Top 10: Workplace Chat software

2023. TeamSense helps manufacturers keep in touch with deskless workers



TeamSense, an app-free platform designed specifically for hourly employees in the manufacturing sector which lets them manage attendance, talk to managers and access company resources through SMS, has raised $4. TeamSense’s features include Absence Management, an employee call-out system the company says has a 100% adoption rate. It lets employees call out of work more easily and helps manufacturing companies get accurate employee numbers. The platform also has communication tools, engagement and pulse surveys, an employee portal with access to internal resources and a “text to apply” feature for job applicants.


2019. ServiceNow teams with Workplace by Facebook on service chatbot



Workplace, Facebook's enterprise collaboration and communication application, has joined forces with ServiceNow to introduce a new chatbot within Workplace Chat, aimed at simplifying employee interactions with company help desks. This integration is applicable to both IT and HR help desk scenarios. By leveraging the capabilities of a chatbot, companies can effectively save time and resources, while employees can receive prompt solutions to common issues. Previously, obtaining such answers would have necessitated navigating multiple systems, making phone calls, or submitting tickets to the relevant help desks. This collaborative effort between Workplace and ServiceNow offers a convenient and immediate approach to addressing employee needs.

2018. Slack is buying, and shutting down HipChat and Stride



Slack has made the decision to acquire and subsequently discontinue Atlassian's workplace group chats, HipChat and Stride, both of which are direct competitors to Slack. As part of this acquisition, users of HipChat and Stride will be transitioned to Slack. HipChat initially entered the market in beta form back in 2009, predating Slack's debut in 2013. During the intervening years, HipChat held a significant presence in the industry, leading to Atlassian's acquisition in March 2012. However, Slack quickly gained popularity, surpassing HipChat for various reasons, such as a wider array of third-party integrations, a better reputation for uptime, and more effective marketing strategies. In September 2017, Atlassian revamped its chat platform and rebranded it as "Stride," but it was unable to match Slack's momentum. Ultimately, Slack's acquisition of HipChat and Stride signifies its continued dominance in the workplace communication landscape.


2018. Zoho Cliq gets screen sharing, reminders



The team collaboration application Zoho Cliq introduces an enhanced level of mobility with its new screen sharing feature. This functionality enables users to initiate screen sharing sessions, facilitating virtual meetings and real-time collaboration with colleagues. By selecting the "Share screen" option, users can effortlessly start a screen sharing session and leverage the integrated audio functionality to collaborate effectively. Additionally, Zoho Cliq allows users to share their screens while engaged in a video call, seamlessly switching between their video feed and the shared screen. Furthermore, the application's latest feature, Reminders, empowers users to set both personal and team reminders for upcoming events, projects, and tasks. The built-in personal assistant, Taz, ensures that users receive timely reminder notifications, preventing them from missing any important items on their schedules.


2017. Facebook Workplace gets standalone mobile apps



The business-oriented version of Facebook, known as Facebook Workplace, has made a significant update by introducing a separate app for desktop and mobile called Workplace Chat, dedicated solely to messaging functionalities. This move allows Workplace users to conveniently access various messaging features, such as screen and file sharing, private and group messages, and video calling, all within a single application. Speaking of video calling, Facebook has plans to incorporate group video calling into Workplace's array of messaging capabilities in the near future. It is worth noting that Facebook Workplace has witnessed considerable growth, with over 30,000 businesses and organizations currently utilizing the platform. This number has more than doubled compared to what Workplace reported six months ago, and prominent names like Starbucks, Spotify, Lyft, and Walmart are among its user base.


2017. Google splits Hangouts into Chat and Meet



Google is implementing significant changes to enhance the business-friendly aspects of Hangouts. The service will undergo a split into two distinct applications: Hangouts Meet, a videoconferencing app, and Hangouts Chat, a messaging app similar to Slack, tailored specifically for team collaboration. Meet represents a reimagined version of Hangouts' video calling capabilities, incorporating new features to cater to business requirements. Similar to the previous Hangouts, Meet supports video calls with up to 30 participants, accessible through desktop or mobile app platforms. While Meet is available to anyone with a Gmail account, Hangouts Chat exclusively caters to Google's enterprise users. Functioning as a robust competitor to Slack, this service enables teams within organizations to engage in seamless communication and offers a wide range of third-party integrations, including productivity apps and bots. Additionally, Google has introduced its own bot for the app, empowering users to schedule meetings effortlessly.


2016. Microsoft introduced Teams - the main Slack competitor


At the start of the year, Microsoft initially expressed interest in acquiring the highly popular group chat software Slack. However, the company eventually decided to develop its own similar service from scratch. Thus, Microsoft Teams was born, bearing striking resemblance to Slack. With Microsoft Teams, users can create dedicated rooms for projects or departments, engage in communication from desktop or mobile devices, and seamlessly share files and other content. Similar to Slack, it incorporates bots for notifications and automated responses. Microsoft highlights the key advantages of Teams as its strong security measures and seamless integration with other Microsoft applications such as Skype, Word, SharePoint, Planner, and OneNote. Teams will be available for free within business subscription plans of Office 365, as Microsoft aims to encourage adoption among companies that have yet to embrace Office 365. Currently in preview mode, Teams is expected to be widely accessible in early 2017.