![]() Additionally, organizing communication around tasks or events rather than larger channels could help focus conversation and drive projects forward. Operational teams would benefit from more actionable alerts that are truly relevant to the recipient and contribute to completing tasks rather than adding to the noise. Workflows could be a step toward this functionality, but the underlying channel system is still at the core of the Slack platform. ![]() As noted in Gartner’s 2019 report on workstream collaboration, channel “noise” would benefit from better management and customization options, including nested channels and specific channel types or templates. Constant pings from dozens of channels end up splitting user attention, and alerts might even be missed or end up buried. While teams would ideally focus on a few key channels, the reality is that individual employees tend to split off for one-on-one conversations. The sheer number of channels also makes communication complicated. The platform does not offer permanent options to flexibly change the visual interface to make the application more streamlined. Shortcuts and additional features do exist, such as “slash commands,” but these are less than intuitive. The interface is similar to that of many other instant messaging and productivity apps, making it user-friendly - but this same feature also makes it harder to customize. While Slack does feature a mobile application for remote access, it was not designed as a mobile-first platform and cannot truly support operational on-the-go demands. Ultimately, the Slack interface is limited. These teams must consider the following: Interface Most teams that works in the field need to ensure that their current real-world situation is reflected in their workflow tools, even as conditions change. This is especially true for teams that have specific operational needs that can vary based on factors such as unforeseen customer demands, changes in weather, or product failures. That being said, even with Workflow Builder, Slack still doesn’t suit the needs of every team. After all, implementing an embedded form is a much better solution than ad-hoc messaging with the help desk. For companies that already use Slack, it will be a useful feature to minimize the inefficient conversations that arise around scenarios like help desk ticketing. It has made some strides toward real workstream collaboration by including features like mobile access, push alerts, and third-party integration.Īnd of course this new feature, Workflow Builder, will likely help more users automate certain aspects of their workflow. It allows for easy communication thanks to an informal messaging format that aims to replace back-and-forth emailing. ![]() It’s important to acknowledge that Slack gained an enormous amount of popularity for a reason. This feature comes with fairly customizable pre-built workflow templates for common routine tasks, including: ![]() Creating a workflow can also add transparency into how processes happen and who is responsible for what pieces of the puzzle. Workflow Builder is meant to help employees streamline simple workflows through a visual process. The Slack platform product head, Andy Plaum, has stated that Workflow Builder is about enabling “people without development skills and experience build basic workflows and applications inside of Slack.” But the Workflow Builder tool is a new low-code solution that’s more approachable for non-technical users. More experienced users have been able to create their own custom apps through Slack for a while - the platform introduced automated bots in 2015. For operational teams that rely on real-time developments to guide their workflows, Slack still falls short. However, while Workflow Builder can allow users to create custom workflows within the Slack application, it does not fundamentally change what Slack was built to do. For some offices, it’s a function worth investigating. Workflow Builder is meant to bring Slack further into the workstream collaboration market. One of their biggest changes in 2019 was the release of the Workflow Builder feature. To expand upon their instant messaging offering over the years, Slack has continued to add integrations and plugins to explore new possibilities with the tool. Since its launch, the platform has grown to some 10 million daily active users. You’ve likely heard about Slack, the cloud-based instant messaging platform that launched in August 2013. Slack’s new Workflow Builder feature offers simple automation, but it’s missing some key features for operational workstream collaboration.
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