The Chat tab in a sourcing activity lets you ask the buyer questions, send them files and read their announcements, without leaving the oboloo supplier portal. This guide is for supplier contacts invited to a sourcing activity.
Before you start
Send a message to the buyer
Log in to the sourcing activity
Click the link in the invitation email, paste your Reference Code and click Login. The sourcing activity opens automatically. See Log In to the oboloo Supplier Portal.
Open the Chat tab
Click Chat, then Private Chat. Messages here are between your company and the buyer only; other suppliers can't see them.
Type your message
Type in the Type your message... box at the bottom.
Attach a file if you need to
Click the paperclip icon and choose a file. Keep attachments under 25MB. To remove it before sending, click the cross on the preview.
Click Send
Your message appears in the chat and the buyer is notified.
Read announcements
Open Announcements
On the Chat tab, click Announcements. These are messages the buyer has sent to every supplier in the activity, such as clarifications or deadline changes. You can't reply to them or see which other suppliers were invited; if you have a question about an announcement, ask it in Private Chat.
What happens next
Email alerts: if the buyer sends you a message and it's still unread after 10 minutes, you're emailed.
Files from the buyer: click a file name in the chat to download it.
Your colleagues: everyone at your company who's invited to the activity sees the same Private Chat, so you can follow each other's conversations with the buyer.
Troubleshooting
I can't see the Chat tab
The buyer doesn't use chat in oboloo. Contact them using the details in the invitation email.
I can't reply in Announcements
Announcements are one-way. Use Private Chat to reply to the buyer.
I can't log in
See the troubleshooting section of Log In to the oboloo Supplier Portal.
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If you need further assistance, please contact your internal platform administrator for support. Otherwise please reach out to oboloo's support team. If you are unable to view the above area in the oboloo platform, please check your user permissions and access rights.