Location-Based Check-In & Check-Out Controls (Proximity Validation)

Location-Based Check-In & Check-Out Controls (Proximity Validation)

1. What is Proximity-Based Validation?

Proximity-Based Validation is a security feature that requires users to be physically within a defined radius before they can check-in or check-out of a shift using the mobile app.

When enabled, users must allow location services on their device. The system verifies their location before allowing them to:

  • Scan a QR code to check-in or check-out

  • Tap to check-in or Tap to check-out

This ensures users are physically present at the approved location before attendance is recorded.

2. Why should we use Proximity-Based Validation?

This feature strengthens attendance integrity by:

  • Preventing remote check-ins

  • Reducing fraudulent hour loggings

  • Ensuring users are physically onsite 

  • Increasing accountability for programs requiring verified presence

3. How does the location verification work?

When a user attempts to check in or check out via the mobile app:

  1. The system prompts the user to enable location services (if not already enabled).

  2. The platform checks whether the user is within the defined radius (set in meters) which is customizable by the admin.

  3. If the user is inside the allowed radius, check-in or check-out is permitted.

  4. If outside the radius, the action is blocked until they are within range.

This applies to both check-in and check-out.

4. What location does the system validate against?

The system checks the location associated with the shift:

  1. Shift Location (if a location has been added directly to the shift)

  2. Opportunity Location (used as a fallback if no shift-level location exists)

5. Does this apply to both check-in and check-out?

Yes.

When enabled, Proximity-Based Validation applies to:

  • Check-in

  • Check-out

Users must be within the approved radius for both actions.

6. How do I enable Proximity-Based Validation for an opportunity?

You can enable this feature at the opportunity level.

Option 1: Update Individually

  1. Go to the Opportunities page

  2. Select the desired opportunity

  3. Click the Schedule tab

  4. Navigate over to the setting labeled: Proximity-Based Validation (Using Geolocation) to edit it as you wish

Option 1: Update in bulk

You can update multiple opportunities at once:

  1. Go to the Opportunities page

  2. Select the checkboxes for the opportunities you wish to update

  3. Click Action

  4. Choose Update Schedule Settings from the dropdown

  5. Navigate over to the setting labeled: Proximity-Based Validation (Using Geolocation) to edit it as you wish

This allows you to quickly apply location enforcement across multiple opportunities.

8. What happens if a user denies location permissions?

If a user does not enable location services:

  • They will not be able to check in or check out via the mobile app

  • The system cannot verify their proximity

They must enable location access to proceed.

9. Does this affect kiosk check-ins?

No.

Proximity-Based Validation applies specifically to mobile app check-in and check-out.

Kiosk workflows remain unaffected.

10. How customizable is the radius?

You define the radius in meters based on your needs.

For example:

  • Smaller radius for indoor facilities

  • Larger radius for outdoor events or large campuses

This flexibility allows you to match the setting to your physical environment!

    • Related Articles

    • How do attendees check in and out using the QR code?

      Overview On the day of their shift, somebody with the Vome app opens that shift, taps Check in, and scans the code you have put up. Checking out works the same way, on the same code. That is the whole flow. Almost every question about it is really ...

    • How should people check in? Kiosk, QR code and geolocation

      Plan required: attendance tracking relies on people being scheduled onto shifts, which needs Vome Pro or above. Overview Hours have to come from somewhere. There are three tools for capturing them on site, and most organizations end up running two. ...

    • What is the Background Check step type in a sequence?

      Overview The Background Check step orders a real background check from inside a sequence. It is powered by Sterling Volunteers: the user starts the request from the step, completes it on Sterling's side, and the result comes back to Vome without ...

    • What are the Attendance tracking settings on an opportunity?

      Attendance tracking settings is the fourth section of an opportunity's Schedule settings. It decides how attendance gets recorded: whether people check themselves in, how they do it, whether they have to be on site, and when the check-in and ...

    • Tap-to-Check-In/Out (No QR Code Required)

      1. What does “Users can tap to check-in/out from the app without scanning the QR code” mean? This setting allows volunteers to check in and check out directly from the mobile app without scanning a QR code. If enabled, users can simply: Open the ...