Live chat

What is live chat?

Live chat (or work chat) is an instant messaging feature that lets people exchange written messages quickly within a communication tool. In a business setting, it’s mainly used to coordinate teams in real time, supported by push notifications so important updates don’t get missed.

What is live chat used for in a business?

Live chat simplifies day-to-day coordination. In a jobsite management context, it helps teams share instructions, flag unexpected issues, or confirm priorities without multiplying phone calls.

In practice, it makes it easy to:

• confirm a change in the scheduling tool (replacement, arrival time, task order)
• adjust plans in real time when something unexpected happens
• report a delay due to travel time and reorganize the crew
• discuss projects and tasks without losing context

What are the advantages over calls and texts?

Compared to a phone call (hard to track) or a personal text message (not centralized), chat built into a work tool improves employee management because conversations stay in one place, are easier to find, and support operational follow-up.

The result: fewer back-and-forths, fewer things slipping through the cracks, and better productivity, especially when multiple teams are working in parallel.

Best practices for effective live chat

To keep chat useful (and prevent it from being misused), it helps to set a few simple rules:

• Define what counts as “urgent” and what can wait, using push notifications appropriately.
• Organize conversations by topic (by jobsite / team / project), aligned with jobsite management.
• Keep messages actionable: who does what, when, and where—so scheduling mistakes are reduced.
• If a thread drags on, switch to a call, then summarize the decision in chat to keep a record.
• Connect chat to the scheduling tool and real-time scheduling so critical info moves fast.

Frequently asked questions about live chat

Live chat vs. email: what’s the difference?

Email is best for formal or longer topics. Live chat is designed for short, operational messages, especially when action is needed in real time.

Can live chat replace meetings?

Not entirely, but it can greatly reduce “micro-meetings” and interruptions, improving productivity and making workforce coordination smoother.

How do you prevent live chat from becoming a distraction?

Start by clearly separating personal communication tools (Messenger, WhatsApp, SMS) from professional chat tools. Using a dedicated company communication tool helps centralize discussions and avoids distractions tied to private life. Organizing chat by project also improves focus, reduces lost information, and supports efficient team communication.