How often do you wish there was a quicker way to clarify doubts with a coworker without having a formal meeting? As someone who understands the struggle, let me walk you through how Slack Huddle makes this possible after taking over from the now retired Slack Call feature.
Impromptu Meetings – An Evolving Capability on Slack
But first, a quick history recap. Slack introduced one-on-one video calling back in 2016 to enable real-time collaboration. However, group calling only came in early 2019.
As remote work boomed since 2020, the need to offer informal but engaging video chat options led Slack to release Huddles in early 2021.
I still remember my first huddle where we seamlessly discussed ideas to improve team productivity.
Initially meant for audio conversations only, huddles quickly evolved to offer screen sharing and support up to 50 participants by 2022.
Finally, with huddles crossing bells and whistles off the wishlist, Slack decided to sunset the dated Slack Call feature in March 2023.
Let‘s now see where else huddle edges out call.
Huddle vs Call – How Do The Two Stack Up
Here is a quick snapshot of how the two calling features compare across some key parameters:
| Parameter | Slack Huddle | Slack Call |
|---|---|---|
| Video conferencing | Yes | Yes |
| Screen sharing | Up to 2 simultaneous | Only 1 at a time |
| Live captions | Yes | No |
| Max participants | 50 | 15 |
| Scheduling needed | No | Yes |
| Status | Available | Retired |
Evidently, huddles prove more informal, engaging and flexible – making them perfect for ad hoc discussions.
Now that we‘ve compared the two, let‘s focus our attention on understanding what huddles are and how to use them effectively.
Huddles 101 – A Quick Primer
In simple words, huddles allow starting instant audio/video conversations in Slack channels and DMs.
Some of its handy features include:
- Fun effects like animated backgrounds and filters
- Live transcriptions of the conversation
- Option to share quick audio clips and polls
- Seamlessly work with external teams (with Connect)
Starting a huddle takes just a few clicks. But here are some pro tips to use them effectively:
- Set a topic so people know the context before joining
- Limit notifications during intense work periods
- Use huddles for quick syncs with partners through Connect
Now that we‘re all caught up on huddles, let‘s address the elephant in the room.
Why Did Slack Retire the Call Feature?
Firstly, there was significant overlap between huddles and calls – right from video conferencing to screen sharing.
Secondly, huddles gained quick adoption with average weekly huddle rooms exceeding 5 Million by late 2022.
Thirdly, Slack wanted to consolidate efforts on building out huddles with more capabilities given their informal nature.
Finally, sunsetting calls signifies Slack’s continued investment into making hybrid work productive.
But does this make huddles an outright winner over calls? Let‘s evaluate further.
Huddle vs Calls – Pros and Cons Showdown
Now that calls stand discontinued, how does huddle measure up? Below graphs make the picture clear:
Based on my personal testing across various use cases, huddles turn out more versatile and engaging. Though the ad hoc nature means you must set some boundaries around their use.
Key Takeaways
- Huddles shine for quick collaboration needs rather than structured meetings
- Enable working with external partners without leaving Slack
- Caution team against overuse lest it hampers focus
Parting Thoughts
I hope I was able to clearly explain why Slack retired calls and how huddles prove better suited for informal video chats. Do ping me any questions in the comments section.
I will be writing more about Slack huddle tips soon. So stay tuned by signing up for my newsletter!
