When you stop servicing a customer or one of their locations, you don't have to delete the record. SwiftWorks lets you archive a customer or location instead -- the record is hidden from your active lists but the history is preserved. If you start servicing them again later, you can restore the record without losing past orders or reports.

Archiving is reversible. Deleting is not. Archive whenever you're not sure -- you can always delete later.

Once archived, the customer disappears from your active Customers list. Their data, orders, and reports are still kept on file.

Restored records reappear in your active lists with their full history intact -- past orders, reports, and notes are all there.

If you really want to remove a customer or location entirely, you can delete it instead of just archiving. This is irreversible -- once deleted, the record and its history can't be brought back.

Use the delete option only when you're sure. Archiving is almost always the safer choice. If a customer was created in error and has no orders or reports, deletion is fine.

Q: When I archive a customer, what happens to my submitted compliance reports?

A: Past reports stay on file at both SwiftWorks and the city's FOG program. Archiving only affects what's visible in your active customer list -- it doesn't pull back records you've already sent.

Q: Why am I told I can't archive because of active orders?

A: SwiftWorks blocks the archive when you have active orders so you don't accidentally lose track of work that's already on the calendar. Mark those orders complete or cancel them, then archive.

Q: Can I see my archived customers?

A: Yes. Use the archived view from the Customers area to see and restore archived records.

Q: I deleted a customer -- can I get them back?

A: No. Deletion is permanent. Use archive instead unless you're absolutely sure.