Zoom enhances productivity with new automation tools

Zoom has introduced a suite of new tools aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity across its platforms, including the launch of Zoom Workflow Automation.

The company has made Zoom Workflow Automation generally available, a tool designed to simplify and optimise workflows not only within Zoom Workplace but also across third-party applications. The Workflow Automation tool allows users to create complex workflows facilitated by AI Companion to automate routine tasks. This new integration allows for automation across various Zoom services such as Meetings, Team Chat, and Docs, as well as with external applications.

"Empowering people with AI to help them get more done is core to what we do at Zoom," said Wei Li, Head of Team Chat at Zoom. "That's why we've enabled Zoom Workflow Automation to harness the power of Zoom AI Companion. Organisations can use Zoom Workflow Automation to set up workflows across Zoom Workplace and third-party apps, helping teams automate how they work. Workflow Automation not only takes repetitive tasks off of employees' shoulders, it's easy to use, even for teams who don't have technical backgrounds."

Workflow Automation offers a variety of triggers for users to initiate these processes. For instance, it can generate an AI Companion meeting summary and automatically insert it into a Zoom Doc, Google Doc, or Word document, which can then be shared within a Team Chat channel. This functionality aims to improve communication and project alignment for teams using multiple collaboration platforms.

Additionally, the tool provides integration capabilities with Jira for IT administrators, allowing them to construct workflows that interconnect these different platforms, enhancing operational efficiency. The automation supports conditional logic and sequential operations, allowing for smart interaction with third-party applications including Google and Microsoft.

By enabling these user-friendly, no-code workflows, Zoom aims to democratise access to workflow automation across all user levels, enhancing productivity without necessitating technical expertise. Users will have access to templates and can automate a host of tasks, such as updating Team Chats with meeting summaries or managing time-off requests through chat-based forms.

In addition to Workflow Automation, Zoom has also rolled out updates to existing features, including new Zoom Clips avatars that can generate video clips at scale, which are expected to become available later this month. The Clips can be created by selecting from a library of avatars and appending a script, eliminating the need for repeated video recordings.

Zoom Docs now features enhanced data management capabilities, such as form creation and easier chart generation from data tables, while the company's companion audio functionality for Zoom Rooms aims to improve meeting audio quality without additional hardware.

The introduction of a new YouTube app for Zoom Meetings aims to facilitate vibrant and interactive video streaming without the lag associated with traditional screen sharing. Zoom has also expanded its multilingual capabilities with new caption services and AI Companion interaction languages, aiming to bridge communication gaps in diverse teams.

Furthermore, Zoom has introduced several business services updates, including improvements to its Zoom Revenue Accelerator mobile app and enhancements in note-taking automation with AI Expert Assist. Zoom Workforce Management has been optimised to allow adjustments for special days to improve staffing forecasts.