Hello, Slack enthusiasts! April 2023 brings us a plethora of new capabilities, changes, and upcoming deprecations to help you and your members stay up-to-date with the ever-evolving Slack platform. Let's dive into these exciting updates!

What's New

Forward Messages from Direct Messages and Private Channels

Sharing information just got easier! Members can now forward individual messages from direct messages and private channel conversations to other conversations. Users will be asked to confirm their intention before forwarding messages. Learn more

Manage Reminders and Saved Items in the New Later View

No more cluttered Slackbot messages! When members set a reminder, it will appear on the new Later page, an updated version of the Saved Items page. From the Later page, users can manage, update deadlines, and view completed or archived saved items. Learn more

Manage Your Slack Client Fleet Configuration with Version 4.31

Organizations can now manage Slack desktop client settings during rollout and ongoing operations using industry-standard tooling: Group Policy on Windows, user preference profiles on Mac, and configuration files on Linux. Learn more

New Options When Joining Huddles

Members can join a huddle from their desktop and mobile devices simultaneously, making on-the-go conversations a breeze. A new, longer notification sound and huddles window will appear when Slack is in the background. Users can choose to join, decline, or select “be right there.” Learn more

Access Member and Channel Analytics Data with the Analytics API (Business+)

Admins on Business+ and Enterprise Grid plans can use the analytics API to pull metrics and metadata for members and public channels, providing valuable insights into adoption and collaboration. Learn more

Maximum Guest Expiration Policy (Enterprise Grid)

Enterprise Grid admins can set a maximum time limit for new guest accounts, with notifications sent five days and two days before account expiration. Admins can also choose to extend the guest account.

Coming Soon

Slack Canvas

A new surface for capturing, curating, and sharing essential information, Slack Canvas allows real-time collaboration, commenting, and co-editing. Slack posts will no longer be created but will be editable until converted to canvases.

Open Channels, Threads, Canvases, and More in a New Window

Multitasking becomes more efficient as members can pop out canvases, channels, threads, direct messages, mentions and reactions views, and help into standalone windows. This will replace the split view and some right-side pane views.

New Domain Requirements

Organizations may need to update their network allow list to include “slack-infra-canvas.slack.com” and “deno.land” for developers to build with the new Slack platform. Learn more

New Slack Platform Tools for Developers

Developers can use new tools to build modular functions, triggers, and workflows; deploy code directly to Slack; use the enhanced Slack CLI; and more. Learn more

Shortcuts, Slash Commands, and Workflows Are Moving

Members can access shortcuts via the new slash button or by typing a slash. Workflows can be found and run via search. Existing workflows will be moved to a folder in the bookmarks bar.

Manage Developer-Built Workflows and Functions

A new dashboard for managing workflows built with the new Slack platform tools, as well as a list of functions associated with installed apps, will be available to admins with app management permissions. Learn more

Two-Factor Authentication Will Be Required for Admins

To enhance security, administrators who sign in using their email and password will be required to set up two-factor authentication (2FA). If an admin doesn’t have 2FA set up, they will receive a Slackbot notification with instructions to set it up within 24 hours or be signed out of Slack.

Choose If Members Can Authenticate with SMS

Admins will have the option to require members to use authenticator apps and restrict the use of SMS as a two-factor authentication method. This added layer of security ensures that your organization's data remains protected. Learn more

Upcoming Deprecations

As the Slack platform continues to evolve, certain operating systems, app versions, and browser versions will reach the end of their support on September 1, 2023. Stay ahead by keeping your systems updated and ready for the latest Slack features. Learn more

Conclusion

April 2023 brings exciting updates to the Slack platform, enhancing communication, collaboration, and security for organizations worldwide. Stay informed about these new capabilities, changes, and upcoming deprecations to ensure your organization can make the most of these enhancements. Don't forget to share this blog post with your team members and fellow Slack users to keep everyone in the loop! Happy Slacking!