Collector training
SpotOn Collection Training Guide
This manual details the operation process and review standards for SpotOn APP V1.8, to help data collection personnel quickly master the operation specifications and improve the approval rate. Please strive to maintain an approval rate of at least 85% across all tasks.
Basic requirements
| Device | Android 6.0 or higher (avoid Android 9.0 due to slow performance). iOS is not supported. Avoid Huawei phones. |
| Memory | RAM configuration must be superior to 8 GB physical RAM + 8 GB virtual RAM. |
| Network | The application must always maintain an active internet connection — the entire collection process relies on network communication. |
| Login session | The login validity period is 24 hours; you must log in again after timeout. |
| Collection time | Data must be collected during the store's business hours, and cannot be collected after the store closes. |
| Quality target | Maintain an approval rate of at least 85% across all tasks. |
Preparation
2.1 Remove Wi-Fi scanning limits
Purpose: after removal, the scanning frequency increases from 3 times per minute to once every 2–4 seconds, which makes Wi-Fi scanning and collection faster.
- In Settings → About phone, tap Build number 7 times until the success message appears, then return to Settings.
- Find and open Developer options.
- Turn on the Developer options switch at the top.
- Scroll down to Network → Wi-Fi scanning restrictions and uncheck it.
2.2 Login & permissions
- Scan the QR code for your country to download the SpotOn app.
- Open the app and log in with your country code and assigned credentials.
- When permission prompts appear, tap Allow. Required permissions: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Camera and Location.
- If you miss the pop-up, open the system permissions, find the SpotOn app and grant them manually.
Task acceptance & navigation
3.1 Understanding map icons
The colors and shapes of the icons on the map represent different task statuses. Familiarise yourself with them before you begin collecting.
- Square icons — Wi-Fi data collection tasks.
- Circular icons — Single-point tasks (currently limited to Brazil and Mexico).
3.2 Accept & start a task
Tap any task icon on the map to open the task detail card, which shows:
- Target store name (tap "..." to view the full name, long-press to copy)
- Target store location
- Target store business status and opening hours
Within the detail card you have the following options:
- Begin — start the task immediately.
- Accept — assign the task to your account: 1-day exclusive priority (nobody else can collect it), valid for 1 day, and it must be completed within T+1 days. If not completed in time, it is automatically released to all users.
- Navigate — open Google Maps and get directions to the target store.
Wi-Fi collection task flow
Overview:
Arrive at the store → Step 1: Record indoor video → Step 2: Select shop Wi-Fi → Step 3: Shoot storefront outdoors → Step 4: Submit.
Step 1 — Record indoor video
Tip: if submission fails, tap Submit again to retry.
- Entry: after entering the store, tap Begin to open the collection page. A prompt reminds you to record inside the store; you may check Don't show again.
- In-store: the progress bar represents capture progress. Keep filming the indoor environment continuously until it reaches 100% to prove the collection was completed indoors.
- Recording time varies by POI — most are around 2 minutes, up to 5 minutes. The app captures keyframes throughout; if the camera points at the floor, the ceiling or a black screen, bad keyframes are captured and the task is rejected.
- Reviewers first check whether the entire video was recorded inside the store. If it wasn't, the task is rejected.
- Shoot from a level angle, use multiple angles and move slowly — but it must be done indoors.
- Capturing the signboard is not strictly required, but store name information improves the pass rate.
- Try to avoid capturing human faces.
- If direct indoor shooting is inconvenient, angled shots showing the indoor environment are acceptable.
- Filming the floor inside, making it impossible to determine whether you entered the store.
"Entry impossible" scenario
If you cannot enter (closed on Mondays, temporarily closed but the sign is up, a pub you cannot enter…), stand at the actual entrance — the main door, not an outdoor tent or passageway — and film continuously from within 3 meters, pointing the camera at the entrance. The store signboard is not required; only the store entrance must be captured.
If on-site restrictions prevent shooting directly at the entrance, take angled photos within 3 meters of the store entrance showing the storefront. They must match the outdoor storefront photos and verify it is the same store.
For stores with outdoor dining or business areas, you must enter the indoor space or be within 3 meters of the indoor entrance. Filming only the outdoor area does not meet the requirement.
For stores inside a mall, shoot within 3 meters of that specific store's entrance, on its own floor.
The store is on an upper floor or in the basement, but the shooting was not taken on that floor or within 3 meters of the store entrance. This does not meet the requirement.
Step 2 — Select shop Wi-Fi in store
After filming the indoor video, tap Select Shop Wi-Fi. The field itself is not mandatory, but you must open the pop-up.
- Check the Wi-Fi names and signal strength to see whether the store has its own network.
- If the store has Wi-Fi, select the corresponding network.
- If the store has no Wi-Fi, select nothing and just tap OK.
Step 3 — Shoot storefront outdoors
Go outside the store and tap Take Photo in the middle to open the camera. Three photos are required:
- A complete photo that includes the store's signboard.
- If the signboard is unclear due to the angle, take a separate complete photo of the signboard to improve the pass rate.
- If the signboard is clear, photograph the street environment on the left and right sides of the store (including part of the target store's outline) to improve the approval rate.
Step 4 — Task submission
When the mandatory items (1 and 3) are completed, a green icon indicates completion. Tap Submit to upload the task.
Single-point task flow
Arrive at the store → Step 1: Capture storefront photo outdoors → Step 2: Capture operating status photo → Submit.
Step 1 — Shoot storefront outdoors
- Tap Take Photo and take three photos: full storefront including the signboard; a separate signboard photo if unclear; left and right street views including part of the store outline.
- Do not shoot at night, and avoid overly large faces and license plates.
Step 2 — Operating status shooting
- Tap the blue Take Photo button in the center and take one photo of the store's business status.
- The photo must clearly show the current operating status of the store.
- If the store is operating: shoot inside the store showing the operational scene — staff on duty, customers, lighting on.
- If the store is closed (seasonally closed, owner away): shoot the closed doors or roller shutters as evidence of closure.
Abnormal situation solutions — CRITICAL
6.1 What if I can't find a store?
If you are near the mission location but cannot find the store, follow these steps:
- Verify mission information: check the store name, address and floor/unit number in the mission details. Note whether it is inside a mall or on an upper floor.
- Use a map for navigation: SpotOn navigation is based on the mission coordinates. If they are inaccurate, search the store name on Google Maps, find the store closest to the coordinates and use Street View to identify it.
- Search the area carefully: walk slowly along the street or mall floor looking for matching signage; verify full names to avoid similar-name errors.
- Ask people nearby: nearby store staff, security guards or the information desk can confirm whether the store still operates, moved or closed.
- If still not found: select Discard → "Can't Find the Location" and take multiple photos from multiple angles (left, center, right) clearly showing the street name, building number or surroundings. Do not submit random photos without environmental information.
6.2 Discard case selection
Upon arriving at a POI, determine the correct action based on the store's status:
Is the physical store or signage completely missing from the location?
Select Discard → "Can't Find the Location". Do not use this if the physical store is there but empty or closed.
Does the store exist but appear permanently closed?
You must first check whether you have detailed evidence (a clear closure notice, an obviously demolished environment, or a "Permanently Closed" tag on Google Maps). With evidence: select Discard → "Permanently Closed" and upload it. Without evidence: discarding is forbidden — perform a normal collection using the "Entry impossible" method (record continuously within 3 meters).
Does the store exist but is temporarily closed or inaccessible? (closed on Mondays, seasonally closed, reservation-only, private restaurant, difficult entry but the sign exists)
Do NOT discard. Perform a normal collection with the "Entry impossible" method: record the indoor video continuously from within 3 meters of the actual entrance, pointing at the entrance, then take the normal exterior photos.
Store staff or owner objects to photography, or the location is invalid?
Collect discreetly as a mystery shopper or customer — do not tell the business owner we are conducting data collection. If the location is an invalid task (military base, hospital), skip it. If the owner forbids indoor photography, retreat to the outside entrance and use the "Entry impossible" method; if they drive you away entirely, skip the task. Do NOT select "No Photography Allowed" or "Invalid Task" — these are rejected immediately.
Discard reason definitions
| Permanently Closed | The original store closed and was replaced, or there is a clear permanent closure notice. You MUST upload detailed evidence (closure notice, demolished environment, or a "Permanently Closed" tag from Google Maps). |
| Can't Find the Location | The physical store and its signage cannot be found nearby after a thorough search. |
Discard photo requirements
- Capture left, center and right full views of the target location and surroundings, fully showing the on-site environment to prove you searched the correct area.
- For Permanently Closed, add one extra detailed photo of the closure notice, demolished environment, or the "Permanently Closed" tag on Google Maps.
- Add extra notes or images for further explanation.
Forced collection
If you found the location but the mission cannot be started due to distance limits caused by coordinate offsets (very rare), long-press the collection button and tap OK in the pop-up to force the collection. Limit: you must be within 1 km of the target location.
Technical issues
For errors or page anomalies, long-press the "i" button on the homepage to save the problem log, and inform your market manager of the specific problem so it can be reported and handled.
Security task
If questioned by store staff during collection, quickly display the "store visit" task to reduce personal risk: long-press the red Esc button on the Wi-Fi recording page, or long-press the top-right reset button on the collection page. The page auto-redirects to the map afterwards and you must restart the collection task.
Task review status & rejection reasons
Open **History Tasks** to see all collections in reverse chronological order, with counters:
- Today — tasks completed today.
- Total — total tasks completed historically.
- Filter — tasks matching the current filter conditions.
Filter by Date, Status (Approved / Pending / Rejected), TaskTy (Common = Wi-Fi task, Store Front = single-point task) and SubTy (Normal / Force / Discard).
Single task detail
Tap any task to open its detail page. At the top you see the audit progress — Submitted, Reviewing, Completed — and the Ticket ID (unique identifier of the task). The middle section shows the review result:
- This shoot fully meets the requirements — taken indoor (reason 1).
- This shoot was taken within 3 meters and meets the requirements (reason 2).
- Thanks for reporting the closed store information (reason 3).
- Thanks for shooting the surrounding area and sharing valid details (reason 4).
- The store's operating status is not shown — on discard tasks, capture the closure notice or valid signage.
- The correct store was identified, but indoor shooting was not completed as required. Enter the store, or finish shooting within 3 meters of the entrance.
- Please visit the store in person — flipped or fake photos are not allowed.
- The shooting is blurred or obstructed; store details are not visible.
- Upon arrival, complete shooting both inside and outside, clearly showing the storefront and operating status.
- We cannot confirm you reached the target location. Provide clear storefront shooting, or include more surrounding environment.
- Target location not found — the store is nearby, please search carefully again.
- Target store is nearby. Please look carefully next time.
Pending — the task is waiting for review.
Common rejection cases
❌ #1 Not entering the store, or not within 3 meters of the entrance
- The store is on the 2nd or 3rd floor — you must go up and enter; shooting at the passage entrance is not allowed.
- The indoor shooting is not of the target store.
- The shot was taken more than 3 meters from a ground-floor store's entrance.
- The store is on an upper floor inside a mall, but the photo was taken from a different floor instead of at the store entrance.
- For shops with outdoor dining or operational areas, you must enter the indoor area or stay within 3 meters of the indoor entrance.
❌ #2 Not a live photo — fraudulent copying such as screen re-capture
- The image is a photograph of a computer or mobile phone screen, not a real-time capture.
❌ #3 Blurry or obstructed shot — operating status unclear
- The store was reported temporarily closed but only close-ups were taken, with no overall environment photos.
- The photo is real but blurry, obstructed or overexposed, making text unreadable and content unverifiable.
❌ #4 Abnormal shooting angle
- Only the sky or the ground was captured — no valid information about the target store.
- No photography from inside a vehicle.
- No selfie-angle photography.
❌ #5 Wrong shooting location — not the target store
- Only the sign was captured; the complete storefront is missing.
- A similarly named store was captured instead of the target (e.g. "NIJAB SHOP 11" instead of "COFFEESHOP11").
- The target was a shop-in-shop (e.g. Point Coffee inside a convenience store), but the photo showed no Point Coffee signage or counter.
Question and answer
There are no signs outside and the store is in the basement or on the second floor or above. How do I shoot so the footage passes review?
First determine if you can enter. If you can: film the interior as required and take three outdoor photos clearly showing storefront, logo and surroundings. If you cannot: take the interior footage within 3 meters of the store entrance inside the building, capturing the entrance and surroundings correctly. Exterior photo requirements are the same.
I verified several times that the store closed down and was replaced by another store. What should I do?
Select **Discard → "Permanently Closed"**. Permanently Closed = the original store closed and was replaced (closure, transfer or permanent closure notices). Location Not Found = after searching the area you cannot find the store and are unsure it ever existed there (demolition, empty land, large coordinate shift).
What is a reasonable case for the "Entry impossible" method?
The collector arrived at a store that was closed with uncertain operational status (no closure notice, just closed for the day) and performed a normal collection by continuously recording the entrance from within 3 meters. Keyframes showed the collector never exceeded 3 meters and kept the camera pointed at the entrance — this meets the requirement.
I feel awkward entering a store without buying anything just to record a video. Any tips?
You do not need to spend money. Act as a mystery shopper or a normal customer browsing, and do not proactively mention the data collection project. If staff ask, "I'm just looking around, thank you" is enough. If they question the recording, show the "store visit" task screen (Security task). If the owner still objects, retreat and use the "Entry impossible" method; if they drive you away entirely, skip the task. Never argue with store staff.
Ready to get certified?
Take the certification quiz to validate your knowledge of the SpotOn workflow. Score 80% or more to be approved as a SpotOn collector.
Take the certification quizQuestions? Talk to your regional manager or check the supporting material sent by email.