iCal feed: what it means
DefinitionAn iCal feed is a web link, usually ending in ics, that a calendar app can subscribe to in order to display another system's appointments. It is generally one-way and read-only, so changes made in the subscribing calendar do not flow back.
How it works in a service business
A feed is the simplest way to see scheduled visits on a phone without a full integration. The technician subscribes to their personal link and sees their jobs next to family events. The tradeoff is freshness and control. Calendar apps refresh subscribed feeds on their own timetable, which can be hours, so a last-minute change may show late. A common mistake is sharing the feed link carelessly: anyone with the address can see the appointments, including names and addresses. Treat the link like a password, give each person their own, and regenerate it if staff leave. If you need edits from the calendar to update the scheduler, a true two-way sync is a better fit than a feed.
Example
A technician adds her personal feed link to her phone's calendar app and sees tomorrow's jobs alongside her kids' school events, without opening the scheduler.
Where Apex touches this
In progress
Part of this is built. The rest is not. Status as of 2026-10-07; the badge shows the least-built feature involved.
- SC16iCal/ICS subscribe feed(In progress)
- SC41Export route to Google/Apple Maps(Built)
Apex Flow Scheduler is in early access. See how we label status.