Slack Reviews

Slack Team Collaboration

Teams are evolving. With agile methodologies a core part of current teams, there is no doubt that teams need a more efficient way to communicate. Slack makes it possible to communicate by introducing new ways to chat, organize, and share. In addition, it minimizes and eliminates the use of emails by providing a faster channel of communication.

Slack falls under the business communication app. It is aimed at teams and organizations that want to refine their communication channel. The Slack app can be accessed via different devices and platforms, including major web browsers, Windows apps, iOS apps, and Mac apps.

The software makes all of these possible with an innovative communication feature – Channels. You can create channels for almost every aspect of your company. For example, you can create channels for your offices, your teams, your department, and so on. This helps you to organize the different aspects of communication. Teams can also improve their project management by using the available tools and reading the “Slack Team Collaboration” blog on how to do it.

What is the Slack app?

Slack is a communication app designed for businesses, helping teams to communicate more effectively. It creates a unified environment where channels provide a way to segregate conversations. In addition, it is customizable, allowing organizations to tailor communications accordingly. The Slack app is available on various platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and even Linux.

Slack plans are well-defined, allowing users to pause notifications and simplify teamwork. For example, channels can be created for specific communications, and video or voice calls can be made when necessary. Its unique approach also means better engagement and scalability as teams expand.

According to Slack, teams using the app see a 31% increase in productivity, with teams working 23% faster. The use of Slack also reduces email usage by 45% and decreases the number of meetings by 21%. It offers a 338% return on investment, with $2.1 million in productivity savings for technical teams.

Slack is business-ready, offering a 99.99% guaranteed uptime service level agreement (SLA). Its globally distributed architecture means that more teams can use Slack and incorporate it within their work ecosystem. Security is also a top priority, as it uses enterprise-grade security protocols to protect organization and user data.

In conclusion, organizations are complex and require solutions that ease their pain. Slack is a business communication app that improves communication by utilizing a clever approach. With a free tier, anyone can try out Slack and learn how to collaborate effectively. It is also an excellent fit for enterprises with enterprise-grade security and a 99.99% guaranteed uptime SLA.

Why is Slack so popular?

Slack is very popular among companies. Yet, I was hoping you could discover that in this Slack review. Initially, Butterfield created the app to improve productivity with his team. It showed promise, and soon, they released the app officially under the name of “Slack.” It has racked up millions of dollars from the time it was founded in 2009.

Slack’s popularity can be attributed to its unique features and capabilities. It stands out among other communication apps in the market as it enables teams to organize communication effectively, a crucial aspect of remote work. Slack facilitates seamless sharing of documents and images among team members. Additionally, companies that use Slack are often perceived as more professional and respected. Its versatility makes it a suitable choice for various professionals such as designers, developers, executives, and business individuals.

There are other reasons why Slack is so popular. They are as below:

Is Slack good for collaboration?

Yes, Slack is good for collaboration as it provides an easy yet effective way for teams to communicate. Organizations can use it for internal as well as external communications. Its customizability also means that channels provide creative freedom for channel members to share their ideas privately or publicly.

How to use Slack?

Getting started with Slack is easy. However, considering you are a team that wants to use Slack, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps.

How to create Channels and Workspaces

With team members now part of Slack, it is now time to organize conversations. You can do it in two ways. First, you can create a Workspace that provides a completely private instance of Slack software. You may want to create it for different departments in your organization. The workspace name is shown in the top left corner. Second, channels provide more granular control over communication.

You can think of them as threads for your communication. To create a channel, you need to have admin control. Now you can click on “Add a channel.” on the left menu. Once done, name it and set any access controls if you need to. Channels are being used to have separate communication for teams, work departments, new projects, separate ideas, and more!

There is a lot more when it comes to Slack. For example, slack team chat can be created using channels. For more information regarding how to use Slack, we recommend checking their official documentation.

Slack Detailed Features

What does Slack offer when it comes to business communication? Well, a lot! It is a feature-rich solution. Also, the app evolves, and new features are released regularly. At the core, you will get access to the following features of Slack.

Channels

Channels are at the core of Slack functionality. With Channels, you can create a small pocket of communication between team members. You can also use it as a central space for sharing files and tools. Channels are also very effective at sharing ideas and decision-making quickly with inputs from multiple people. For example, channels let you do the following:

Channels are also flexible spaces. This means that you can create public and private channels.

Slack Connect

Organizations can easily connect with their vendors, partners, and customers through Slack Connect. This way, you can easily invite 3rd-party users to your Slack channel and keep communications structured. Slack Connect also lets you drastically reduce response times and strengthen client relationships. You can also share files in real time.

Messaging

Slack also lets your team communicate better. Your team members are just one click away rather than doing a series of actions like email communication. In addition, the messaging is refined to make communication more effective. You can also schedule your messages to ensure that they are read at the right time by the other person. Its group team chat brings ideas to the project as remote team members can communicate with each other virtually. Moreover, you can add context to the communication by integrating different tools into Slack. This means better, richer conversations with contextual information, including files, images, and assets. For example, you can connect to Google Drive, Asana, Salesforce, Zendesk, etc.

The communication can also be taken privately if needed, giving you full control of your messages. In addition, the messages, once sent, can be referred to later on for better communication.

Voice And Video Calls

Want to call someone via voice or video? Well, Slack got you covered. Slack offers high-quality video and voice call quality and supports conferences as well. You can share screens during calls to help you share your ideas in a better way. Use can make Video and voice calls better with app integrations, including BlueJeans, Cisco Webex Meetings, Microsoft Team Calls, and Zoom. This means that you are not bound to its own video call technology.

Accessibility

Slack emphasizes accessibility, offering an extensive range of keyboard accessibility options to ensure ease of use. This means that you can use keyboard shortcuts to navigate around Slack and even command it for faster navigation. Furthermore, GIFs and emoji animations are available to improve readability and help teams identify channels and important conversations quickly.

In addition to its own emojis, you can also add your own set of emojis. Slack also offers other accessibility options, such as dark mode, message display settings, zoom level, and much more, to cater to diverse user preferences.

Apps and Integrations

Slack’s customization comes from its support for a wide range of apps and integrations. You can connect your tools to make communication better and remote teams part of your Slack workspace. Right now, they support more than 2400+ apps and integrations. All the apps work seamlessly with it through a unified architecture. Also, you can add these apps without the need to pay for anything else.

For example, you can use productivity apps such as Google Drive, Trello, ZenDesk, and more. It offers tools for every type, and you can discover those apps.

Workflow Builder

Slack’s Workflow Builder is a powerful tool that allows you to automate your daily tasks both within and outside of it. The best part is, you don’t need to have any coding skills to use it!

For instance, you can use it to submit Salesforce cases in Slack Connect or collect time-off requests with Excel. There are many other ways that you can automate workflows using its Workflow Builder. With this tool, you can streamline boring and repetitive tasks, freeing up your time to focus on more important things.

Search

Slack’s search function makes it easy to find shared assets and improves the team’s productivity. It works seamlessly with other Slack features, allowing you to quickly navigate through old conversations and respond promptly. The search feature enhances collaboration and productivity, and you can further optimize it by using Slack integrations and apps.

You can automatically manage your knowledge base, which allows you to search and access information from anywhere. The search function also lets you narrow down your searches, making it easier to find what you’re looking for.

File Sharing

File Sharing is also an integral part. You can quickly share files with your teammates. Then, attach the files adding value to the conversations. You are also free to attach documents from online file management platforms, including Google Drive, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Security

Slack comes with enterprise-grade data protection. Every organization wants its data to be as secure as possible. To help organizations feel secure, Slack uses extensive security features, including device and identity management, data protection, and information governance. To meet the security standards, the app has multiple compliance certifications and attestations: ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27018, ISO/IEC 27701, SOC 2, and SOC3, APEC for Processors Certifications, APEC for Controllers Certifications, and CSA. 

Slack is also HIPAA and FINRA compatible, which means you can configure it to meet the said standards. Lastly, they also meet the following standards:

Enterprise key management

Enterprises have complete control over their Slack data. They can secure their Slack using their own encryption keys via enterprise key management.

Slack for enterprise

Slack is a communication tool created for enterprises. It offers high levels of security, flexibility, and scalability. With Slack, enterprises can enjoy better data security and management leading to increased engagement. Slack ensures a 99.99% uptime service level agreement to meet the demands of enterprises. Additionally, it offers many hidden features that users can discover while exploring the platform.

Its main goal is to provide value to teams. To achieve this, they offer four plans: Free, Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid. All plans come with data protection and privacy and are certified with ISO 27001 and ISO 27701. ISO 27001 stands for information security management system, while ISO 27701 stands for personal data protection in the cloud.

If you are an educational institute, you can take advantage of the Slack education discount, which offers up to an 85% discount on Business+ and Pro paid subscriptions.

Slack Detailed Integrations

Slack’s integrations add a lot of value to the platform. Upon installation, you gain access to a wide range of Slack integrations that facilitate better collaboration. You can integrate top-of-the-line software and even custom apps through their API integrations. This can be done in a unified and secure manner at no extra cost. The apps are specifically designed to work well with channels, ensuring a seamless integration experience.

Slack has over 2400 apps available for integration, which can be accessed directly from their Slack App Directory. To activate an app, go to the directory and customize it as needed.

But what are the best Slack integrations? Let’s list a few of them below.

You can explore more about their top Slack integrations directly from their app directory, which covers apps using categories including communication, analytics, design, developer tools, marketing, finance, productivity, sales, and more!

What are the best Slack integrations?

With over 2400 apps available for Slack integrations, it can be overwhelming to find the right ones. As an enterprise, it’s recommended that you check out the enterprise-ready apps, which are categorized under “Enterprise”. Among these, there are workflow apps such as Datadog or PagerDuty that can help you improve your workflow.

You can also find productivity apps like Zapier, Google Drive, Trello, Google Calendar, and so on! In summary, the best integrations depend on your specific requirements.

The best way to discover which ones are suitable for your needs is to explore the Slack app directory.

Alternatives to Slack

Slack is a popular business messaging app, but it may not suit everyone. There are both free and paid Slack alternatives available.

Slack Review Conclusions

Slack provides an intelligent solution for business communication with a strong emphasis on security, accessibility, flexibility, and management. Moreover, Slack guarantees 99.99% uptime for enterprises to focus on their vital tasks. Its feature list is impressive, and it offers the ability to organize channels to facilitate quick access to communication and assets. Additionally, its open architecture and support for 2400+ apps make it highly customizable.

Overall, Slack is an excellent choice for businesses. Its free tier allows you to try it out before committing. Our Slack review highly recommends it to companies looking to streamline their communication and take advantage of Slack collaboration.