports API (enabled/disabled)
  2. "Copy URL" button that will provide the new secure API URL for the reports
  3. "Generate Token" button that will create a new token after confirmation
warning
  • After enabling the secure Reports you no longer can manage old unsecured links (read the next section Phasing out non-secure Reports links )
  • Generating a new token and saving will deprecate the old token

In the current release (12.27) the existing unsecured reports links will still function, however, when the Secure Reports API is configured, new unsecured links cannot be created or maintained. This is done to push for the full adoption of the secure Reports API in a smooth transition.

When secure reports API is enabled, the current unsecured links will still function until one of the below:

  • Link is deleted
  • New token has been generated
  • Deprecated by KMS team in future releases for all secure API users (the release timeline has not yet been determined)

This ensures a smooth transition to full adoption of the Secure Reports API for customers who are using the secure reports API.

Get Started

With this update, version 12.27 is now the current version. Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.27 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

VisiumKMS 12.26 Release

· 3 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

Version 12.26 focus on stability and better user experience as well as bringing some new features to the software to deliver a smoother and better experience for our users (refer to changelog for complete list)

Here's a rundown of what's new in VisiumKMS 12.26:

Enhanced Default Assignment For Tracker Checklists

Action Default Assignment

In this release, users can now Default the Resolution Tracker actions from checklist administration to a job title or functional role same as it is now for checklist questions

Job Title Automatic Assignment

We have enhanced the job title Assignment were now if there is only one person eligible to be assigned to the default question/action it will be automatically assigned to them

Improved overall experience

The changes in 12.26 have touched multiple modules, making changes and improvements for a better user experience

Resolution tracker

We addressed bugs that affect the tools and features that encourages an efficient use of the module

  • Fixes for Tracker templates
  • Fixes for Copy action to child record
  • Enhancement to the checklist step eyeball, providing the visibility on actions created from other steps

Additionally we have took some steps to make the flow smoother and reducing the risk of human error by:

  • Preventing the user from creating actions in a closed step
  • Allowing Checklist steps to be closed if no questions where configured for it
  • Proving a log of who and when the approval status was modified in the record conveniently on the UI

Some user searches take time to load and since the system remembers the last search, the user have to wait before they can modify their search. In version 12.26, we've improved this by making the system wait for user input before fetching results. This allows users to adjust their search criteria immediately upon entering the Search page.

Additionally we have empowered the users with the ability to search Tracker records using Responsible Person and Status fields, further increasing the usability for the module,

Investigator

We have worked on resolving some of the ambiguity of Investigator module especially when it comes to error messages. Error messages are now more specific and will let the user know in which tab they have improperly filled a required field so they can fix it and proceed with the investigation.

Administration

We made some general fixes to Administration related to Localization import, user profile, and equipment page

Get Started

With this update, version 12.26 is now the current version. Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.26 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

VisiumKMS 12.25.3 Release

· One min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

Version 12.25.3 builds on top of 12.25.2 and involves a change to Resolution Tracker split workflows behavior in addition to resolving some critical bugs (refer to changelog for complete list)

Here's a rundown of what's new in VisiumKMS 12.25.3:

Split Workflows in Tracker

In this Release we have reverted a change that was done before in release 12.25.1 which forced the user to move one step at a time in Split Workflow.

Currently this Split Workflow functions:

  • Having a split workflow will no longer lock the parent flow
  • Split workflow now follow its configured flow as configured from the workflow Administration page

example split

Get Started

With this update, version 12.25.3 is now the current version. Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.25.3 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

VisiumKMS 12.25.2 Release

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

Version 12.25.2 builds on top of 12.25.1 and brings much-needed performance improvements to record loading in the Investigator and Resolution Tracker modules, as well as new functionality in Investigator to capture flare under chemical release.

Here's a rundown of what's new in VisiumKMS 12.25.2:

Performance Improvements

We optimized all queries and database calls related to record loading in Resolution Tracker and Investigator. We are seeing anywhere between 1.5x to 6x loading speed improvements when opening records. In future releases, we will address page loading times on all My Assignments screens by implementing pagination. Pagination means that instead of loading all the records, we load just the first page of results and fetch more as needed.

Chemical Flare Tracking

You are now able to capture flare when adding chemicals in the Investigator module. The flare entries can be reported on afterward or included in a DOCX report once the incident is completed.

Chemical Flare

Hiding Obsolete Checklists

In 12.25.2, by default, the obsolete checklists in the Administrator module are now hidden. If you would like to see them, just check Show Obsolete Checklists.

Obsolete Checklists

Get Started

With this update, version 12.25.2 is now the current version. Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.25.2 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

2025 VisiumKMS User Conference

· 2 min read
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

san antonio riverwalk

February 25th to 28th at The Gunter Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

We are thrilled to invite you to our annual User Conference, an event dedicated to users of VisiumKMS and S&W Technologies (Guardian Safety Observation). This year’s conference promises to be our best yet, packed with insightful sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and exciting new product announcements.

Why Attend?

Taking place from February 25th to 28th in the beautiful city of San Antonio, our conference will be hosted at the historic Gunter Hotel, located along the picturesque San Antonio Riverwalk. This location offers the perfect backdrop for a few days of learning, collaboration, and innovation.

What to Expect

Speaker Sessions

Hear from fellow users who will share their tips and best practices. These sessions are designed to provide you with practical knowledge that you can apply directly to your work.

speakers

Training Workshops

Enhance your skills with our in-depth user training workshops. Whether you are a new user or an experienced professional, our training sessions will provide you with the tools you need to maximize the benefits of our software.

Product Reveal: VisiumKMS Version 14

Be among the first to experience the new VisiumKMS Version 14. We will be unveiling the latest features and improvements designed to make your work even more efficient and effective. Additionally, participate in our focus group to provide your feedback and help shape future developments.

visium kms 14

Networking Opportunities

Connect with other users, industry experts, and our customer success, support and implementation teams. The conference will include plenty of opportunities to network, share ideas, and build relationships that can benefit you and your organization.

We Look Forward to Seeing You

Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with learning, sharing, and discovery. We can’t wait to welcome you to San Antonio and hear your valuable insights on how we can continue to improve and support your work with our safety software solutions. Registration details coming soon.

VisiumKMS 12.25.1 Release

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

Version 12.25.1 builds on top of 12.25 and brings additional UX improvements to the split workflow and workflow stepper in Resolution Tracker. The icon library has been updated to the latest version, bringing a more modern look and feel to VisiumKMS and adding new icons. Lastly, we are improving the user experience when it comes to uploading attachments with special characters in their names.

Here's a rundown of what's new in VisiumKMS 12.25:

Split Workflows and Workflow Stepper Improvements

To indicate that a user is entering a split workflow, we have added a new icon. The inactive steps are now greyed out, and available ones have an empty circle next to them.

split icons

Special Characters in Attachment Names

We are focused on making VisiumKMS as user-friendly as possible. Previously, we had to restrict special characters in attachment names due to the way Azure stores the attachments. Now, we will store the original name of the attachment and create a unique ID for uploading the attachment. When the user tries to retrieve the file, we fetch it using the unique ID and then rename it back to the original file name.

special characters in attachments

New Icons

Since we had to add a new icon to indicate a split workflow in a resolution tracker, we upgraded the icons across the system. The icons are the same, but their style is now more modern.

new icons

Get Started

With this update, version 12.25.1 is now the current version. Learn more about our versioning system by reading our previous blog.

Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.25.1 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

VisiumKMS 12.25 Release

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

We are thrilled to announce the release of VisiumKMS 12.25, the latest iteration of our Environment, Health, Safety, and Quality management software. This update brings a host of new features and enhancements designed to streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and save time through an enhanced user experience.

Here's a rundown of what's new in VisiumKMS 12.25:

Enhanced Collaboration with Investigator and Resolution Tracker

We've empowered users with the ability to concurrently work on checklist questions and actions within Investigator, as well as Resolution Tracker. Multiple users can now seamlessly collaborate without the fear of overriding each other's work. In cases where conflicting changes occur, a new popup will alert users, allowing them to compare and resolve any discrepancies efficiently.

concurrency

Split Workflows

Administrators now have the flexibility to select the step where a split workflow will be inserted, providing greater control over the workflow process.

split workflows

Streamlined Navigation

We've reorganized the main menu, including Reports and Administration, alphabetically for easier navigation and a more intuitive user experience. The Selections menu within the Administration module is now collapsed by default, with items sorted alphabetically, making it simpler for administrators to locate and manage relevant settings and configurations.

menu sorting

Enhanced Audit Functionality

Conducting audits is now even more efficient with the ability to view all protocols by default. Users can easily filter down to specific protocols as needed, streamlining the auditing process.

Workflow Step Token

We've introduced a new token, checklist-edit-worfklow-step, to manage access to editing Workflow Steps in Checklist. Users with checklist-edit-response permissions will automatically have access to this token, ensuring granular control over workflow management.

Get Started

With this update, version 12.25 is now the current version, and version 12.24.2 transitions to LTS (Long-Term Support). Learn more about our versioning system by reading our previous blog.

Upgrade to VisiumKMS 12.25 today by raising a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes.

VisiumKMS Updated Versioning

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

In the earlier blog, we highlighted the benefits of upgrading to the latest version. In this post, we will walk through the significance of different versions, our release frequency, and the versions we will support.

How Often Do You Release?

We aim for four major releases per year, equating to one release every quarter. Each major release includes a blend of new features, bug fixes, security patches, and infrastructure upgrades. For instance, the current major release version number is 12.24.

Small releases in between, such as version number 12.24.2, primarily focus on enhancing the major version with minor adjustments like bug fixes or security patches.

As soon as we plan new features or infrastructure changes, we transition to a new version; for example, version 12.25.

Which Versions Will You Support?

We understand that obtaining buy-in and resources to implement the new version at your site can be challenging and time-consuming. Therefore, we plan to stick with four major releases per year and support two versions. To facilitate this, we will introduce new labels to help navigate all the releases:

LTS

LTS stands for Long Term Support. This version has undergone a few iterations since the major release, and most customers have adopted it. In the example above, the LTS version will be version 12.24.2.

Current

The current version is a new major release that introduces requested features and infrastructure updates.

The versions then update after a new major release comes out, customers confirm its functionality and adopt it into their environments.

Which Version Should I Upgrade To?

If you are eagerly awaiting any of the features or bug resolutions planned for the upcoming Current version, select the Current version to confirm functionality in your staging environment before rolling it out to production.

If VisiumKMS is functioning as expected and you are not waiting for any specific features, upgrade to the LTS version to benefit from security vulnerability patching and improved performance.

Conclusion

We hope this clears up any questions regarding versioning, version support, and the upgrading process. If you still have any questions to do not hesititate to reach out. To request an upgrade, please raise a support ticket. Stay tuned for upcoming 12.25 release.

VisiumKMS 12.24.2 Release

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

We're thrilled to announce the release of VisiumKMS 12.24.2, which brings significant improvements and updates, especially concerning attachment management. This update marks a pivotal enhancement in our system's performance and scalability, thanks to our transition to Azure Blob Storage for attachment handling. This change not only boosts our database performance but also ensures your files are securely backed up and stored.

Key Highlights:

  • Enhanced Performance: By moving attachments to Azure Blob Storage, we've alleviated database load, leading to faster and more reliable performance.
  • Secure Storage: Your attachments are now more secure and reliably backed up during the migration process.
  • Deprecation Notice: To maintain optimal performance and security, we're phasing out support for older versions of KMS for our hosted customers. Please contact us to upgrade your system by submitting a support ticket.

Why Upgrade?

Upgrading is not just about staying current; it's about ensuring your system is secure, efficient, and bug-free. Here are a few reasons to consider the latest version:

  • Security: We've addressed all known security vulnerabilities to keep your system safe.
  • Bug Fixes: Benefit from resolutions to issues reported by our community.
  • New Features: Enjoy the latest customer-requested features and enhancements.
  • Performance and Stability: Experience improvements in the software's stability, efficiency, and overall performance.

Get Started:

To upgrade or for more information, please initiate a support ticket. Dive into our changelog for a detailed list of changes and check out our new section for updates on any known issues. We're committed to resolving these swiftly.

Thank you for your continued trust in VisiumKMS. We look forward to supporting your journey with our enhanced platform.

VisiumKMS 12.24.1 Release

· 2 min read
Andrey Safonov
Technical Product Manager
Ben Rawls
Head of Customer Success & Product Strategy

Introduction

VisiumKMS 12.24.1 release brings audit UX improvements, and a new functionality to the resolution tracker to create MOCs/RECs from an existing record without having to copy over information or actions.

Audit UX Improvements

When conducting an audit, you can now see at a glance which protocols are completed and which ones still need a comment.

audit comments completed

When you select a specific protocol, you are able to see if a question has a finding associated with it indicated by the ⚠️ icon or a comment indicated by the 💬.

audit comments added

Create Child Record

In the proposal step, you can create a child record and copy over actions to the new record. This action will create a new record and copy over all the fields like Title, RP, Dates, Description, and others. It won't copy over attachments or equipment.

Create child record

When creating a new record you can change a location and switch the type of the record as well as the source.

Conclusion

Happy Holidays from VisiumKMS Team. To request an upgrade, please raise a support ticket. For a full list of changes, please see the changelog. We also added a new section to keep track of any known and open bugs. We are trying to work through them as quickly as possible.