Slack Video & Voice Tools: Adapting to the Future of Work

Slack Unveils New Communication Features

Towards the close of the previous year, Slack indicated the development of a suite of new communication tools designed to augment its text-based channels. Today, the company has launched Slack Huddles, a novel audio feature, and provided further details regarding other forthcoming tools. These include the capability to record and share video messages, and a refined employee directory accessible directly within the Slack interface.

Introducing Slack Huddles: Real-Time Audio Conversations

Slack Huddles facilitates real-time audio conversations with colleagues within Slack, offering an alternative to typing out lengthy messages. This functionality is intended to benefit users who may find typing cumbersome. Furthermore, the company posits that it will foster more spontaneous dialogue, mirroring the dynamic of an office environment to a certain extent.

“Huddles represents a streamlined, audio-centric method of communication directly within Slack,” explained Tamar Yehoshua, Slack’s chief product officer, during a press conference. “It aims to replicate the unplanned and fortuitous interactions that occur outside of formally scheduled meetings.”

Adapting to Flexible Work Models

As organizations increasingly embrace more adaptable work arrangements, adjustments to established workflows become necessary. Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield suggests that Huddles is one approach to addressing this evolving landscape.

“Certain discussions can be conducted synchronously, yet require only a few minutes. Rather than scheduling a meeting for next Tuesday between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM and occupying the entire half-hour as planned, the conversation can occur in just two or three minutes, immediately,” Butterfield stated. “If the discussion within a Huddle subsides, it can remain open, allowing others to join later and contribute, a scenario less common in traditional phone calls.”

Real-time transcription is integrated into the new tool to ensure accessibility for all participants.

Video Messaging: Asynchronous Communication

Slack has also been developing a video messaging feature, initially discussed last year. This functionality resembles a video voicemail or an Instagram Story, allowing users to record brief videos and share them within Slack. “Our belief is that providing a means for expressive and asynchronous information sharing will empower individuals to work more flexibly and reduce reliance on video conferencing,” Yehoshua commented.

The new feature will allow users to play back video, voice, and screen recordings directly within Slack. Users can record and upload short clips to channels or direct messages, “enabling others to view and respond at their convenience,” Yehoshua elaborated. While not yet publicly available, the feature is currently undergoing pilot testing and is expected to be released to paying teams in the coming months.

Slack Atlas: An Enhanced Employee Directory

The final component stems from the acquisition of Rimeto last year, with the intention of improving Slack’s corporate directory capabilities. The Rimeto product has been rebranded as Slack Atlas, a corporate directory accessible directly within Slack, eliminating the need to switch to a separate application to locate employee information. This approach aims to maintain user engagement within the Slack ecosystem and minimize context switching. Currently, it is available to a limited number of Business+ and Enterprise Grid customers, with wider availability anticipated later this year.

From Experimental to Roadmap

Slack initially announced these tools last year, labeling them as experimental before integrating them into the product roadmap. Stewart Butterfield discussed these tools in greater detail during a March interview on Clubhouse with Josh Constine, a former TechCrunch reporter and current SignalFire investor, ostensibly focused on the future of work.

The Future of Work and Slack’s Role

This development is inextricably linked to the evolving nature of work and, consequently, Slack’s future as part of Salesforce, which acquired the communication platform for $27 billion last year. As work continues to transform, Slack aims to be a more comprehensive solution, adapting to whatever the future may hold.