Setup
Team chat — one on one, groups, photos and videos
iPhone app → Chat tab, or office web page → Chat.
Start a chat
- New Chat → tap a person for a one-on-one (there's only ever one chat per pair), or name a group and check who's in it (Everyone checks the whole team).
- Type and tap send (Enter sends on the computer; Shift+Enter for a new line).
- Tap the photo button to send photos or videos (up to 10 at a time; videos up to 300 MB). Photos are shrunk before they go up.
Unread and notifications
- An orange dot marks chats with something new; the Chat tab shows how many.
- On the computer, Turn on alerts lets the browser pop up a notice when the Preflight tab is in the background.
- iPhone notifications when the app is closed need Apple push turned on for Preflight (Preflight sets this up once for everyone).
Groups
- Whoever started a group — or an owner, admin, office person or supervisor — can rename it, add or remove people, or archive it. Archived groups keep everything and are read only.
What's kept
- Messages, photos and videos are never edited or deleted — the chat is the record, like a work log.
- Only the people in a chat can read it. Not Preflight support, and not the owner unless they're in it.
- Removing someone from the team ends their access to every chat.
- Photos and videos count toward your company's storage; owners and admins see the total at the bottom of Settings on the office web page.
Channels
Channels are company chats that keep their own people:
- Who's in a channel: everyone, everyone in a role (all techs, everyone in the office), and/or people you pick.
- It stays current on its own: new hires are added, someone who changes roles moves to the right channels, and someone who leaves is removed.
- Who can post: a channel can be managers only, for announcements. Everyone reads it; owners, admins, the office and supervisors post.
Owners and admins set them up on Chat → + New Chat:
- Add the standard channels makes 📣 Team Announcements (everyone; managers post), # Technicians, # Call Center, # Rugs (pick the rug room people under Manage) and # Tips & Tricks (everyone).
- + New Channel makes any other.
- Manage on a channel changes its name, who's in it and who can post, or archives it.
Channels are listed first in Chat. Owners and admins see every channel, even ones they aren't in, so they can manage them.
Private groups
Anyone can start a private group, for a crew, a project or a team: Chat → + New Chat → Or start a private group. Only the people in it can see it. Whoever started it, or a manager, can rename it and add or remove people.
More in Setup
Start here: setup checklistCreate your company accountApp Lock and Face IDCompany profile and logoYour account: name, password, email, deleteManaging your team on the office web pageServices offeredThe office web pageRate sets: standard and contract ratesPrice one surface the same as anotherSquare-foot pricing: bands or tiersService minimumStairs pricingUpholstery pricingAdd-ons and extra chargesPayment terms and card feesSales tax by stateTravel and mileageBranches, franchises and state licensesCurrency, metric and temperatureProposal wordingLead sourcesPromo codes and employee perk codesService reminders ("time for your next cleaning")Bluetooth laser measuresRoutes — the route owns the jobsW-9 and insurance certificate for commercial customersPrice sheets to print or exportConnect QuickBooks OnlineEmails when a customer answersWebhooks — send data to Zapier, Make or your CRMInvite your team and choose rolesPrice changes on site — as needed, within a limit, or lockedPermission to scan and photographPhotos & video notice (marketing and training)Required before sending ("stupid proofing")Screenshots, the security log, and people who leaveTraining coursesCondition charges — wool, woven, soil, petsWalls, countertops and bathroom fixturesPlan & BillingBooking accepted proposals in ZRWare (Zerorez)Export customers to a spreadsheetAutomatic follow-ups on proposalsOnline booking, deposits and cancellationsArrival windows and how long jobs takeBring your customers in from QuickBooksZones (your service area by zip code)Bring customers in from a spreadsheetCapacities, time off and blocked timeFranchise systems — stores, zips and system totalsPayments — use your own processorSplitting revenue — secondary techs, multi-route jobs, and revenue after costsWhat you do — setting up your servicesDepartmentsLate fees on overdue invoicesRefunds — card payments and QuickBooksReports and sharingSwitching companiesMonthly goalsPreflight Leadership — one-on-ones, scorecards and personal goalsKudos and Employee of the Month