Read Tracking

Read Tracking allows you to track whether or not a digital workplace member has engaged with a piece of content. Read Tracking can be made available in blogs, calendars, forums, folders, and wikis.

When you turn Read Tracking on, a default button with the text "I have read this" will be placed at the end of a piece of content. However, the text may be changed to a custom message. Members reading content can select the button to acknowledge and confirm they have read it. The button requires two clicks to confirm, which helps prevent mistaken selection from being counted.

The read tracking button on a blog article.

Sections in this article: 

Use Cases

Corporate policy compliance

Read Tracking is most commonly used on corporate policies that all employees need to read and agree to. Including a Read Tracking button makes it easy for people to indicate that they have read the policy. It also provides a report, listing who has and has not read the material.

Onboarding

Read tracking provides an easy way to monitor who has completed onboarding tasks, like reading safety manuals and setting up their digital workplace Profile. Creating an article that describes each task and includes a Read Tracking button on each makes it easy for Human Resources managers to keep track of people’s progress through the onboarding process.

Gauging interest

Since the Read Tracking button can include any text, it is possible to have people use it to indicate their support for a suggestion or idea on a forum.

Simple sign-up form

If you have an event or promotion, you can use Read Tracking as a one-step sign-up option. Anyone who wishes to attend or be included can select the button, which will automatically add them to the Read Tracking report. This provides an easy way for the managers of those events to get a list of names of interested people.

Features

Read Tracking options are available in the Edit options for a piece of content. Here, you can turn on Read Tracking on specific content in your workplace, and you can also customize the message that is displayed, or choose the default content, which says, "I have read this". Finally, selecting the option Remove Existing Read Tracking Audit Information will clear the tracking information when the changes are saved.

Read tracking options.

Read Tracking audit information

If Read Tracking has been turned on, anyone with Edit access can view a list of people who have selected the Read Tracking button on a piece of content. You can view this information by selecting the Read Tracking option from the Action Button menu.

The audit log of who has confirmed reading the content.

The Read Tracking audit screen provides the following features:

  • Filter by name: Allows you to search the list for a specific workplace member.
  • Toggle read or unread: You can toggle the list to display only those people who have indicated they read the document, or those who have been assigned to read the document but have not yet done so.
  • Export: Select Export to download a .CSV file to your computer. This file contains a list of all people who have been assigned to read the document and all those who have pressed the Read Tracking button. The file includes their name, and the date they pressed the button. Reports exported by site administrators also contain member email addresses.
  • Remind: Select Remind next to a person’s name to send an email to that person reminding them to read the content and providing a link to it.
  • Remind all: Select Remind All to send an email with a link, to all people assigned to read the content who have not yet read it.
  • Assign groups: Allows you to select groups to be added to the audit list. Select X next to the group name to remove them. Group assignment allows you to send reminders and track who hasn't engaged with the material.

Turn on Read Tracking

Follow the steps below to enable Read Tracking on a piece of content.

  1. Navigate to the content you wish to turn read tracking on.
  2. Select Actions, and then Edit.
  3. Select Turn on Read Tracking. 
  4. (Optional) Select Customize button text and enter the custom text in each language. 
  5. Select Save.

Clear Read Tracking data

Read tracking data is not recoverable after it has been removed. Be sure to export and save the old data before clearing it. Follow the steps below to clear Read Tracking on a piece of content.

  1. Navigate to the content where you wish to clear the Read Tracking audit information.
  2. Select Actions, and then Edit.
  3. Select Remove Existing Read Tracking Audit Information.
  4. Select Save.

Frequently Asked Questions

What level of access do I need to see Read Tracking information?

Members with Edit access or above can see the Read Tracking information on a document or article.

Can I have Read Tracking turned on by default?

Yes, under the Settings area for any channel you can turn on default Read Tracking state for new content created there.