Slack is undoubtedly a bloodstream of multiple modern companies. One of the key strengths of the app is a rich library of integrations that transform a simple chat into a company-wide hub and time tracking is one of the most convenient integrations existing.
Slack has become an app of choice for many companies that were struggling with inefficient email-based communication. In fact, emails are one of the most time-consuming and inefficient ways to communicate. An average office-based professional spends up to 28% of his or her working day on reading and writing emails.
Slack enables real-time communication in the way seen in online chats, with no delay. The app enables the easy establishment of new channels, enabling teams to run multiple asynchronous streams and keep the communication history in threads.
The app is undoubtedly a business behemoth with 12 million active daily users. The software is used by 750,000 companies around the world with 156,000 of them being paying subscribers.
Ok, but does Slack have a time tracking at all? Unlike email-based communication, Slack benefits from multiple integrations, plugins, and third-party-developed features that can be added either for free or as a part of paid software suites. These add-ons can help employees and companies reach new levels of productivity and clarity.
When it comes to Slack timer apps there are at least four features to count in.
Slack is a real-time communication tool, so the user expects the recipient to reply as fast as possible. Assuming that one has an “available” status (not “busy” or “non-available”), every delay in the communication builds up frustration, especially if one tends to leave Slack without a notification.
Slack time tracking app can update one’s status in real-time so there can be information about an ongoing break, out-of-office, or another status that impacts the response time. When conjoined with a calendar app that updates the information about the ongoing meetings, time tracking can deliver an automated system that informs if one can expect the recipient to answer immediately or not.
A feature that can make the life of the HR department easier. When paired with the time-tracking app, Slack can build an automated attendance list, so one needs not to sign in with multiple tools or places.
Slack can be an interesting reporting tool that combines chat form and the ability to schedule alerts and information. Thus, the tool can be used to produce hour-based reports on the working time spent on a particular project by a particular employee.
This can be of great importance for multiple departments including accounting, team leaders, and HR specialists among others. Having a report scheduled in Slack is a great way not to omit the information.
Last but not least, emails are flooding users every day. When having a Slack timer bot with a reminder about clocking-in or clocking-out set in Slack, one is less likely to forget about tracking the time. Slack can be used to automate the reminders about breaks or lunch as well.
Simple naming features bring a glimpse of how handy the integration with Slack can be. But the feature is something different than a benefit it brings.
With every company being different, there are countless ways to use Slack and time tracking tools in daily work. When having them integrated, the company can see various synergies.
Modern companies use multiple tools of communication. There are emails, the workhorse of communication. But not only - but there is also a stream of documents processed by various departments. When not having a centralized tool like Slack employees tend to communicate in ad-hoc semi-official channels.
It is not uncommon for teams to establish their own, free version of Slack to communicate.
Having a Slack-centralized communication hub, the company delivers a one-stop-shop for an employee to do all chores. This reduces the frustration and the chance to forget about a particular action done in some external tool.
Having a centralized hub for the information stream brings a higher clarity to the institution’s work. A single place to check the status, clock in, clock out, and do multiple other work-related tasks reduces the hassle and lets the employee focus on tasks, not administration.
Having the ability to do nearly all administrative tasks from a single touchpoint reduces the stress. A modern employee can be seen as a specialist handling multiple tools and tasks at the same time - tracking time, checking in the to-do list, and updating statuses.
Amassing as many tools as possible in Slack brings huge relief.
The other side of the same coin of clarity - when running all the communication processes in Slack and integrating it with time tracking tools, the company gets more transparent and up-to-date information on the status of every employee. When using a more sophisticated tool like Calamari the status can be checked with just a glance - an icon of a hamburger indicates that one is on a lunch break.
An easy and handy reporting tool built-in to Slack is a further transparency booster. With the Slack integration the report can be generated ad-hoc when needed, even during a meeting or conversation, without leaving the most used communication tool.
Last but not least, companies tend to build a productivity ecosystem around Slack, integrating multiple tools and using them directly from the communication panel. In a situation like that, the timer on Slack is yet another app that is incorporated and used in a frictionless environment. An average user is signed in into Slack for nine hours a day - that means a lot of time and a lot of ways to interact with the company, for example, track time and assign tasks in Slack. . If not, integrating a time tracking app like Calamari can be the first step to build a less stress-inducing environment for employees. In the times of COVID, every way to reduce stress is good.
Time tracking and Slack go well in multiple ways, being a natural pair in a working environment. For companies willing to boost their transparency and productivity, this integration can be the first step toward a hassle-free world. For others that have already done so, it has become a key feature they cannot imagine Slack without.
If you wish to talk more about Slack timers or integrating Slack with Calamari features, feel free to contact us now!
Holidays are a time to take a break from teaching and modernize how the administration works to enter the following year with more efficient solutions. Moving with the times, schools and universities more often decide to implement modern software for employee time tracking and leave management. Chec
If you're a startup founder or small business owner, your primary focus will be on growing your product or service team first instead of HR, which can be costly. But is it possible to run a business without HR?
The problematic situation in the market and high inflation didn't stop our team from achieving goals. Calamari has been appreciated in Poland and around the world by our clients and experienced people from the business world.
Get monthly insights and make HR simple with us
