How to use Staff Chat

Staff Chat brings direct messages and team channels together in ServiceM8. Use a direct message for a conversation with one colleague, or a channel to keep a team or project’s discussions together.

Before you start

Public channels are discoverable by your staff. Private channels are visible to their members; someone already in the channel must add you. When you join a private channel, you can read messages sent after you joined.

Online Dashboard

Send a direct message

1. Click the Chat speech-bubble icon in the header to open Team Chat.
2. Under Staff, select the colleague you want to message.
3. Enter your message and click the Send arrow. You can also press Enter to send, or Shift + Enter for a new line.

Your staff and channels appear in the same sidebar. Here, Team Updates is a public channel and Northcote School HVAC Upgrade is a private channel.

Create or join a channel

To create a channel:

1. Click Add Channel, then New Public Channel or New Private Channel.
2. Enter a Name and, optionally, a Description.
3. Click Create Channel.

To join an existing public channel:

1. Click Add Channel → Browse Public Channels.
2. Search for the channel and click Join.
3. Open the channel from the sidebar to read or send messages.

Add or remove members

You must belong to a channel to manage its members.

1. Open the channel’s three-dot menu and select Members.
2. To add someone, open Add Members, click the three-dot menu beside their name, then Add to Channel.
3. To remove someone, open Members, click the three-dot menu beside their name, then Remove from Channel.

Share photos, files and Job links

Click the paperclip beside the message box and choose:

• Photo Library to select photos from your computer.
• File to select a file.
• Photo From Job to select an existing Job photo, when messaging in a channel or its thread.
• Link a Job to select a Job reference, when messaging in a channel or its thread.

Check the items in the composer, add your message and click Send. Photos and files can also be sent without a message. Include a message when linking a Job.

You can select Job photos you have permission to view. Sharing a photo makes it available to people who can read that message. Click a sent Job preview to open its Job card, provided you have access to that Job.

Reply in a thread

Use a thread to keep replies with their original channel message.

1. Hover over the message, open its action menu and choose Reply in Thread. If it already has replies, click its reply count.
2. Enter your reply in Thread and click Send.
3. Use the back arrow beside Thread to return to the channel.

The thread below contains Sara’s question and John’s reply. Ava’s next reply is still being composed.

Unread badges help you find activity. Opening a channel marks its main conversation as read; unread replies remain until you open their thread.

In the app

Message a colleague

1. Open Activity and tap the Messages speech-bubble icon at the top right.

   

2. Open an existing direct conversation, or tap Compose → New Message and choose a colleague.

3. Enter your message and tap the Send arrow.

The New messages divider marks unread messages in the conversation.

Send photos, files or a Job reference

1. In the conversation, tap +.
2. Choose Photo Library, Take Photo, Photo From Job, File or Link a Job.
3. Select your item, check it in the composer and tap Send. Add a message when linking a Job.

Tap a received photo or file to open it. Tap a Job reference to open its Job card if you have access.

Use a channel

In Messages, open a channel under Channels, enter your message and tap Send. Use + to attach photos or files.

To create a channel, tap Compose → Create Channel and enter its details. To manage a channel you belong to, open it and tap the information icon. Use Add People to add members, or swipe a member’s row and choose Remove, then confirm. Use Leave Channel to leave; a private channel requires another invitation to rejoin.

Related resources

• How do I communicate with staff via the Dispatch Board?