Connect Channels: Setup & Use Cases

Connect: Company Chat & Messaging

Connect is a tool for channel-based communication and private direct messages.

• A user requires the Connect primary permission to be able to at a minimum direct message another user (that must also have Connect permissions).

• Channel Creation (in addition to Channel Edit/Delete) is controlled by the Connect: Create/Delete permission, which also acts as a default member of each channel.

Creating a Poll

• Gather feedback or make decisions using the built-in poll feature in chat.

• Click the Poll Icon and click the bar chart icon in the message box toolbar.

• Enter Your Question in the "Question" field, type the main question you want to ask your audience.

• Input one or more answer choices in the "Options" section.

• Customize Poll Settings (Optional)
  Use the toggles to adjust:

  • Multiple answers: Let users select more than one option.

  • Anonymous poll: Hide participants’ identities.

  • Allow option suggestion: Let users add their own answers.

  • Allow comments: Enable replies beneath the poll.

• Click 'Create'- Once you're ready, hit Create to post the poll in the chat.

  

Creating a Channel

• Selecting the + Symbol next to the Channels header provides a slideout modal as pictured above.

• Each channel requires a name, and a description can be entered.

• Frozen Channel: If you choose to “Freeze Channel” this means that only users with Connect: Create/Delete permissions can post in the channel. For other channel members (whether invited individually or by role) will have read-only access.

Inviting Users or Roles to a Channel

• Once the channel is created, you’ll want to establish the individual users or roles that should have access to the channel. Selecting the Invite button (top-right) will generate the popup. Each of the additional channel option buttons are labeled with tooltips when moused over, or hovered. They include (from left to right):

  • Pins

  • Invite

  • Info

  • Delete

• It is recommended to use Role Assignment, as it is more a scalable way of managing communication channels. The role assignment by channel synchronizes based on the user’s role. For example, if a user’s role changes from Assistant Store Manager, to Store Manager, they will gain or lose access to channels based on the channels that are assigned to the Store Manager role.

Channel Info

• Selecting Info will cause the Channel Info slide out to appear as pictured above. If you have Connect: Create/Delete permissions, this is where you can edit the channel name, description, and review the members (users) within the channel, in addition to the invited roles, and files or media shared.

• If you have Connect: Create/Delete permissions, you also can freeze the channel.

• Any user with Connect permissions can DM another user.

Location-Based Channels

Create a Channel:

• Selecting the + Symbol next to the Channels header provides a slide out modal as pictured above.

• Name your channel (e.g., Bond Street Flagship).

• Enable the Location-Based option-click “ok”

Add by Location:

• In the Invite Members screen, select the “Location-Based” tab.

• Choose from your available store or region lists (e.g., Global Retail, Canada, USA).

• Click Invite.

• As team members are added to or removed from stores, the channel updates in real time—no manual effort required.

Automatic Synchronization with Your Organization:

Once a channel is set up with location-based settings, it stays continuously in sync with your organizational hierarchy. That means when users are added to or removed from a store, district, or region, they’re automatically included or excluded from the corresponding channels—no manual updates required. This keeps communication tightly aligned with your operational structure as it evolves.

Changing Existing Channels:

It's important to note that channels can't be switched between location-based and role-based after creation. For example, if a channel was initially set up using roles, and you now want it to be location-based, you'll need to create a new channel with the updated configuration. This helps ensure that your communication logic remains clean, consistent, and easily managed.