Beam's interface adapts to your screen size, providing an optimal experience on both desktop and mobile devices. This guide explains the layout, navigation menu, and key interface elements you'll use every day.
Classic layout
On Beam Classic (desktop or wider screens), the app uses the following layout:
Left sidebar
The main navigation menu appears as a sidebar on the left side of the screen. It contains icons and labels for each feature. The Beam logo is displayed at the top, and the app version number is shown at the bottom.
Top header bar
The top header bar contains several important elements:
- Back button (left side) Navigate to the previous page when applicable.
- Page title (center) Shows the name of the current page.
- Connection status indicator (right side) Shows whether you are connected, offline, or syncing.
- Print buffer button (right side) Appears when printing is enabled, showing the number of queued print jobs.
- User button (right side) Access your account, switch organizations, or sign out.
- Notification bell (right side) Opens the notification drawer with recent notifications.
Mobile layout
The mobile app uses familiar mobile navigation patterns optimized for smaller displays:
Bottom navigation bar
The main navigation items appear as icons along the bottom of the screen, including a dedicated Scan button in the center for quick access to scanning functionality.
Top header bar
The top header bar on mobile is similar to the platform version but includes a menu toggle button on the left instead of the full sidebar. Tap the menu toggle to access additional navigation items.
Navigation menu items
The following items may appear in the navigation menu. Each item can be enabled or disabled per organization, so you may not see all of them:
| Menu Item | Description | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Items | Your inventory items (this is the default home page) | All users |
| Orders | Manage outbound, inbound, and rental orders | All users (if orders are enabled) |
| Stock Take | Perform inventory counts | All users (if stock takes are enabled) |
| Locations | View and manage warehouse locations | All users |
| Tasks | View and manage assigned tasks | All users (if tasks are enabled) |
| Actions | Custom workflow forms | All users (if actions are configured) |
| Inspections | Quality inspections for items | All users (if inspections are enabled) |
| Report | Advanced reporting and analytics | All users (if reports are enabled) |
| History | Global timeline of changes (by date range) | All users (if enabled) |
| UID | Scan or manage UIDs without opening a specific item or order | All users (if enabled) |
| IoT | Manage connected scanning and printing devices | Admin only |
| Settings | Organization configuration (also called Config) | Admin only |
The order and visibility of menu items can be customized by your organization's administrator. Additional custom navigation items may also be added. On mobile, when there are more than four items, the rest are under More.
Connection indicator
The connection indicator in the top header bar shows the current status of your internet connection.
| Status | Appearance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Connected | Green | Data is syncing in real time. All changes are saved to the server immediately. |
| Offline | Red | You are working offline. Changes are saved locally and will sync when you reconnect. |
| Syncing | Blue/green blinking | The app is currently syncing data with the server. This typically happens after reconnecting or after logging in (data is being downloaded from the server). |
| Status | Appearance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Connected | Green | Data is syncing in real time. All changes are saved to the server immediately. |
| Offline | Red | You are offline. Make sure your internet is turned on to continue working in the app. |
Refreshing the app
The app version number is shown at the bottom of the navigation sidebar. If you need to refresh the app (for example, after an update has been released), click on the version number. If a newer version is available, the app may display a prompt asking you to update.
Auto-updates
Beam app updates are delivered through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Updates are typically installed automatically when auto-update is enabled on your device.