What are Box Hubs?
Box Hubs are intelligent content portals that allow you to curate, organize, and share Box content in a centralized experience. A Hub brings together files, folders, links, and supporting context into a single destination, making it easier for teams to find information, understand it, and take action.
Hubs are designed to go beyond traditional folders. By combining content with structure, context, and (when available) Box AI, Hubs help transform information stored in Box into clear, usable knowledge.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Box Hubs
Box Hubs help reduce the time spent searching for content and provide a more guided experience for viewers. Instead of navigating multiple folders or tools, users can access curated content in one place with clear organization and explanations.
Using Box Hubs allows you to:
- Centralize important content into a single, easy-to-access location
- Provide context alongside files so users understand what they are viewing and why it matters
- Create a consistent experience for onboarding, enablement, and knowledge sharing
- Reuse the same Box content across multiple Hubs without duplicating files
Common Use Cases
Customers use Box Hubs in a variety of ways to support everyday work and collaboration. Common use cases include:
- Onboarding Hubs that centralize policies, training materials, and resources for new employees
- Project Hubs that organize plans, documentation, recordings, and deliverables
- Knowledge Hubs that capture best practices, FAQs, and institutional knowledge
- Content libraries for templates, brand assets, or reference materials
- Sales and marketing Hubs for playbooks, presentations, and customer-facing content
These examples can serve as a starting point—Hubs are flexible and can be adapted to many different workflows.
Creating a Box Hub
You can access Box Hubs directly from the Box web app. Watch a short walkthrough to see how to create and structure a Box Hub.
To get started:
- Navigate to Hubs from the Box left navigation
- Select New Hub to create a Hub
- Enter a name and optional description to define the purpose of the Hub
- Add files and folders from Box
- Use text, section headers, and other blocks to organize content and add context
Once created, your Hub can be shared with collaborators or distributed using a shared link, and it can be updated at any time as content evolves.
Best Practices for Beginners
Start with a clear purpose
Before adding content, define what the Hub is intended to support. A focused Hub is easier for users to navigate and maintain. Use the Hub description or an introductory text block to explain the goal of the Hub and who it is for.
Organize content with structure
Use section headers and pages to break content into logical groupings. Clear structure improves navigation and helps users quickly find what they need. For larger Hubs, consider using multiple pages to separate major topics.
Add context, not just files
Hubs are most effective when content is accompanied by explanation. Use text and callout blocks to explain why content matters, how it should be used, or what action users should take next.
Use visuals intentionally
Images and videos can improve comprehension and engagement. Consider adding:
- A header image to visually identify the Hub
- Screenshots or diagrams to explain processes
- Embedded videos for training or announcements
Keep content current
Review Hub content regularly to ensure it remains accurate and relevant. Remove outdated files and update text as processes or priorities change.
Be mindful of permissions
When you invite collaborators to a Hub, they receive viewer access to all content within it. Review file permissions and sharing settings before adding internal or external collaborators.
Beyond the Basics: Optimizing Box Hubs
As your use of Box Hubs expands, you may find that your Hubs support larger audiences, more content, or more complex workflows. The guidance below focuses on designing Hubs that remain clear, effective, and easy to maintain as they grow.
Plan for growth as your Hub expands
When a Hub is intended to serve multiple teams or long-term initiatives, it’s important to think beyond immediate needs. A structure that works for a small set of content may become difficult to navigate over time.
To support growth:
- Use pages and subpages to create a clear hierarchy for larger Hubs
- Keep top-level navigation focused on broad themes
- Split content across pages instead of relying on a single long page
Well-structured Hubs allow users to rely on navigation rather than scrolling or searching.
Use layout and context to guide engagement
Thoughtful layout helps users understand what matters most and where to focus their attention. Advanced Hubs use structure and context to guide behavior, not just present information.
Helpful techniques include:
- Placing key content and messages near the top of each page
- Using callout blocks to highlight important instructions or decisions
- Adding short descriptions above file groups to explain how the content should be used
When context is clear, users can quickly understand what to do without additional guidance.
Balance collaboration with governance
As more users rely on a Hub, clear ownership and access management become increasingly important. Effective governance helps maintain trust in the content without slowing collaboration.
Consider the following practices:
- Assign a small group of editors or co-owners responsible for maintaining the Hub
- Provide viewer access to most users
- Review collaborators and access settings periodically, especially for externally shared Hubs
Clear ownership helps ensure Hubs remain reliable and secure.
Integrate Hubs into everyday workflows
For broader adoption, Hubs can be integrated into the tools and workflows teams already use. This helps ensure curated division- or project-level content is easy to find and reference.
Options include:
- Embedding Hubs into internal portals or intranet sites
- Using Box AI in Hubs, when available, to help users quickly find answers
- Leveraging the Box Hubs API to automate Hub creation or updates at scale
When integrated thoughtfully, Hubs become a natural extension of daily work.