5 Essential Communication Tools for the Modern Workplace

Clock into the future of work with these communication tools

It’s easier than you might think to make the shift to more advanced communication tools in the workplace. Even though their offerings are more complex, the tools themselves have become more user-friendly by design. Just look at all the technology from this 1991 RadioShack ad that’s been replaced by the following five communication tools.

For real-time conversations

1. Zoom: Better than a phone call

Even if you still have a phone on your desk at work, you’re probably a little surprised every time it rings—and unlikely to pick it up when you need to get in touch with a colleague. Who memorizes phone numbers anymore?

Why it’s great:

• Start meetings straight from Slack with /zoom
• Share your screen, record the call, and even auto-transcribe it
• Works on desktop, mobile, tablet

Need to connect with colleagues, whether they’re in the office or working remotely? The Slack integration for Zoom makes it effortless. Simply type /zoom in any channel, private group, or direct message to start a Zoom Meeting or make a Zoom Phone call. Before joining, you can see meeting details and who’s already on the call, all from within Slack.

You can use Zoom on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile device. It lets remote workers feel seen and is a simpler, yet more robust, way of connecting with coworkers when you can’t meet in person.

 

For sharing stuff and staying organized

2. Dropbox: Better than scattered cloud storage

Today’s workplaces generate more digital files than ever—often stored across a mix of platforms, drives, and devices. Dropbox helps teams centralize that information, keeping it organized, accessible, and secure.

Why it’s great:

• Pull Dropbox files into Slack
• Keep everything synced automatically
• Share and search files right in your channels

Dropbox acts as a unified file hub, enabling your team to find, use, and share documents efficiently. With the Slack integration for Dropbox, collaboration gets even smoother: share Dropbox files in channels or direct messages, see previews inline, and keep everyone aligned without switching between apps.

If you’re using Dropbox Paper, Slack shortcuts like /paper and /paper new make it easy to search or create docs without leaving your workspace. It’s an easy way to spark ideas, delegate action items, and maintain momentum—all in one place.

3. Scannable: Better than a printer

An all-in-one printer-copier-scanner-fax-machine can come with quite a price tag—and then there’s the challenge of where to put it in your office.

Scannable by Evernote allows you to use your smartphone or tablet as a scanner to capture documents, receipts, and business cards. The images are impeccable, and it’s as easy as snapping a photo.

Why it’s great:

• Snap high-quality scans from your phone
• Share via Slack, email, or cloud
• Everything syncs with your Evernote

Integrating Evernote to Slack enhances your workflow by allowing you to take notes directly within Slack, clip Slack conversations into Evernote, and find and share your notes in Slack channels. This integration ensures that your important information is organized and accessible across both platforms.

For managing projects and people

4. Airtable: Better than static spreadsheets

Sometimes collaborating on a project and managing its deadlines can be more work than the project itself—not to mention keeping the entire team aligned. Traditional tools like spreadsheets or static planning docs quickly fall short when things start moving fast. Airtable helps you stay on track without getting buried in clunky files or manual updates.

Why it’s great:

• Track updates in Slack as changes happen
• Assign tasks and manage timelines easily
• Use templates or build your own workflow

Airtable is a versatile platform that combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with the complexity of a database, allowing you to organize anything from project tasks to customer data. By integrating Airtable with Slack, your team can stay updated in real-time. Whenever changes are made to your Airtable bases, automatic notifications are sent to designated Slack channels, complete with links to the updated records. This seamless connection ensures that everyone remains informed without constantly switching between applications, enhancing both collaboration and efficiency.

5. OfficeVibe: Better than a suggestion box

Nobody wants to drop feedback into a black hole. OfficeVibe lets your team share how they’re really doing, anonymously if they want—and helps you actually do something about it.

Why it’s great:

• Weekly check-ins without the awkward vibe
• Feedback goes straight to managers privately
• Recognize wins with built-in praise tools

Officevibe is a people-first employee experience platform designed to enhance engagement, recognition and alignment within teams. By integrating Officevibe with Slack, you can seamlessly gather and act on employee feedback without disrupting your team’s workflow. Here’s how the integration enhances your internal communication strategy:

• Weekly pulse surveys: Team members receive short, anonymous surveys directly in Slack, encouraging candid feedback. Managers are notified when new insights are available, allowing them to address concerns promptly.
• Real-time feedback notifications: Managers get instant alerts about new feedback, enabling timely responses and fostering a culture of open communication.
• 1-on-1 meeting coordination: Officevibe assists in scheduling and preparing for one-on-one meetings by suggesting agenda topics and providing summaries of previous discussions, all within Slack.

Bring it all together with Slack

You don’t need 20 tabs open to make these tools work. Slack brings them all together so your team can chat, meet, plan, share and track—without switching apps every five minutes.

Modern team communication tools aren’t just nice to have anymore—they’re how smart teams get work done.