> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.allsupa.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Team Chat: Real-Time Messaging for Frontline Teams

> Keep frontline and office teams connected with Supa's built-in real-time messaging, group channels, and direct messages — no third-party apps needed.

Supa includes purpose-built team chat designed for operational teams — not general-purpose messaging. Because chat lives inside the same platform as your checklists, tasks, and announcements, your team stays in one place instead of switching between apps. This page covers how to use direct messages, group channels, and best practices for keeping field and office teams aligned.

## Key capabilities

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Messaging">
    * **Direct messages** between any two team members
    * **Group channels** organized by location, department, or role
    * **Message reactions** and threaded replies to keep conversations organized
    * **Read receipts** so you know when a message has been seen
    * **Message history search** to find past decisions and information quickly
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Media and files">
    * Share photos, videos, and documents directly in chat
    * Images display inline without requiring a download
    * Workers can send end-of-day photos or issue evidence directly to a channel
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Availability">
    * Available in both the Supa web dashboard and the iOS/Android mobile app
    * Works offline — messages sync automatically when the device reconnects to the network
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Creating a channel

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Chat">
    Go to **Chat** in the Supa app or web dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new channel">
    Click or tap **New Channel**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name and configure the channel">
    Give the channel a clear name (e.g., "Store #12 — Ops" or "Kitchen Team"). Add the members who should be part of it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set visibility">
    Choose **Private** to limit the channel to invited members, or **Open** to allow all members at the assigned location to join.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start messaging">
    Send your first message. All members receive a notification that the channel is ready.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example use case

Store managers at a retail chain use a location-specific channel to share end-of-day photo reports: cleaned workstations, stocked shelves, closed registers. HQ reviews the photos each morning and replies with feedback or flags anything that needs follow-up as a task — all without leaving Supa.

<Tip>
  Name channels consistently across locations (e.g., "Hanoi — Ops", "HCMC — Ops") so managers overseeing multiple sites can navigate quickly.
</Tip>

<Note>
  Chat messages are retained and searchable. Use the search bar in the Chat module to find any message, decision, or file shared in the past.
</Note>