Introduction
In BCS Connect, you share messages in a channel or in a group. Both are useful, but they work differently. In this article, you'll learn what the difference is and when to use each one.
How do channels and groups work?
- Channels are message streams for the entire platform, such as News or Successes. You can find them in the left-hand sidebar under Channels. A platform administrator creates them and determines who can post in them.
- Groups are dedicated spaces for a team, department, project or club. A group has members and often also includes a chat, documents, pages and a calendar. You can find them through Groups in the navigation bar.
The differences at a glance
| Channel | Group | |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates it? | A platform administrator, in the admin panel. | Users themselves, if your organisation allows this. Otherwise, an administrator. |
| Who can see it? | Usually everyone on the platform. An administrator can restrict it to a specific role. | Depends on the type of group: open, private or hidden. |
| Who can post? | Only the roles or people selected by the administrator. | The group members. |
| What does it contain? | Messages only. | Messages, and often also a chat, documents, pages, calendar and apps. |
| Who manages it? | The platform administrator. | The group administrator(s). |
When should you use each one?
Choose a channel
If something is important to (almost) everyone in the organisation. For example, a message from management, general news or a success story that you want to share with everyone.
Choose a group
If you work or share information with a fixed group of colleagues. For example, a project team that wants to share documents and chat with each other, or a department with its own news.
Tip:
Not sure? Ask yourself whether the message is for everyone (channel) or mainly for a specific group of people (group).
Not sure? Ask yourself whether the message is for everyone (channel) or mainly for a specific group of people (group).
Troubleshooting
I can't post in a channel
- An administrator determines who can post in a channel. Ask an administrator of your platform whether you can be given permission.
I can't create a group
- In some organisations, only administrators can create groups. Ask an administrator to create the group for you.
Read also
Still not working? Contact support at support.plek@bcs-hr.com.