Slack ‘Catch-up’ — Swipe & Go!

Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in a sea of unread messages on Slack? With 100s of channels spread across workspaces, plus direct messages, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, right?

Well, Slack has rolled out a cool new feature called “Catch-up,” and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer. It’s like Tinder but for work messages!

Imagine this: Instead of feeling stressed about all those unread dots staring back at you, you can now swipe through them, just like you would on Tinder.

Here’s what you can do with Slack’s Catch-up:

👆 Swipe right to mark as read, or left to keep unread
✍️ Send a message without leaving the interface
⏮️ Undo anytime. We all make mistakes

But wait, there’s more! With Catch-up, you can also shoot off a quick reply without ever leaving the app. Plus, if you accidentally swipe the wrong way, no worries! You can undo it in a snap.

Let’s try to understand why this feature is so genius:

1. Swiping is Fun: We’ve all gotten used to swiping left and right thanks to dating apps like Tinder. Slack took that familiar behavior and made it work for sorting through messages. It’s like a little game that makes tackling your inbox way less daunting.
2. Surprise, Surprise: With Catch-up, you never know what message you’ll see next. It adds an element of anticipation and keeps things interesting.
3. Mobile Magic: By focusing on mobile-first design, Slack understands that we’re not always tied to our desks. Catching up on the go is a breeze with this feature, and it shows that Slack is really in tune with how we work today.

As a Product manager, here’s what I think we can learn from Slack’s brilliant move:

⛳️ Stick to the Basics: Slack didn’t reinvent the wheel with Catch-up. Instead, they focused on improving core features like direct messages and channels, which are key to keeping users happy.

🧏🏻‍♀️ Listen to Your Users: By addressing the anxiety many of us feel about unread messages, Slack shows they’re paying attention to user behavior. It’s a great example of user-centered design in action.

📲 Go Mobile or Go Home: Slack’s mobile-first approach is spot on. In today’s world, we’re constantly on the move, and having a seamless mobile experience is non-negotiable.

I’m personally loving this new feature, and I think Slack knocked it out of the park with its attention to detail and understanding of user behavior.