Juice uses many tools to keep us on track, communicating and productive. In an effort to share some of the knowledge we’ve gained, we’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at some of the tools that keep our juices flowing. So without further ado, may we introduce our great friend HipChat®.
HipChat is an instant messaging software that is available for use in your browser or as a desktop app for both Mac and PC (and Android® and Linux® for that matter). There also is a mobile app so you’re never out of touch. It allows for rapid, easy and fun communication with your entire team, whether down the hall or across the country. While there are plenty of instant messaging software programs available, there are features at which HipChat excels. Here are a few of our favorites.
Drag-and-Drop Attachments
Need to send an attachment to a team member quickly? It’s as easy as dragging and dropping into your typing field. We’ve yet to find a file type that isn’t supported, including PDFs, jpegs, Microsoft Office® documents and even videos. With image files such as jpegs and PDFs, HipChat automatically displays a preview in the chat window. It also provides previews of pasted links so you know if your coworker has sent a skateboarding cat video or something only slightly more important. Boom.
Rooms
Rooms are a helpful tool when everyone does not need to be included in the current discussion. For example, we have a room that pertains strictly to website development, saving those not involved from unnecessary notifications. They can be set to private, ensuring only those with an invite can view the discussion.
Search
So we’ve all had those moments when you know you’ve talked about something but can’t remember the end result. HipChat search to the rescue! While the free version limits your search history, this feature still has proved very helpful.
Emoticons for Days
This feature happens to be my personal favorite since I am an over-emojer (a term I just created). HipChat offers an army of emoticons, more than 200 strong, but the best news is that you can create your own! As a virtual team, we’ve gotten some good laughs together, even from a distance.
But wait, there’s more …
These are just some of the great features HipChat has to offer. Take some time to explore the many others, like voice and video calling, in-chat hex color display, deployment on your own server, and more than 100 software integrations. The best news of all … the basic version is FREE for unlimited users and includes all of our favorite features. Head on over to www.hipchat.com, give it a whirl, and watch your productivity increase.
Be on the lookout for more behind-the-scenes tips on how we keep it flowing!