File Requests (Marketing overview)

File requests are a fantastic tool and a differentiator for Dropbox. File requests give you the ability to request information from an internal or external party and have that information routed back to a specific part of Dropbox. This is for when someone needs to upload to your Dropbox but they don't necessarily need access to all your folders in Dropbox. All we need is an email address or the ability to send them a link.

These were originally designed for RFPs (requests for proposals). For instance, contractor A would be able to upload documents to a specific folder that you could see and then share with your team internally, but they would not be able to see anyone else's uploads to that folder unless it was uploaded by them, such as contractor B's pricing. That was the original intent, but over the years, I've helped people set this up for classrooms, teachers requesting homework to be uploaded. I've set it up for HR onboarding processes where a new hire needs to upload documents such as their driver's license.

So what does a file request look like? How do we make one? We simply go to file request and click "New File Request," and we can name this file request and add a quick description. Now, by default, this is going to create a new folder based on this title. But if I have an existing folder that I'd like to route it to, a team folder or a shared folder, I can do that. In this case, though, I'm just going to have it create its own folder. I can also set a deadline for this. So when is it due, time and date, and then allow late uploads up to two days. When I click "Create," it's going to generate a standing link that I can then copy and send directly to whomever I'm interacting with, or I can type in their email address here and have it sent via Dropbox with a message and an email.