Highlights:
In Fall 2024, we released DigiChat selectively to any customers who asked for this module: powered by push notifications via our mobile app
It appears in your Employees menu under DigiStorage
Provide access to staff members via their profile. (All new employees automatically get DigiChat access). Based on their locations and positions, new employees will be automatically added to any respective location/position chats.
Reach out to our support team if you would like to test drive this module free!
Most importantly: ditch text messaging and get your staff on our mobile app to maxmize the benefits of DigiChat!
Differing from our Messaging Module (which is a one-way outbound messaging system), DigiChat is a two-way group chat feature available for location and position groups, as well as customized lists of employees (direct one-on-one message threads or group message threads):
Key Features
DigiChat appears in the Employees menu, which will be highlighted (on web and in mobile app's menu) with a red dot when there is a new/unread message; push notifications are available for any chat members on our mobile app.
Read Receipts! 🤩 Need to make sure your staff saw your post about the updated employee handbook? How about that URL to your new Custom Form required for all staff? Send any links to remind your staff to check upcoming shifts or open shifts, such as pasting a link to the My Schedule page. Read receipts are the best way took make sure ALL staff have eyes on what is most important... and for you to see who among them just aren't seeing it.
DigiChats are managed by all Admin - this means non-admin staff cannot create chats. All admin can see which Admin user created a chat, and can join any chat or remove themselves (so they only get notifications for preferred chats).
To use DigiChat, Non-Admin must be granted access to the module first in order to be available for employee chats and access DigiChat (under their profile "Access" box). For all location and position chat types, any employees with access to those locations and assigned those positions via their profile will be added the the chat. Admin have access to DigiChat by default.
Tip: To set DigiChat access in bulk, do an employee export for all staff or specific employees, and in the spreadsheet set the column to "Y" for DigiChat, then save and import. (For details on how to do this in mass, visit this help article).
Next Updates:
Planned updates to DigiChat include...
Admin options for each chat to disable replies (temporarily shutting a chat down)
Allowing staff deletion of messages/editing messages sent
As of April 2025, Admin can archive chats (and also restore them) and filter on our web app for archived chats when needed.
The following tutorial is now outdated. Stay tuned for an updated tutorial coming in May 2026
Why DigiChat Is Better than Mass Text-Messaging
1. Your staff can't "opt-out" like they can with text messages. (Installation of the mobile app to receive chat push notifications can be required per your terms of employment).
2. You'll see which staff read or did not read your messages (right sidebar).
3. Unlike our texting service, you can get replies and chat members can respond in the group. Soon, you'll be able to "disable replies" if you wish to use a chat for just announcements only - a new feature coming in May 2026.
4. You can rename chats easily, and send active links (just copy/paste). This is more difficult with texts via the Messaging module, as it requires markdown.
Known Issues/Limitations
Currently, there is a limitation to keep in mind: for all position chat types, a chat will be created for your entire account (e.g. if Lifeguards are selected, that will include ALL employees with that position across the account, across all locations). An update to correct this by adding an additional option to specify if the admin wants to create a position chat for ALL locations or just ONE location (and thus limit a position chat to just one location) is under review
Keep your eye out for an admin poll to upvote the next feature updates for DigiChat! (e.g. attachments, dedicated direct message chats, and more).