Today, Salesforce announced new Slack product innovations that bring powerful AI, automation, and knowledge sharing into its intelligent productivity platform:
- New automation capabilities that empower everyone to automate. An improved Workflow Builder enables users to connect tools in a few clicks and a hub for easier access. Developers can easily build and deploy custom apps, hosting them in Slack.
- Slack AI is built natively into Slack on its trusted foundation, grounded in a company’s collective knowledge found in Slack, and easy to access in the flow of work.
- Slack lists is a brand new capability to track work, triage requests, and manage cross-functional projects in the flow of communication.
According to Salesforce’s upcoming Generative AI Snapshot Research, those that report using generative AI are eager to step up their game on how they use it:
● Nearly 6 in 10 of generative AI users believe they are on their way to mastering the technology with these people most interested in using it to automate tasks at work (75%) and distilling complex ideas or summarizing information (74%).
● And, 49% of people report they would use generative AI more if it was integrated into technology they already use.
Workflow builder automation hub
Slack automation: Users can save time by automating work with Workflow Builder.
Without the use of code, Slack users can now leverage on the new and improved Workflow Builder. By integrating connectors from partners like Google, Atlassian, and Asana, users can plug-and-play multiple tools in a single workflow using a few clicks. Workflow Builder also extends to Salesforce Flow, offering an IT approved way for users to customize their Slack workflows with admin-approved Salesforce automations.
Another nifty new feature includes building and deploying custom apps, hosted in Slack. The next generation platform makes it easier for developers to build custom Slack apps that integrate internal systems or enable more advanced custom business logic. Developers can extend business logic from their custom apps to Workflow Builder, where users can discover and use them in their own automations.
With a single dedicated hub, customers can quickly access recently used workflows, get started quickly with templates, and explore workflows being used across their organization. They can repurpose automations used by other teams too, easily making a copy of the workflow and
customizing the rest in Workflow Builder.
Introducing New Ways Of Working to Power Team Productivity with AI
Slack AI capabilities: Anyone can work smarter and save time with AI built right into Slack’s conversational interface.
- Channel recaps instantly deliver highlights on any channel, so users can cut straight to what’s most important.
- Thread summaries enable users to get up to speed on any thread in just one click.
- Search answers help customers get the most out of their conversational data and all the context it holds from expertise and experiences across the organization. Users
can simply ask a question and search will not only return results with relevant messages, files, and channels, but share an AI-generated summary too.
Slack lists: Customers can track, manage, and triage work while in the flow of communication.
- Track projects such as developing new products or marketing campaigns. Users can assign owners, update status, and discuss the task details all in one place.
- Manage launches with ease by tracking dependencies and monitoring progress all in
Slack quick and easy. - Review approvals and requests with the help of Workflow Builder. As requests come in, users can assign them, discuss with the requestor, and close them out when they’re finished.
“At Slack, we’re taking a collaboration-first approach to delivering an intelligent productivity platform in the age of AI and automation,” said Noah Desai Weiss, Chief Product Officer, Slack. “We are focused on providing customers with a simpler, more delightful, and more efficient set of tools so every person can do the best work of their lives.”
Tune in to Dreamforce 2023 on Salesforce+ or in person September 12-14.
This article is adapted from Slack’s press release.