2 min Applications

Slack unveils new tools to fight video meeting burnout

Slack unveils new tools to fight video meeting burnout

The company hopes to help businesses adopt what they call a “digital-first” approach to work.

Slack this week announced a suite of new tools designed to reduce the daily slog of 9-5 video meetings that have become so commonplace due COVID-19.

The new features include a range of new features, including a new “Huddles” tool for more ad hoc collaboration and a new form as well as a feature called “Slack Atlas”. This is a form of workplace director.

Seeking to define the “new normal” for worker collaboration

Slack detailed their new offerings in a blog post this week. “As our customers look to the new normal of work, each organization must decide for itself what mix of in-person, remote and hybrid work best suits its needs,” they wrote.

“However, what is clear in this work-from-anywhere world is that businesses will need to adopt a digital-first approach to work in order to maintain the flexibility, inclusivity and connection they need to be successful.”

Restoring “spontaneity” to the remote workplace

The first step is to “re-create the spontaneous and informal discussions you miss from the office,” they say. And this can be dome using Slack Huddles.

“In just one click, a huddle can be started in any channel or DM, including those you share with folks outside your company,” they explain. “Everyone in that channel is free to come in and out as they please, as if to “walk by” your desk.

Another new tool is Slack Atlas. This tool “enhances profiles with rich, dynamic information—including your company’s org structure, employee start dates and custom fields.” The app also integrates with popular solutions like Workday, meaning profile data automatically populates and is always up to date.

The Slack team end their blog post on an optimistic note. “With greater flexibility to send messages, new audio and video capabilities, and richer information about their colleagues at their fingertips, workers will have more tools than ever to stay aligned, engaged and productive, so they can do their best work—wherever that might be.”