Streak - Manage Projects in Gmail [Chrome Extension]
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Streak: Enhancing Gmail for Project Management
Streak is a robust project management add-on designed for the Chrome browser and seamlessly integrated with Gmail.
The platform provides pre-built templates suitable for a diverse range of project types, including areas like customer support and event planning.
Understanding Pipelines and Boxes
Within Streak, projects are conceptualized as pipelines. These pipelines are then structured using boxes.
Each box can be populated with pertinent details, such as both incoming and outgoing email correspondence, relevant comments, and assigned people responsible.
This allows for comprehensive tracking of progress at each stage of the project.
Collaboration and Teamwork
A key feature of Streak is its collaborative capability. Pipelines can be readily shared with team members.
This facilitates streamlined teamwork and joint effort on specific projects.
Streak effectively introduces an additional dimension to Gmail, simplifying and democratizing email-based project management.
The result is increased accessibility and ease of use for project oversight.
Streak Installation Process
Begin by installing Streak directly from the Chrome Web Store. Following the installation, access your Gmail account and authorize Streak's access by selecting the designated button, as illustrated in the image provided.
The application will then request permissions to access your email address, Google Calendar, Mail, Contacts, and Profile Information. Granting these permissions allows you to initiate the setup of your initial Streak project.
Upon successful authorization, a new header titled "Pipelines" will appear within your Gmail sidebar.
This new section serves as the central hub for managing your pipelines and tracking email interactions.
The Pipelines header provides immediate access to your project boards and allows for efficient email organization.
Setting Up Your First Project
With Streak integrated into your Gmail, you are now prepared to establish your first project. This involves defining the stages of your workflow and configuring the pipelines to reflect your specific needs.
Initiating a Project or Pipeline Utilizing Streak
This demonstration will focus on utilizing Streak for Trip Planning to illustrate its capabilities. Streak offers support for a diverse range of professional and personal project, or pipeline, configurations, including:
- Sales / Customer Relationship Management
- Recruitment
- Customer Email Support
- Deal Tracking
- Capital Raising
- Product Development
- Defect Management
- Journalistic Ventures
- Occasion Coordination
- Travel Arrangements
- Marriage Planning
- Loan Management
- Bespoke Pipeline Creation
All active projects are displayed under the 'Pipelines' section within your Gmail sidebar. Each project functions similarly to a dedicated inbox. A project is comprised of 'boxes' which progress through defined stages. These boxes function as individual components within your overall project or pipeline.
In the context of our trip planning example, each box could represent a distinct segment of the journey. The current project status is visually summarized in the top bar, with each section representing a specific stage.
These stages are fully customizable, allowing you to add or modify them as needed. For instance, a trip planning pipeline could include a stage for securing approval from all involved parties prior to making any bookings.
The number of boxes you add is unlimited, and ideally, each will move sequentially through all project stages. Each box can be assigned an owner, associated costs, a geographical location, and any other relevant details. The columns displayed are also customizable, enabling you to add additional fields as required.
Project Management Utilizing Streak
After establishing a preliminary project outline and initiating the initial phases, you’ll likely start receiving emails pertaining to the various components of your undertaking. It is at this point you should familiarize yourself with the new Boxes button, located at the top of each email you view.
This button allows you to incorporate emails into existing project boxes, or to generate new boxes as needed, streamlining your organizational process.
Returning to your project dashboard, you can access each box to review the associated emails and any other activity that has transpired. Within each box, you have the ability to add comments, establish reminders, or cease following updates if the box is no longer relevant to your involvement.
A comprehensive record of all recent modifications within the project is available through the updates tab. When viewing the project overview, locate the grey button situated in the upper right corner.
Clicking this button will toggle the updates tab open or closed. Utilize the small arrow to access a menu, enabling you to filter and select the specific updates you wish to view.
Working Together on Streak Projects
Streak excels at individual project organization. Its true strength, however, lies in the ability to facilitate collaboration by allowing you to share individual projects, known as pipelines, with colleagues.
To begin sharing, simply open the desired project and select the blue Share button located at the top. This will access the Sharing Settings panel.
Adjusting Project Visibility and Adding Collaborators
Within the Sharing Settings, you can modify the project’s privacy from private to shared. Then, you can add specific individuals to the project team.
If a recipient is an existing Streak user, the shared project will be automatically integrated into their existing Streak workspace.
For those not currently using Streak, an email notification will be sent. This email will detail the shared pipeline and prompt them to install Streak to gain access.
Utilizing Streak for Customer Support: A Practical Overview
Due to the multifaceted nature of Streak, conveying its functionality can be challenging through description alone. A visual demonstration provides a significantly clearer understanding of its capabilities.
The following link leads to a demonstration illustrating Streak's application within a Customer Support workflow.
http://youtu.be/Mx_4Kpoqypk
This example showcases how Streak can be effectively implemented to manage and optimize customer support processes.
Key Benefits Illustrated in the Demonstration
- Streamlined ticket management is presented.
- Efficient pipeline visualization is shown.
- Collaborative features are highlighted.
By observing the demonstration, users can quickly grasp the practical advantages of integrating Streak into their customer support operations.
Introducing Enhanced Functionality: Scheduled Sending and Snippets
Streak has been enhanced with two significant new capabilities designed to improve your workflow. Users are now able to schedule emails for delivery at a future date and time. Furthermore, the ability to create snippets has been implemented, allowing for the quick reuse of frequently sent message content.
Scheduling Emails for Later Delivery
This new feature allows for precise control over when your emails are sent. Instead of immediate dispatch, emails can be queued for delivery at an optimal time, enhancing productivity and ensuring timely communication.
Creating and Utilizing Snippets
The snippets functionality streamlines communication by enabling the creation of reusable templates. By saving commonly used message sections as snippets, you can significantly reduce typing time and maintain consistency in your email responses.
We encourage you to explore these new features within Streak and provide us with your feedback. Should you be familiar with other valuable Gmail or Chrome extensions, please feel free to share your recommendations!