Slack: Project management now directly in chat
Instead of having to constantly switch between programs, Slack users will in future simply create a project management from their conversations.
(Image: Slack / Salesforce)
Slack calls its new tool for project management "lists" – the function is integrated directly into the chat and can be used with other Slack tools. Basically, conversations can be converted into suitable elements, for example simple lists or extensive Kanban boards. These can then be expanded with additional fields, for example to define the deadline, priority or status of a task. Users can add further messages as attachments to an existing list. Slack is designed for use in all departments, from sales and marketing to IT support and software development.
With the Workflow Builder, which the developers updated in September 2023, users can automate workflows in lists. The tool is a no-code tool that can also use data from third-party providers and interact with other applications. Lists can also be inserted as elements in Canvas, a central wiki for internal company information. According to the announcement, this is suitable for presentations on the progress of the project. In the future, an AI assistant will also be able to summarize the content of a list, but this function is missing at the start of the lists.
The lists will be published immediately and users will receive them gradually over the coming weeks. However, a commercial license is required. Anyone using the free account will not have access to the feature. In the announcement, Slack advertises the fact that users no longer have to switch between applications as a key advance - chat and project management tools were previously usually separate. Now everything is to take place on one platform and thus counteract the formation of silos. However, the same promise was already made when the Workflow Builder was introduced.
(fo)
