5 reasons to have a Slack and time tracking integration

Slack is undoubtedly a bloodstream of multiple modern companies. One of the key strengths of the Slack platform is a rich library of integrations, many of which are available in the Slack App Directory, that transform a simple chat into a company-wide hub. Time tracking is one of the most convenient integrations that exist. For those browsing the Slack Marketplace, adding a time tracker has never been easier.

It has become an app of choice for many companies that were struggling with inefficient communication via email. 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 reading and writing emails instead of using Slack’s real-time messaging. A systematic review of 25 years of email and work communication found that high email loads reduce responsiveness and increase cognitive load, making alternative collaboration tools more effective. [Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com, 2024, Getting on top of work-email: A systematic review of 25 years]

Slack enables real-time team communication with each team member 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. You can even use slash commands or a Slackbot to trigger reminders, set timers, or start tracking time with ease.

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. Whether you’re working in HR, project management, or development, Slack with time tracking is a smart addition to your Slack workspace.

In this article, you will learn why combining Slack with time tracking tools can significantly improve your daily workflow. You’ll find out how Slack time tracking helps teams save time, boost productivity, and streamline administrative processes. You will also explore how modern integrations make it possible to track time directly in Slack without switching between apps.

Key features of Slack and time tracking integration

Ok, but does Slack have a time tracker at all? Unlike email-based communication, Slack benefits from multiple integrations, third-party tools, and bot plugins that can be added either for free or as a part of paid software suites. These third-party application providers help employees and companies reach new levels of productivity and clarity.

According to a mixed-methods study on global software teams using Slack, tool usage reduced reliance on email and increased informal coordination among team members. [Source: arxiv.org, July 2020, Understanding coordination in global software engineering: A mixed-methods study on the use of meetings and Slack]

When it comes to Slack timer apps, there are at least four features to count in.

Information about breaks

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 reminder.

A 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. It can even help automate break alerts or update your timesheet status. When conjoined with a calendar app that updates the information about ongoing meetings, Slack integration can deliver an automated system that informs if one can expect the recipient to answer immediately or not. This minimizes distractions and streamlines communication.

Attendance list in Slack

A feature that can make the life of the HR department easier. When paired with a time tracking app, Slack can build an automated attendance list, so no one needs to sign in with multiple tools or places. This also eliminates the need to switch between systems, helping teams stay focused.

Time tracker of projects from Slack

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 time spent on a particular project by a particular employee.

This can be of great importance for multiple departments, including accounting, payroll, team leaders, and HR specialists, among others. You can export this data or generate time entries using commands right in Slack. Having a report scheduled in Slack is a great way not to omit the information. The data can be tracked without ever needing to open a separate browser tab.

Slack reminders instead of emails

Finally, emails are flooding users every day. When using a Slack timer bot with a reminder about clocking in or clocking out set in Slack, one is less likely to forget to track time. Slack can be used to automate reminders about breaks, meetings, or lunch as well. This helps manage your time more efficiently.

You can even assign reminders to a specific message or person, helping streamline daily workday routines. Integrations can also come with authentication features and a business associate agreement for compliance.

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Benefits of integration of time tracking and Slack

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.

Start tracking time directly in Slack with Calamari – get your free trial now!

Reducing the number of communication points

Modern companies use multiple tools of communication. There are emails – the workhorse of communication. But not only – 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-place solution 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. Slack integration with time tracking tools helps ensure that no repetitive tasks fall through the cracks.

Improving the clarity

Having a centralized hub for the information stream brings a higher transparency to the institution’s work. A single place to check the status, log in, clock in, clock out, and do multiple other work-related tasks reduces the hassle and lets the employee focus on tasks – not administration. All this can be done right in Slack, without leaving Slack.

Reducing the stress

Having the ability to do nearly all administrative tasks from a single touchpoint reduces the stress. A modern employee can be considered a specialist handling multiple tools and tasks at the same time tracking time, checking in on the to-do list, and updating statuses.

Amassing as many tools as possible in Slack brings huge relief and helps avoid manual time allocation issues or idle tracking errors.

Improving transparency

The other side of the same coin of clarity – when running all the communication processes in Slack and integrating it with time-tracking apps, 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 into 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 Slack workspace.

Building a Slack-centered, integrated ecosystem

Finally, 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 time tracker on Slack is yet another app that is incorporated and used in a seamless and easy-to-use environment.

An average user is signed in to Slack for nine hours a day – that means a lot of time and many ways to interact with the company. For example, track your time and submit timesheets in Slack. If not, integrating a time-tracking app like Calamari can be the first step to building a less stress-inducing environment for employees.

In the times of COVID, every way to reduce stress is good.

Summary

Time tracking and Slack go well together 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 where you track time in Slack, manage tasks, and monitor hours worked – all in one place.

For others that have already done so, it has become a key feature they cannot imagine Slack without. Some tools, like Calamari, even offer free forever plans that make getting started simple and risk-free. With real-time updates, you can stay informed and always keep your projects on track.

Stay ahead of modern HR trends – join our HR Newsletter. And if you wish to talk more about Slack timers or integrating Slack with Calamari features, feel free to contact us now!

Read more our texts about Slack

• Too many emails? Manage your team through Slack!
• How to pick the best Slack time tracking app
• 5 benefits of integrating online vacation tracker with Slack
• 5 reasons to have a Slack and time tracking integration
• 5 great tools Calamari is integrated with