In the work-from-anywhere era, opportunities for spontaneous dialogue with colleagues are less common, but that doesn't have to be the case. WaterCooler is an optional add-on bot for Slack that teams can use to re-create in-office experiences and foster camaraderie among co-workers.

After installation, the bot randomly pairs two team members for daily informal chats. The idea is that pairs will spend at least five minutes talking about something not related to work. The duos can discuss anything they'd like or use the system-generated prompt as a springboard for conversation.

WaterCooler not only handles the pairing and topic selection, but it also schedules the conversations. The system organizes chats for two workers who are online and aims for a time that won't cause too much disruption to the workday. Moreover, the opt-in feature enables those who don't want to socialize to sit out.

According to user reviews, this tool is a good way to develop communication skills and is a great social device for onboarding new team members. The free version provides daily interaction opportunities for up to five users.