Key takeaways
- A link works for remote invitations; a QR code works face to face, on site or in a training room.
- New people sign up with a phone or email code, with no password to create.
- Guests can be invited straight into one group instead of the whole team.
- Treat an invitation like a key: share it only with people who should join.
- Owners and admins can remove anyone who should not be there.
Rolling out a new messenger fails most often at the first step: getting everyone in. Asking forty people to download something, create an account and find the right group by name rarely works. A link or a QR code turns that into one tap or one scan.
What link and QR invitations does in C Chat
Link and QR invitations let you bring people into a C Chat team or group without collecting their numbers first. You create the invitation, and the person follows it:
| Method | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Invitation link | People you reach remotely | Sent in an email to a new hire or a contractor |
| QR code | People standing in front of you | Shown on a tablet during a shift briefing, or printed in a site office |
Both lead to the same result: the person signs up with a phone number or email, receives a one-time code, and joins. There is no password to set, which removes a common onboarding obstacle; see sign up with phone or email, no password.
If you prefer to send the invitation through a channel your people already use, see invite your team by WhatsApp, SMS or email.
How to use link and QR invitations step by step
- Prepare the destination first. Create the team and the groups people should land in.
- Open the invitation option for the team or the specific group.
- Choose link or QR. Copy the link to send it, or display the QR code on your screen.
- Ask people to sign up with their phone number or email and enter the code they receive.
- Check the member list once everyone is in, and remove anyone who should not be there.
For a full rollout plan, use how to onboard your team to C Chat and the pattern in onboarding new employees into team chat.
Real scenarios from business teams
- Cleaning company, new client building. The supervisor prints the QR code for the building group and tapes it inside the supply closet for the first week. New crew members scan it on arrival. See messaging for cleaning and janitorial teams.
- General contractor. The project manager emails a group link to each subcontractor’s foreman. Read coordinating contractors in one secure chat.
- Account manager. A client gets a link to a dedicated group where the service team posts updates. See client communication in a dedicated group.
- Supplier onboarding. A purchasing lead invites a vendor’s dispatcher to a delivery group. See vendor and supplier communication.
Privacy, permissions and limits
- Invitations open doors. Anyone you give a link or QR code to can use it to join. Do not post links in public chats, social media or open notice boards outside your premises.
- Guests stay in their group. Contractors, cleaning staff and clients join a group by invitation, not your entire team. More detail in guest access for contractors and clients.
- Team limits apply. On the free plan a team holds up to 50 members and 30 groups.
- Removal is your safety net. Owners and admins can remove members at any time.
Tips for admins
- Invite to the group, not just the team, so people land where the work is.
- Do invitations live during a briefing; you can solve problems on the spot.
- Keep a short welcome message pinned in each group for people who join later.
- Read inviting guests and contractors safely before inviting external people.
Getting started
Create your team at getcchat.com/c, set up your first group and display its QR code at your next team meeting. Most people will be chatting before the meeting ends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to add a whole crew to a group?
Show the group's QR code at the start of a shift briefing and ask everyone to scan it with their phone camera. Each person signs up with a code sent by SMS or email and joins the group in a minute or two.
Do people need to install an app to join by link?
No. The C Chat web app runs in the browser at getcchat.com/c, so a link or QR code works on any phone or computer today. Native iOS and Android apps are coming soon.
What if an invitation link is forwarded to the wrong person?
Check the member list of the group after you share a link, and remove anyone who should not be there. Share links in direct, private channels rather than posting them in public places.
Can I invite a client to one group without giving access to the rest?
Yes. Guests such as clients, contractors or cleaning staff can join a specific group by invitation, which keeps them out of your internal groups.