# Operator notifications and alerts

Notice new messages, visitor activity and follow-up alerts through console popups, desktop notifications and floor bubbles.

*Release 3.3 · operator, supervisor*

**Settings › Floor › Floor Settings** · **Settings › Chat › General Settings**

## What it is

INSIDE uses popups, unread badges, desktop notifications and bubbles beside visitors to draw your attention to work. Notices can describe new messages, browsing activity, basket changes, sales, reminders or appointments. Different types of notice have different display rules.

## Who uses it and why

- Operators use alerts to notice new work and follow-up tasks while moving between conversations.
- Supervisors use floor activity and operational notices to spot work that needs attention.

## Where to find it

Look for popups in the console and activity bubbles beside visitors on the floor. Your display choices are under **Settings › Floor › Floor Settings**. Desktop alerts also depend on the browser's notification permission for INSIDE.

## How it works

An event can produce a console notice or a bubble near the visitor's avatar. Activity bubbles can describe searches, basket changes, purchases or abandonment. The bubble follows the visitor's position and is hidden when that visitor is hidden from the floor.

Actionable message alerts can open the related conversation. Reminders and appointments use their own notices. Incoming chat and call offers show dedicated acceptance controls; their behaviour is covered in the incoming-work article.

Desktop notifications are separate from the popups inside INSIDE. Grant the browser's notification request when prompted if you want supported desktop alerts. A blocked or unavailable desktop notification does not necessarily prevent a notice inside the console.

## Configure it

With **Chat**, open **Floor Settings** and change the **Local** notification options, then select **Save**. Use **Show User Notifications**, **Show User Update bubbles** and **Show Chat Preview Notifications** for their respective displays. **Show Desktop Notifications** controls supported desktop alerts, alongside browser permission.

Powerfront can change the website's **Default settings** for you. An administrator with **Settings** can change **Enable notification bubble for chats in queue** under **Settings › Chat › General Settings**.

Set audible alerts separately in **Setup Sounds**. Turning a visual option on does not turn on its sound automatically.

### Settings

| Setting | Where | Applies to | Default | Who can change it | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show User Notifications | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | operator | On | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Allows ordinary visitor notifications in your floor view. |
| Show Desktop Notifications | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | operator | On for visitor replies and Team Chat; inactivity alerts need a saved On preference | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Allows supported desktop alerts when browser permission and the relevant alert conditions permit them. |
| Show User Update bubbles | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | operator | On | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Allows visitor activity bubbles on the floor. |
| Show Chat Preview Notifications | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | operator | Unknown | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Controls chat preview notifications in the floor display. |
| Show Abandoned Carts | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | website | Unknown | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Controls abandoned-cart presentation on the floor. |
| Enable News Alerts | Settings › Floor › Floor Settings | operator | Unknown | Settings role, Manager role, Chat role, Top Stats role | Allows occasional news and statistics notices in supported floor views. |
| Enable notification bubble for chats in queue | Settings › Chat › General Settings | website | Off | Settings role | Enables the notification-bubble option for queued chats. |

### Permissions

| Permission | Lets you |
|---|---|
| Chat | Access personal Floor Settings and handle the chat work linked from notifications. |
| Settings | Configure the queued-chat notification-bubble option in Chat General Settings. |

## Limits and good to know

- Ordinary dynamic activity bubbles are limited to four at a time. Important notices can follow different rules.
- Floor visibility and available visitor activity affect which bubbles can appear.
- Notification switches do not all control the same alert types. Treat incoming offers, Team Chat and reminders as separate cases when troubleshooting.
- Activity bubbles are temporary cues, not a permanent notification inbox.
- Use conversation and reporting records when you need to verify the outcome of an event.

## Depends on and works with

### This feature uses

- **Configured in** [Visitor event alerts for operators](ENG-008.md): Visitor-event alert actions set the notice type, message and intended operators.
- **Configured in** [Operator notification sounds](CON-020.md): Setup Sounds controls the audible part of supported notifications.
- **Configured in** [Operator reminders](CHAT-013.md): Note reminder recipients and times determine the follow-up notifications you receive.
- **Works better with** [Live visitor and operator floor](CON-006.md): Floor bubbles are attached to visitors in the live floor view.
- **Works better with** [Visitor actions and events](VIS-010.md): Tracked activity supplies event text for visitor bubbles.
- **Works better with** [Basket tracking](COM-019.md): Basket updates can generate activity bubbles.
- **Works better with** [Purchase tracking and sales totals](COM-020.md): Completed purchases can generate sale notices.
- **Works better with** [Chat queue](CHAT-005.md): Queued chats have a separate website bubble option.
- **Works better with** [Team chat](CHAT-027.md): Direct Team Chat messages have their own unread and notification behaviour.
- **Related** [Incoming chats and calls](CON-019.md): Incoming offers use separate acceptance controls and countdowns from ordinary activity notices.

### Used by

- **Required by** [Legacy Twitter public mention notifications](CHN-033.md): Historical public mentions appear through INSIDE's notification feed.
- **Configures** [Team chat](CHAT-027.md): Floor Settings controls desktop alerts for direct Team Chat messages, subject to browser permission.
- **Enhances** [Automatic logout after inactivity](CON-004.md): Desktop notifications can draw attention to an inactivity warning.
- **Enhances** [Broadcast for acceptance](CHAT-009.md): Operator alerts notify recipients of incoming offers.
- **Enhances** [Operator reminders](CHAT-013.md): Operator notifications present the due reminder.
- **Enhances** [Visitor event alerts for operators](ENG-008.md): Console alerts display event notices alongside floor flashes and Bring to Floor actions.
- **Enhances** [Task notes and operator reminders](ENG-024.md): Operator alerts display the reminder when it is processed.
- **Related** [Operator notification sounds](CON-020.md): Configure visual notices and desktop notification permission separately from sounds.

## FAQ and troubleshooting

### Why do I see a popup inside INSIDE but no desktop alert?

Check **Show Desktop Notifications**, the browser's notification permission and your computer's notification settings. The alert type must also support desktop delivery.

### Why are there no activity bubbles beside a visitor?

Check **Show User Update bubbles** and whether the visitor is visible on your floor. There also needs to be relevant tracked activity.

### Why do some alerts still appear after I hide user notifications?

Incoming offers and other dedicated notices have separate handling. The ordinary user-notification switch is not a master switch for every alert.

### Can I open an old activity bubble later?

There is no permanent inbox for ordinary floor bubbles. Open the relevant conversation or visitor history to review retained activity.