Applaud gives employees multiple ways to access the same AI Assistant. They can use the Applaud experience or connect through workplace tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Outlook.
Employees can access the same underlying knowledge, AI capabilities, and supported workflows wherever they start a conversation.
One assistant, multiple ways to connect
Employees don't have to change how they get HR support just because they're working in a different application.
They can:
- Ask questions in the Applaud experience.
- Get HR support in Slack or Microsoft Teams.
- Ask questions and complete supported tasks through Microsoft Outlook.
- Continue conversations in the channel where they started.
- Access organizational knowledge and supported AI capabilities across channels.
Each channel acts as a front door to Applaud. The channel provides the experience employees are familiar with, while Applaud provides the AI support behind it.
What stays consistent across channels
The AI Assistant provides a consistent foundation across supported channels.
Depending on your configuration, employees can:
- Ask HR questions in natural language.
- Get answers based on your organization's knowledge.
- Complete supported HR tasks.
- Start or continue supported workflows.
- Create or track cases when Case Management is enabled.
- Use AI-powered actions when they are available in that channel.
- Attach files when the channel supports them.
- See sources or citations when a response is grounded in knowledge.
- Receive visual responses when the assistant uses them to present information.
The exact experience depends on the channel and the capabilities it supports.
How visuals appear across channels
The AI Assistant can present information using visuals such as cards, lists, charts, maps, and diagrams. How those visuals are presented depends on the channel.
| Channel | Visual experience |
| Employee portal | Interactive visuals can appear directly in the chat, allowing employees to interact with supported cards, lists, charts, maps, and diagrams. |
| Mobile app | Provides the same interactive visual experience as the web experience, where supported. |
| Microsoft Teams | Visuals and diagrams are presented as images in the conversation. Employees can view the information but can't interact with it. |
| Slack | Visuals and diagrams are presented as static images in the conversation. |
| Microsoft Outlook | Visuals and diagrams are presented as static images in the email. Interactive widgets aren't available in email. |
The employee portal and mobile app provide the richest interactive experience, while Teams, Slack, and Outlook present the same information as images, so employees can access it without leaving their channels.
Where employees can access AI support
Applaud can provide AI support through the following access points:
| Access point | How employees interact with Applaud |
| Employee portal | Chat with the AI Assistant in the Applaud experience. |
| Mobile app | Chat with the AI Assistant from a mobile device. |
| Microsoft Teams | Message Applaud directly in Teams. |
| Slack | Chat with Applaud in direct messages or supported conversations. |
| Microsoft Outlook | Email a connected Applaud mailbox and receive support through the email conversation. |
Why use multiple channels?
Providing AI support across the tools employees already use makes HR support easier to access and more convenient.
For employees:
- Get HR support without switching between applications.
- Use the tools that fit their current task or workflow.
- Ask questions and complete supported tasks in a familiar environment.
- Continue a conversation in the channel where they started.
For organizations:
- Make self-service available where employees already work.
- Provide a consistent AI support experience across multiple access points.
- Reduce reliance on a single HR portal or support channel.
- Give employees more flexibility in how they interact with HR services.
How channels fit into Applaud
Channels are one part of the wider Applaud experience.
The AI Assistant provides the common experience, while each channel determines how employees interact with it and how information is presented.