diff --git a/inventory_provider/tasks/worker.py b/inventory_provider/tasks/worker.py
index 4a3a18fc9ff6498d827963f61cd7ec8ff4193803..bb09fffd66b1fd78b843a962a9aa7f11b2048f0c 100644
--- a/inventory_provider/tasks/worker.py
+++ b/inventory_provider/tasks/worker.py
@@ -78,22 +78,45 @@ class InventoryTask(Task):
         logger.exception(exc)
         super().on_failure(exc, task_id, args, kwargs, einfo)
 
+    def _task_return_value(self, warning, message):
+        """
+        common method for constructing a standard task return value
+        :param warning: boolean (False for normal, warning-free response)
+        :param message: text message to include in return value
+        :return: a serializable dict
+        """
+        return {
+            'task': self.name,
+            'warning': warning,
+            'message': message
+        }
+
+    def success(self, message='OK'):
+        return self._task_return_value(warning=False, message=message)
+
+    def warning(self, message='WARNING'):
+        return self._task_return_value(warning=True, message=message)
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='snmp_refresh_interfaces')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
 def snmp_refresh_interfaces(self, hostname, community):
+    # TODO: [DBOARD3-242] copy from current redis in case of error
     value = list(snmp.get_router_snmp_indexes(hostname, community))
     r = get_next_redis(InventoryTask.config)
     r.set('snmp-interfaces:' + hostname, json.dumps(value))
+    return self.success(message=f'snmp info loaded from {hostname}')
 
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='netconf_refresh_config')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
 def netconf_refresh_config(self, hostname):
+    # TODO: [DBOARD3-242] copy from current redis in case of error
     netconf_doc = juniper.load_config(hostname, InventoryTask.config["ssh"])
     netconf_str = etree.tostring(netconf_doc, encoding='unicode')
     r = get_next_redis(InventoryTask.config)
     r.set('netconf:' + hostname, netconf_str)
+    return self.success(message=f'netconf info loaded from {hostname}')
 
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_interfaces_to_services')
@@ -119,6 +142,8 @@ def update_interfaces_to_services(self):
             json.dumps(services))
     rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='import_unmanaged_interfaces')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -151,6 +176,8 @@ def import_unmanaged_interfaces(self):
                 json.dumps([ifc]))
         rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_access_services')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -180,6 +207,8 @@ def update_access_services(self):
             json.dumps(service))
     rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_lg_routers')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -197,6 +226,8 @@ def update_lg_routers(self):
             rp.set(f'opsdb:lg:{router["equipment name"]}', json.dumps(router))
         rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_equipment_locations')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -216,6 +247,8 @@ def update_equipment_locations(self):
             rp.set('opsdb:location:%s' % h, json.dumps(locations))
         rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_circuit_hierarchy')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -246,6 +279,8 @@ def update_circuit_hierarchy(self):
             rp.set('opsdb:services:children:%d' % cid, json.dumps(children))
         rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True, name='update_geant_lambdas')
 @log_task_entry_and_exit
@@ -265,6 +300,8 @@ def update_geant_lambdas(self):
                 json.dumps(ld))
         rp.execute()
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 @app.task(base=InventoryTask, bind=True,
           name='update_neteng_managed_device_list')
@@ -288,10 +325,7 @@ def update_neteng_managed_device_list(self):
     r = get_next_redis(InventoryTask.config)
     r.set('netdash', json.dumps(routers).encode('utf-8'))
 
-    return {
-        'task': 'update_neteng_managed_device_list',
-        'message': 'saved %d managed routers' % len(routers)
-    }
+    return self.success(f'saved {len(routers)} managed routers')
 
 
 def load_netconf_data(hostname):
@@ -440,7 +474,7 @@ def reload_router_config(self, hostname):
     except InventoryTaskError:
         pass  # ok at this point if not found
 
-    # load new netconf data
+    # load new netconf data, in this thread
     netconf_refresh_config.apply(args=[hostname])
 
     netconf_doc = load_netconf_data(hostname)
@@ -451,11 +485,7 @@ def reload_router_config(self, hostname):
         'no timestamp available for new netconf data'
     if new_netconf_timestamp == current_netconf_timestamp:
         logger.debug('no netconf change timestamp change, aborting')
-        return {
-            'task': 'reload_router_config',
-            'hostname': hostname,
-            'message': 'OK (no change)'
-        }
+        return self.success(f'no change (timestamp not updated)')
 
     # clear cached classifier responses for this router, and
     # refresh peering data
@@ -487,11 +517,7 @@ def reload_router_config(self, hostname):
 
     clear_cached_classifier_responses(None)
 
-    return {
-        'task': 'reload_router_config',
-        'hostname': hostname,
-        'message': 'OK'
-    }
+    return self.success(f'updated config for {hostname}')
 
 
 def _erase_next_db(config):
@@ -532,7 +558,8 @@ def internal_refresh_phase_2(self):
 
     t = refresh_finalizer.apply_async(args=[json.dumps(pending_task_ids)])
     pending_task_ids.append(t.id)
-    return pending_task_ids
+
+    return self.success()
 
 
 def launch_refresh_cache_all(config):
@@ -628,6 +655,8 @@ def refresh_finalizer(self, pending_task_ids_json):
     latch_db(InventoryTask.config)
     _update('latched current/next dbs')
 
+    return self.success()
+
 
 def _build_service_category_interface_list(update_callback=lambda s: None):