Video can be the fastest way to train operators on an assembly step, an inspection method, or a setup that is hard to capture in text. The main challenge is keeping the video easy to access from the work order while avoiding storage and maintenance problems.
In Cetec ERP, you can use the Labor Plan instructions to point your team to the right video. The best approach depends on where you host the video and whether you want people to open it in a new tab or watch it inline.
Decide Where the Video Will Live
One option is to store training videos under the work order’s Documents section. This can work if you have a small library or short clips, but videos will consume storage quickly compared to PDFs and images.
Standard support customers get 4GB of storage. If you plan to upload a lot of video content as documents, you should plan for higher storage usage. Cetec ERP offers upgraded storage at $100/month for an additional 200GB of capacity.
Start in the Work Order Labor Plan
Open the work order and go to the Labor Plan. The Labor Plan instructions are where most teams place process guidance and references that operators need during production.
Option 1: Paste a Video URL as Plain Text
The simplest approach is to paste the video URL directly into the Labor Plan instructions. Operators can copy and paste the link into a new browser tab to watch the video.
Choose this option if you want the lowest-effort setup and you do not need clickable links or embedded video inside the instructions window.
Prerequisite for Options 2 and 3: Enable Allow Unsafe Tags
If you want clickable links or embedded video in the instructions editor, the next two options require a configuration change. Set the config setting "allow_unsafe_tags" to 1, then return to the Labor Plan to edit your instructions.
Option 2: Add a Clickable Hyperlink in Fancy Work Instructions
This option removes the copy/paste step for operators. In the Labor Plan, click "Use Fancy Work Instructions" to open the editor, then use the insert link button to add the video URL as a hyperlink.
When the operator clicks the link, the video opens in a new browser tab.
Option 3: Embed a Video in Fancy Work Instructions
If your video host provides embed code (for example, YouTube), you can embed the video directly in the Fancy Work Instructions text box. Copy the embed code from the video’s page and paste it into the editor.
This lets an operator watch the video inside the work instructions window without opening a separate tab.
How to Choose the Right Option
Use a plain URL when you want the simplest setup and you do not need clickable formatting. Use a hyperlink when you want operators to open the video with one click. Use an embed when watching the video inside the instructions window is important and your video host provides embed code.
Key Takeaways
- You can store videos as work order documents, but video files can consume storage quickly.
- A plain URL in the Labor Plan instructions works without special configuration.
- With "allow_unsafe_tags" enabled, you can add clickable hyperlinks or embed a hosted video in Fancy Work Instructions.
- Choose link vs embed based on whether operators should open a new tab or watch the video inside the instructions window.
Conclusion
Training content is only useful if it shows up where work is happening. By adding video links or embeds into your Labor Plan instructions, you can give operators the reference they need without changing your core work order process in Cetec ERP.