Automatic App Discovery

Automatic App Discovery helps admins and account owners identify desktop apps and websites in use across their organization—providing better visibility and control.

What Is Automatic App Discovery?

When enabled, Produce8 automatically detects desktop applications and website URLs used by users on the account. These are displayed in a pending state under the App Administration page, allowing admins to choose whether to approve or ignore each one.

This feature is especially helpful for:

  • Discovering new tools or software being used by your team

  • Capturing browser usage for work-related web apps

  • Simplifying app setup during onboarding

How It Works

To use Automatic App Discovery, your users must have:

  • ✅ The Produce8 Desktop Agent installed

  • ✅ The Chrome or Edge browser extension installed

Once these components are in place, the system will:

  1. Detect all desktop apps running on Windows and Mac
  2. Identify URL's accessed though Chrome or Edge
  3. Surface newly discovered apps/URL's on the App Administration page in a pending state

From there, owners and admins can:

  • Approve the app — it will begin contributing to workspace metrics and user insights 
  • Ignore the app — it will be excluded from insights and not appear in reporting 

These decisions can be changed at anytime from the App Administration page.

How to Enable It

To enable Automatic App Discovery: 

  1. Select your user icon in the bottom-left corner of the Produce8 Web App.
  2. From the menu that appears, select Account Settings.
  3. From the General Page, scroll down to App Discovery Settings.
  4. Toggle the setting to On.
    Screenshot 2025-05-12 at 2.37.51 PM
  5. Ensure users have both the Desktop Agent and Browser Extension installed. 

Reviewing New Apps

Once enabled, newly discovered apps will begin appearing on the App Administration page in a "pending" state.

To access the App Administration page:

  1. Select your user icon in the bottom-left corner of the Produce8 Web App.
  2. Choose Account Setting from the menu.
  3. Navigate to App Administration page.

    Screenshot 2025-05-12 at 2.52.11 PM
  4. Select About this App to view more details about a pending app, including:
    • Vendor name
    • Website of desktop app name 
    • Description (if available)
      Screenshot 2025-05-12 at 3.02.52 PM

  5. From here, you can choose to: 

    • Approve — Include the app in insights and reporting across the account
    • Ignore — Exclude the app from, appearing in reports or contributing to metrics

Managing Approved or Ignored Apps

You can change your decisions on any app at any time from the App Administration page. Use the sidebar navigation to switch between:

Active Apps

  • Displays all apps that have been approved (i.e., followed)
  • You can switch between tile view and list view
  • Use the search bar at the top to quickly find an app
  • to stop including an app:
    1. Select the ellipsis (...) next to the app
    2. Click Ignore App
Screenshot 2025-05-13 at 10.33.46 AM

Ignored Apps

  • Shows all apps you've chosen to ignore 
  • You can switch between tile view and list view
  • Use the search bar at the top to locate a specific app
  • To begin including an app again:
    1. Click the Follow button next to the app
    2. (Optional) Select About This App for vendor and app details

FAQ

Can users see which apps are discovered?

  • Only owners and admins can access the App Administration page and review pending apps. Users won’t see apps until they’re approved.