Workplace messaging giant Slack has rolled out Workflow Builder, a new workplace tool that allows businesses to create customized workflows that automate routine functions directly in the company’s software.
The new tool allows users to standardize how requests are collected, report outages in real time and get new team members up to speed, the company said in a blog post last week.
The product is designed for businesses that require constant collaboration and coordination between teams, employees and superiors.
“Coordinating projects with others requires getting the right information to the right people in real time,” Slack said. “Yet steps like making requests, asking for updates and providing context to teammates hare hardly instantaneous – and often half progress altogether.”
Onboarding
The new program makes for a better onboarding process and can lend a hand to overworked managers and human resource departments by automating onboarding messages important project documents.
When employees join a channel, they can automatically be sent resources they need to catch up without having to waste valuable time asking questions. That same employee can fill out a personal bio that allows current team members to learn about their new coworker.
Information gathering
Like most offices, you’ll either ask a question or have to answer a question from a coworker. With Workflow Builder, employees can let a manager know when supplies are running low or if they plan to visit a satellite office. The tool can automate those requests and make sure they reach the right people within the program.
The company’s blog offered the example of a #travel-requests channel where staff could request help with upcoming business trips. Employees would open the channel, launch the form from the menue and fill out basics like when and where the trip is. Those results could be sent into any regular channel, a direct message or shared channel.
From there, an agent would book flights and a hotel and mark the request when it’s complete.
Real-time incident reporting
If the copier is doing that thing again or if the website is down, Workflow Builder offers custom forms with standardized inputs for time-sensitive tasks
Custom forms with standardized inputs are especially valuable for time-sensitive tasks, such as letting anyone in the company launch an incident report whenever they notice a service is down.
Read Next: Technology Strategies for Bridging the Workplace Generation Gap
Instantly posted in several channels where staff can work on the problem, discuss possible fixes and relate that information to the rest of the company.
Growth and competition
The company’s new product comes after the company released data on its usage. The company saw more than 12 million people actively using Slack every day last month, a 37% year-over-year increase.
Earlier this year, Microsoft said its Teams app had more than 13 million daily users. Workflow Builder appears to be the company’s response to Microsoft Flows, the tech giant’s workflow solution that was released in 2016.
Leave a Reply