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Overview

Chat is the real-time communication feature that keeps your team connected throughout the workday. With organized channels, threaded conversations, and instant notifications, you can collaborate effectively whether you’re on the lot or in the office.

Channels

Organized conversations by topic or team

Threaded Replies

Keep discussions focused with reply threads

Emoji Reactions

React to messages with a single tap

Push Notifications

Stay informed with @mentions and alerts

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Why Use In-App Chat?

In-app chat provides several advantages over external messaging apps:
  • Context-aware — Discussions happen where the work happens
  • Team visibility — Everyone on your team can see relevant conversations
  • Searchable history — Find past messages across all channels
  • Notification control — Customize alerts per channel to reduce noise
  • Deep linking — Tap a notification to jump directly to the message

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Understanding Channels

Channels are organized spaces for team conversations. Each channel focuses on a specific topic, location, or team.
Your organization’s channels are created and managed by administrators. You’ll automatically have access to channels relevant to your role and location.
Channel TypeDescriptionExample
GeneralOrganization-wide announcements#general, #announcements
Location-specificDiscussions for a specific lot#north-lot, #main-building
TeamDepartmental conversations#detail-team, #inspections
ProjectTemporary project discussions#sale-prep-dec, #training

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Getting Started with Chat

Access your team’s conversations in just a few taps.

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Accessing the Chat Tab

1

Open the Chat Tab

Tap the Chat tab in the bottom navigation bar. The chat icon displays a red badge when you have unread messages.
2

View Available Channels

The channel list shows all channels you have access to. Each channel displays:
  • Channel name — Prefixed with # (e.g., #general)
  • Last message preview — A snippet of the most recent message
  • Timestamp — When the last message was sent
  • Unread badge — Red badge showing unread count (if any)
Channels with unread messages appear with bold text and a red badge showing the number of unread messages.
3

Search Channels

Use the search bar at the top to quickly find a channel by name. Start typing to filter the list.
4

Open a Channel

Tap any channel to view its messages and participate in the conversation.

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Understanding the Unread Badge

The unread badge in the tab bar and on individual channels helps you stay on top of new messages:
Badge LocationWhat It Shows
Tab barTotal unread messages across all channels
Channel rowUnread messages in that specific channel
99+More than 99 unread messages
Messages are automatically marked as read when you open a channel and view them.

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Sending Messages

Communicate with your team through text messages and photos.

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Composing a Message

1

Open a Channel

Navigate to the channel where you want to send a message.
2

Type Your Message

Tap the message input at the bottom of the screen. The keyboard appears and you can start typing.Formatting tips:
  • Messages can be any length
  • Line breaks are preserved
  • @mentions notify specific users (type @ followed by their name)
3

Send Your Message

Tap the Send button (arrow icon) to post your message to the channel.The message appears immediately in the conversation, visible to all channel members.

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Sending Images

Share photos directly in your conversations:
1

Tap the Camera Icon

In the message input area, tap the camera icon to attach an image.
2

Choose Your Image

Select one of the following options:
  • Take Photo — Open the camera to capture a new image
  • Choose from Library — Select an existing photo from your device
3

Add Text (Optional)

You can include a text message along with your image, or send the image alone.
4

Send the Message

Tap Send. A progress indicator shows the upload status for your image.
Large images may take a moment to upload. The app shows upload progress as a percentage.

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Editing Sent Messages

Made a typo? You can edit your own messages:
1

Long-Press Your Message

Press and hold on the message you want to edit. A context menu appears.
2

Tap Edit

Select Edit from the menu. The edit modal opens with your message text.
3

Make Your Changes

Modify the message text as needed.
4

Save Changes

Tap Save to update the message. The message now shows “(edited)” next to the timestamp.
You can only edit your own messages. Edited messages display “(edited)” to indicate they’ve been modified.

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Deleting Messages

Remove messages you’ve sent:
1

Long-Press Your Message

Press and hold on the message you want to delete.
2

Tap Delete

Select Delete from the context menu.
3

Confirm Deletion

A confirmation dialog appears. Tap Delete to confirm.
Deleted messages cannot be recovered. The message will show “This message was deleted” in its place.

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Message Delivery

Messages sync in real-time with your team. Here’s how to understand message status:
StateWhat It Means
Message appearsSuccessfully sent and synced
Timestamp shownRelative time (e.g., “2m ago”, “1h ago”)
“(edited)“Message was modified after sending
”This message was deleted”Message was removed by the sender

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Threaded Replies

Keep conversations organized by replying to specific messages in threads.

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What Are Threads?

Threads allow you to reply to a specific message without cluttering the main channel conversation. This is especially useful for:
  • Following up on a specific topic
  • Answering questions directed at you
  • Continuing side discussions without interrupting the main flow

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Starting a Thread

1

Long-Press the Message

Press and hold on the message you want to reply to.
2

Tap Reply

Select Reply from the context menu. You’ll be taken to the thread view.
3

Type Your Reply

Compose your reply in the message input at the bottom.
4

Send Your Reply

Tap Send. Your reply appears in the thread below the original message.

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Viewing Thread Replies

Messages with replies show a reply indicator below them:
  • Reply count — Shows “1 reply” or “X replies”
  • Last reply time — When the most recent reply was posted
  • Tap to view — Opens the full thread
Tap the reply indicator (e.g., “3 replies”) on any message to view the full thread and all replies.
In the thread view:
  • The original message appears at the top for context
  • A divider shows the reply count (e.g., “5 replies”)
  • All replies appear below in chronological order
  • Use the back button to return to the main channel
Threads are one level deep — you can’t create nested threads within threads. Reply to the thread to continue the conversation.

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Emoji Reactions

Express yourself quickly by reacting to messages with emoji.

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Adding a Reaction

1

Long-Press the Message

Press and hold on any message to open the context menu.
2

Tap Add Reaction

Select Add Reaction to open the emoji picker.
3

Select an Emoji

Tap any emoji to add it as a reaction. The picker closes and your reaction appears below the message.

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Understanding the Reaction Bar

When messages have reactions, a reaction bar appears below them:
ElementDescription
Emoji chipShows the emoji and reaction count
Blue borderIndicates you’ve added this reaction
+ buttonAdd another reaction to the message

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Viewing Who Reacted

Want to see who reacted with a specific emoji?
  1. Long-press on the reaction chip (emoji with count)
  2. A tooltip appears showing the names of users who reacted
  3. Your name appears as “You” if you’ve reacted with that emoji
  4. Tap outside the tooltip to close it

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Toggling Your Reaction

  • Tap a reaction chip — If you haven’t reacted, adds your reaction
  • Tap a reaction chip you’ve added — Removes your reaction
Reactions with a blue border indicate you’ve reacted. Tap again to remove your reaction.

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Search and Discovery

Find messages across all your channels with powerful search.

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Searching Messages

1

Open Message Search

From the channel list, tap the search icon in the navigation bar to open the message search screen.
2

Enter Your Search Query

Type at least 2 characters to begin searching. Results appear as you type.Search tips:
  • Search is case-insensitive
  • Searches across message content in all your channels
  • Results update with a brief delay as you type
3

Browse Results

Results are grouped by channel (e.g., “Results in #general”). Each result shows:
  • Message content with matching text
  • Author name and timestamp
  • Channel name for context
4

Navigate to a Message

Tap any search result to navigate directly to that channel.

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Search Tips

Use Specific Terms

Specific words yield better results than common phrases

Try Variations

If you don’t find what you need, try different keywords

Check Spelling

Typos in your search won’t match message content

Recent First

Results are grouped by channel for easy navigation

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Notification Settings

Control how and when you receive notifications for each channel.

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Accessing Channel Settings

1

Open a Channel

Navigate to the channel you want to configure.
2

Open Settings

Tap the settings icon (gear) in the top navigation bar.

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Notification Preferences

Choose how you want to be notified for each channel:
Receive notifications for every message in this channel.Best for: Important channels you need to monitor closely, small teams, or time-sensitive discussions.
Only receive notifications when someone @mentions you by name.Best for: Busy channels where you only need to respond when specifically addressed.
No notifications from this channel. Messages still appear when you open the channel.Best for: Low-priority channels, announcements you’ll check periodically, or channels you’re only reading.

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Changing Notification Settings

  1. Navigate to the channel’s Settings screen
  2. Under NOTIFICATIONS, tap your preferred option
  3. The setting saves automatically
Your notification preference is channel-specific. Each channel can have its own setting.

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Leaving a Channel

If you no longer need to be in a channel, you can leave:
1

Open Channel Settings

Navigate to the channel and tap the settings icon.
2

Tap Leave Channel

Under MEMBERSHIP, tap the red Leave Channel button.
You will need to be re-invited to rejoin a channel after leaving.
3

Confirm

Tap Leave in the confirmation dialog. You’ll be returned to the channel list.
Default channels (like #general) cannot be left. These channels are required for all team members and won’t show a “Leave Channel” option.

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Push Notifications

Stay informed even when the app is closed.

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How Push Notifications Work

When you receive a relevant message, a push notification appears on your device:
  • Notification banner — Shows briefly at the top of your screen
  • Lock screen — Appears on your lock screen for later viewing
  • Notification center — Stored until you clear it

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Notification Types

When “All messages” is enabled for a channel, you receive notifications for every new message.Notification shows:
  • Channel name
  • Sender name
  • Message preview
When someone @mentions your name in a message, you receive a notification regardless of your channel settings (unless muted).Example: “@john Can you check on the vehicles in Lot C?”
When someone replies to a thread you’ve participated in, you may receive a notification.

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Deep Linking from Notifications

Tap a push notification to:
  1. Open the app directly to the relevant channel
  2. Scroll to the message that triggered the notification
  3. Highlight the message briefly so you can see it easily
The highlighted message appears with a blue left border and background for about 3 seconds, making it easy to spot.

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Managing Push Notification Settings

App-level notifications:
  1. Open your device’s Settings
  2. Find Auction Excellence
  3. Tap Notifications
  4. Enable or disable notifications as needed
Per-channel notifications: Use the in-app notification preferences (see Notification Settings above).

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Best Practices

Follow these guidelines for effective team communication.

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Message Etiquette

Be Clear and Concise

Keep messages focused and easy to understand

Use Threads

Reply in threads to keep the main channel organized

Use @Mentions Wisely

Only mention people when you need their specific attention

React Instead of Replying

Use reactions for simple acknowledgments instead of “OK” messages

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Channel Communication

Each channel has a purpose. Keep discussions relevant to that topic. Start a new conversation in the appropriate channel if needed.
If a conversation branches off from the main topic, continue it in a thread rather than cluttering the main channel.
Use search to see if a topic has been discussed before. This prevents duplicate conversations.
Consider that your message may notify many people. Use @mentions deliberately.

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Handling Urgent Messages

For time-sensitive communications:
  1. Use @mentions to ensure the right people are notified immediately
  2. Be explicit about urgency in your message (e.g., “URGENT: Need response by 3pm”)
  3. Follow up if you don’t get a response through other means (phone call, in-person)
  4. Choose the right channel — use general channels for wide announcements

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Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to resolve them.

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Message Issues

Symptoms: Message stays in input, send button doesn’t work, or you see an error.Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular)
  2. Try switching from Wi-Fi to cellular or vice versa
  3. Force close the app and reopen it
  4. Wait a moment and try sending again
  5. Check if the app needs updating
Message content is preserved if sending fails — you won’t lose what you typed.
Symptoms: Long-press doesn’t show Edit/Delete options.Solutions:
  1. You can only edit or delete your own messages
  2. Ensure you’re pressing on the message bubble, not elsewhere
  3. Try long-pressing for a slightly longer duration
  4. Force close and reopen the app if the context menu doesn’t appear
Symptoms: Upload progress stuck, error message about image.Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection (image uploads require good connectivity)
  2. Try a smaller image or take a new photo
  3. Ensure camera/photo library permissions are granted
  4. Wait for the current upload to complete or fail before trying again
  5. Check available device storage
Symptoms: Others report new messages but you don’t see them.Solutions:
  1. Pull down on the message list to refresh
  2. Check your internet connection
  3. Close and reopen the channel
  4. Force close and reopen the app
  5. Check if you’re in the correct channel

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Notification Issues

Symptoms: Messages arrive but you don’t get push notifications.Solutions:
  1. Check device notification settings: Settings > Auction Excellence > Notifications (enable)
  2. Verify in-app notification preference isn’t set to “None” for the channel
  3. Check that Do Not Disturb is disabled on your device
  4. Ensure the app has background app refresh enabled
  5. Try signing out and signing back in
  6. Check for app updates
Symptoms: Notifications for messages you don’t need to see.Solutions:
  1. Open the channel’s Settings and change to “Mentions only” or “None”
  2. Leave channels you no longer need (if they’re not default channels)
  3. Mute specific channels during busy times
Symptoms: Tapping notification opens app but not the specific message.Solutions:
  1. Ensure the app is updated to the latest version
  2. Try closing the app completely before tapping the notification
  3. Navigate manually to the channel to find the message

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Real-Time Updates

Symptoms: New messages from others take a while to appear.Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection stability
  2. Pull down to manually refresh the message list
  3. Switch between channels to trigger a refresh
  4. Close and reopen the app
  5. Check if you’re in a low-signal area
Symptoms: You don’t see when others are typing.Solutions:
  1. Typing indicators require a stable internet connection
  2. The indicator only appears when someone is actively typing
  3. Brief typing may not trigger the indicator
  4. Check your internet connection
Symptoms: Reactions you add don’t appear, or others’ reactions are missing.Solutions:
  1. Pull down to refresh the message list
  2. Check your internet connection
  3. Close and reopen the channel
  4. Try the action again

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Search Issues

Symptoms: Known messages don’t appear in search results.Solutions:
  1. Ensure your search query is at least 2 characters
  2. Try different keywords from the message
  3. Check spelling of search terms
  4. Very recent messages may take a moment to become searchable
  5. Search only covers channels you have access to
Symptoms: Search results take a long time to appear.Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Wait for the typing debounce (results appear after you stop typing)
  3. Try a more specific search term

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Still Need Help?

General Troubleshooting

More solutions for common app issues

Contact Support

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For Administrators

Manage channels and chat settings