Slack adds new automation features, includes conditional logic for workflows

To remain competitive among the increasing number of workplace chat apps, Slack announced the launch of new automation features designed to make workflows more shareable and discoverable.

An expansion of the Workflow Builder tool Slack included in 2019, the new capabilities allow users to send workflows to other Slack users and leverage “if-then” statements to create more sophisticated flows.

Slack’s increased investment in automation comes as no-code development tools, which let users build pipelines and apps without learning to program, grow in popularity. According to a 451 Research and FileMaker survey, nearly 60% of all custom apps—including automation—are now made outside the IT department. Of those, 30% are built by employees with either limited or no technical development skills.

Slack users, in the coming months, will be able to send workflows as links in channels and direct messages by copying and pasting the corresponding links and sharing them across Slack. Each workflow link will expand with a rich preview, enabling users to run the workflow with a click.

Additionally, early in 2023, Slack’s Workflow Builder will gain support for conditional logic or “if-then” statements that send users down different paths based on how they respond to a workflow.