Business Chat
The Business Chat on the INBULK platform provides a built-in messaging system for direct communication between trading parties within a business deal. Chat enables real-time discussion of delivery details, financial matters, and document coordination β all without leaving the platform.
π¬ 1. Overview
What is Business Chat?
Business Chat is a messaging feature integrated into every active business deal on the platform. It allows buyers and sellers to communicate directly about:
- π¦ Delivery coordination and logistics
- π° Financial details, invoices, and payments
- π Document exchange and signing
- π Transport nominations and status updates
- π Discount proposals and negotiations
Where to Find Chat
- Navigate to Business Board from the main sidebar
- Open a specific business by clicking on it
- The Chat tab or section is available within the business detail page
- On mobile, access chat via the dedicated chat button in the business view
π‘ Tip: You can also navigate to the chat directly from a chat notification β simply click the notification to open the corresponding business chat.
π¨ 2. Message Types
User Messages
Regular text messages sent between business parties. Each message displays:
- Senderβs name and company avatar
- Message text
- Timestamp with timezone-aware formatting
- Visual distinction β your messages appear on the right, partnerβs on the left
System Messages
Automated messages generated by the platform when important business events occur. System messages keep both parties informed about:
Finance Events
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| π³ Invoice Created | A new invoice has been generated |
| π° Payment Made | A payment has been processed |
| β Payment Confirmed | A payment has been confirmed by the recipient |
| π Payment Document Uploaded | A payment document has been attached |
Logistics Events
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| π Transport Added | A vehicle has been assigned to the delivery |
| π Vehicle Nominated | A specific vehicle has been nominated for transport |
| π Delivery Point Added | A new delivery point has been added |
| π Delivery Point Changed | A delivery point has been modified |
| π€ Participant Added | A new participant joined the logistics process |
| π Status Changed | The delivery or voyage status has been updated |
Document Events
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| π Document Added | A new document has been attached to the business |
| βοΈ Document Signed | A document has been digitally signed |
Business Events
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| π’ Party Closed | One party has closed their side of the deal |
| β Business Completed | The business deal has been fully completed |
Discount Events
| Event | Description |
|---|---|
| π² Discount Proposal Created | A discount proposal has been submitted |
| β Discount Approved | A discount proposal has been accepted |
| β Discount Rejected | A discount proposal has been declined |
| π« Discount Cancelled | A discount proposal has been cancelled |
π‘ Tip: System messages provide a complete audit trail of all business actions. They help you track what happened and when, even if you werenβt online at the time.
βοΈ 3. Sending Messages
How to Send
- Open the business chat
- Type your message in the text input field at the bottom of the chat
- The input field auto-resizes as you type longer messages
- Press Enter or click the Send button to send your message
File Attachments
- Click the β+β button next to the input field to attach a file
- Supported file types include documents and images
- Attached files are shared securely within the business context
Message Input Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| π Auto-resize | Input field grows as you type (40px to 120px height) |
| π Attachments | Add files using the β+β button |
| β¨οΈ Keyboard support | Press Enter to send messages |
π 4. Chat History
Message Organization
- Messages are grouped by date with date separators between days
- The chat automatically scrolls to the latest messages when opened
- Historical messages are loaded with pagination (100 messages per page)
Viewing Older Messages
- Scroll up in the chat window to load earlier messages
- The system automatically fetches older messages as you scroll
- Date separators help you navigate to specific days
Company Identification
- Each message displays the senderβs company avatar or initials (as fallback)
- Your own messages are visually distinguished from the partnerβs messages
- System messages have a distinct styling to stand out from user messages
π 5. Real-Time Updates
Business Chat uses WebSocket technology for real-time message delivery:
- New messages appear instantly without refreshing the page
- Messages from your trading partner appear in real-time
- System messages are generated immediately when business events occur
- Chat notifications are sent when you receive messages while viewing other pages
β οΈ Important: If messages are not appearing in real-time, check your internet connection. The chat will sync messages automatically when the connection is restored.
π‘ Tips and Possible Errors
Tips
- β Use the chat to discuss delivery specifics β it keeps all communication in context with the business deal
- β System messages serve as an activity log β review them to track business progress
- β Respond to chat messages promptly β timely communication helps smooth business operations
- β Use file attachments to share relevant documents directly in the chat
- β Check chat notifications to stay up-to-date with partner communications
β οΈ Possible Errors
| Error | Cause | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Messages not sending | Network connectivity issue | Check internet connection and try again |
| Chat not loading | Invalid business ID or access denied | Verify you have access to this business deal |
| File upload failed | File too large or unsupported format | Check file size limits and supported formats |
| Messages out of order | Timezone synchronization issue | Refresh the page to resync messages |
| Partner messages not appearing | WebSocket connection lost | Refresh the page to restore real-time updates |
π― Summary
After reading this guide, you know how to:
β Access the Business Chat within any active business deal
β Understand the difference between user messages and system messages
β Send messages and attach files to communicate with trading partners
β Navigate chat history and find messages by date
β Receive real-time updates and notifications for new messages
Business Chat centralizes all deal-related communication on the INBULK platform, ensuring both parties stay informed and aligned throughout the entire trading and delivery process.