Slack introduces a new Workflow Builder to help you better automate your tasks

 The new version of Workflow Builder is aimed at users with little or no programming experience and tries to combine different tools to automate workflows.

Slack introduces a new Workflow Builder to help you better automate your tasks

Professionals in the workforce who grapple with the complexities of managing an assortment of tools and technologies often face challenges in coordinating their tasks effectively. Addressing this common hurdle, Slack has introduced an upgraded iteration of its Workflow Builder, which leverages automation to seamlessly integrate various tools. Highlighted in a recent blog post, this revamped Workflow Builder is designed primarily for non-technical individuals seeking to craft and tailor workflows to their specific needs.

The primary aim of Workflow Builder is to mitigate the difficulties encountered by work teams when navigating through a multitude of disparate tools. According to a Forrester survey cited by Slack, the average worker employs up to 52 different tools each week to carry out their tasks. Apart from the time and effort wasted on switching between tools, teams often encounter challenges when employees use different tools for various purposes.

Integrated into the Workflow Builder is a comprehensive automation toolkit, empowering users to devise workflows that automate tasks across a spectrum of tools and systems. For instance, envision you're launching a new project at work, necessitating tool selection, team collaboration, task tracking, and an inaugural meeting. Workflow Builder allows you to create a dedicated project channel for your team, invite relevant members, initiate a project tracker in Asana, and schedule an initial Zoom call—all within a single workflow. This eliminates the need for constant tool-switching. Furthermore, once established, other team members can utilize this workflow, eliminating redundancy.

Another objective of the new Workflow Builder is to facilitate the learning of new processes. To this end, you can embed a link to a workflow explaining a new process and share it via Slack. This can be achieved in multiple ways, such as embedding the link within a canvas for comprehensive reading and visualization or adding it as a bookmark in a channel for easy discovery. Additionally, sending the link through a Slack message directs users to the new process seamlessly.

Furthermore, the enhanced Workflow Builder can accommodate functions for custom apps. Developers can build custom applications to automate manual processes through Slack's next-generation developer platform. These custom apps can then be integrated into Workflow Builder, allowing other employees to integrate their functions into their workflows. A single custom function can generate an array of automations, effectively reducing overall development costs.

The new Workflow Builder is currently available to organizations using Slack Pro or Business+. In the coming weeks, it will be accessible to users of Slack Enterprise Grid. Developers on any paid Slack plan can leverage the next-generation platform to create an unlimited number of workflows and custom apps. However, workflows incorporating custom functions or multiple connector steps may incur a usage-based fee if they exceed the monthly workflow run quota included in the plan.

Notably, Slack is offering its new Workflow Builder at no cost until October 31. This grace period allows companies and developers ample time to explore the new features, including custom functions and connectors. Existing workflows from the legacy Workflow Builder will remain free, with most seamless transitioning to the new version, as per Slack's assurance.