Popular workplace messaging app Slack, owned by Salesforce Inc. (NYSE:CRM) has introduced a new set of widgets for its iPhone app.

What Happened: The new widgets, three for the iPhone's home screen and one for the lock screen, are designed to improve the accessibility of the Slack app. The lock screen widget enables users to access the Slack app directly after unlocking their devices.

The home screen widgets include "Catch Up," which offers a quick summary of unread messages and mentions without the need to open the app. It directs users straight to that section of the Slack app, allowing them to quickly navigate through missed conversations.

The other two homescreen widgets streamline Slack status updates. The smaller "Status" widget guides users to that section of the Slack iOS app, while a larger version provides the same functionality with three preset status options: one-hour "Focus" and "Lunch" statuses, and a half-hour "Take a break" status.

However, these preset options are not customizable right now.

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Why It Matters: Earlier this year, it was reported that some companies use artificial intelligence to monitor employee communications on platforms like Slack. The idea behind this is to have a digital eye on employee interactions.

In May, Salesforce, the parent company of Slack, reported its reported first-quarter revenue of $9.13 billion, falling short of the consensus estimate of $9.147 billion. This represented an 11% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Benzinga Pro.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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