Slack : Full Review, Testing, and Presentation (2024)

What is Slack?

Slack is a collaboration platform that brings teams together in one place to communicate, collaborate, and work more effectively. It is designed to replace traditional methods of communication, such as email and instant messaging, with a more organized and effective system.

Slack offers a variety of features to help teams stay organized and on track, including the ability to create channels for specific projects or topics, group messaging, and the ability to share and collaborate on documents and files. It also integrates with a wide range of other tools and services, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Asana, allowing users to access all of their work in one place.

One of the biggest benefits of Slack is its flexibility. It can be used on desktop and mobile devices, and can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection. This makes it easy for team members to stay connected and collaborate no matter where they are.

In addition to its communication and collaboration features, Slack also offers a range of tools to automate tasks and streamline workflows. For example, users can set up custom alerts and notifications, or create custom commands to automate repetitive tasks.

Overall, Slack is a powerful tool that helps teams stay organized, communicate effectively, and get work done more effectively. Its versatility and wide range of features make it a popular choice for businesses of all sizes and industries.

Who is Slack for?

Slack doesn't have a typical user.

It can be used by anyone: freelancers, large corporations, non-profit organizations, and even NASA.

Slack is essentially a massive chat room with other innovative collaboration features. It helps to reduce email load by allowing users to connect in real time through private and group messages. For this reason, it is really versatile in terms of the types of users it can serve.

Features

Whether you are looking for a tool to help with project planning, a way to improve communication within a team, or a platform that can be used asremote tool When it comes to connecting colleagues, the versatility of Slack has you covered.

Let's take a closer look at some of the key features of Slack.

1. Channels and threads

Slack's email feature is the main attraction. Users can send direct messages to each other, create group discussions, or create a “channel” for a specific purpose.

Channels

Individual and group discussions are fairly simple, even for those who have little experience with messaging applications. Slack channels, however, are much more than just extended group discussions.

Channels are created for a specific purpose or discussion point, have their own access rules, and can be public (accessible to everyone) or private (by invitation only).

Channel names always come with a hashtag and can be used to discuss specific projects, customers, workflows, vacation tips, or pets.

Users can “star” important channels, while shared channels are separated by default. Image Source: Author

Slack also has a shared channel feature, which allows separate organizations to collaborate through a common Slack channel.

This is a useful feature for businesses that regularly work with outside entities; it provides employees with a shared communication space, instead of requiring team members to reconcile siloed conversations from emails, phone calls, and meetings.

Threads

Threads are lists of messages that are under an initial message, or “parent.” In essence, they allow users to respond directly to a specific message in a chat and are organized into a separate “sub-conversation” on a right-hand sidebar. This has the advantage of not cluttering up the display and not distracting users from the main discussion.

Slack threads help keep the topic discussed while allowing others to develop or add questions to the original posts. Image Source: Author

2. Voice and video calls

Slack voice and video calls are a critical part of their offering.

Slack voice and video calls are easy to start: users simply search for the person they want to call, and during the conversation, they'll find a phone symbol at the top left of the window.

The person who receives a call sees a small black box appear on their screen that tells them who is calling them; green and red buttons allow the recipient to accept or refuse the call.

However, Slack's video and voice calling feature isn't the most robust: I've had a lot of Slack calls that were spotty and slow to connect. Plus, you can only call other users in your Slack workspace.

Users can call other workspace members from the main Slack interface. Image Source: Author

3. Commands

The controls feature helps you quickly activate other Slack features. The commands work by typing the slash in the message field, typing a command, and pressing Enter.

For example, in the following image, typing “/mute random” cuts off the #random channel.

By typing “/” in the message field, you automatically get a list of Slack commands you can choose from.

Slack controls reduce the need to go back and forth between keyboard and mouse. Image Source: Author

4. Advanced search

If you need to search for a specific message or file but don't know where to start, Slack's advanced search feature can filter your searches to find the most relevant information. You can search for the person who sent the message or file, focus on a specific date range, or limit your search to certain channels.

Slack makes it easy to locate messages or files thanks to a number of useful filters. Image Source: Author

You can also use assisted search modifiers to further narrow the field. Below are a few examples of common Slack search modifiers. Simply enter one of them in the search bar at the top of the client:

• Of:
• to:
• in:
• after:
• before:
• On:
• During:

5. Shortcuts

Like commands, Slack shortcuts can be a real time saver. They allow you to take care of peripheral tasks while continuing to work directly within the application.

Clicking on the lightning bolt to the left of the message field displays a list of available Slack shortcuts. The more apps you integrate with Slack, the more shortcuts you'll have at your disposal.

From the shortcuts tab, users can set their own reminders, create a message, launch a poll, and more from Slack. Image Source: Author

6. Customization

I've been a longtime Slack user, but I'm always finding new ways to customize the software to suit my needs. It would be impossible to list all the customization options on the platform, but here are some of the most useful ones:

• Change the look of your workspace: Go to Preferences, then Themes. From there, you can select a color for every aspect of the interface, although Slack offers other themes out of the box. Slack also offers dark mode for those who prefer to work with low-light applications.
• Create your own emojis: Show your creativity! Personalized emojis allow teams to express their professional culture in new ways.
• Personalize your sidebar: it's a great way to stay organized. For example, you can group all priority channels into one section, and group lighter “chat” channels into another.

Ease of use

One of the main attractions of Slack is its simplicity. The desktop interface is divided into three main components:

• Workspace bar: On the far left, all of the workspaces you're logged in to are shown in one column.
• Sidebar: Right next to the workspace bar is the main sidebar. It contains all of your direct messages, channels, and group discussions. It also shows quick click options for accessing discussion threads, mentions, drafts, applications, and files.
• Message window: This is where you'll see the messages you send and receive. The chat you selected is displayed here.

An example of the Slack interface, which includes three main components: workspaces, the sidebar, and the message window. Image Source: Author

Everything you need to access is neatly organized and accessible in the sidebar feeds. Plus, there's no need to dig around to find anything: the toolbar at the top of the client lets you search for keywords and lets you choose whether you're looking in a channel, a direct message, or “From anyone on Slack.”

Users can add up to 10 app integrations using the free version of Slack, while the paid versions allow as many app integrations as you want. Slack integrates with over 2,000 different applications, which means users can access many of their daily applications within the platform.

Slack is available for desktops (including a Slack app for Mac) and tablets, iOS, and Android. It's incredibly easy for non-technical users to set up and has virtually no learning curve.

Pricing

There are three different price levels for Slack, plus a free version.

• Free: Suitable for small teams and individuals, the free plan offers unlimited members in your account, access to 10,000 of your team's most recent messages, one-on-one video and audio calls, and up to 10 app integrations.
• Standard: Perfect for small and medium-sized businesses, the Standard plan offers an unlimited message archive, unlimited app integrations, screen-sharing group video calls, and guest accounts. This plan costs $6.67/month per user when billed annually and $8/month per user when billed monthly.
• Plus: Intended for larger businesses, the Plus plan offers everything included in the Standard plan, and adds advanced identity management features, compliance assistance, and 24/7 support with a response time of four hours. This plan costs $12.50/month per user when billed annually, and $15/month per user when billed monthly.
• Enterprise Grid: Ideal for very large businesses or those working in highly regulated industries, the enterprise grid includes everything included in the Plus plan, plus HIPAA compliant message and file collaboration, designated customer success teams, and unlimited workspaces. Enterprise Grid pricing is customized; for a quote, contact the Slack sales team directly.

While Slack can be expensive and priced higher than most competitors, its tiered prices align well with the features offered.

Integrations

Streamline workflows and processes by integrating your core business tools with Slack.

The Slack app directory offers over 2,500 apps, including popular software like Zoom, Google Drive, Zapier, and Salesforce.

If you can't find what you need, Slack lets users build custom apps that integrate with their own solutions, with or without code.

Slack supports a variety of integration categories, including project management, customer support, sales, security and compliance, and office management.

If you want to automate or extend your workspaces, use Slack's Workflow Builder or the application programming interface (API) to go beyond the integrations provided.

Alternatives

Slack is a great team messaging app that offers lots of third-party integrations and a unified platform for team collaboration. However, its audio and video conferencing capabilities need to be improved, and paid plans are too expensive for businesses on a tight budget. If you're looking for a team chat app other than Slack, here's a list of the best alternatives:

1. Microsoft Teams

Ideal for: Microsoft 365 users or budget conscious businesses that need robust video conferencing tools.

Starting price: Free for the basic plan, $4 per user, per month, billed annually for the first paid tier.

2. Mattermost

Ideal for: Businesses that want an open-source platform for team messaging and project management.

Starting price: Free for the basic plan, $10 per user per month for the first paid tier.

3. Spike

Best for: Teams looking for a simplified conversational messaging platform

Starting price: Free for the basic plan, $8 per user each month for the first paid tier.

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If you want a solution that is simpler to use but professional at the same time, Monday or Clickup are good alternatives.

Customer Support

That's where Slack is a bit flawed. Despite its massive user base, Slack doesn't offer customer support over the phone. It's disappointing, especially when users are paying a high price for this solution.

I reached out to Slack through their Live Chat tool. First, I asked them if they offered phone support and then asked via a new Live Chat what level of customer support Slack offers with each plan.

I received a quick response both times and was told that for all plans, ticket support (via email), via the “/feedback” command in Slack, and by email at feedback@Slack.com, is available. Paid plans include an online support service (Live Chat) from 2 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time), as well as a 24-hour response to email inquiries, with a four-hour initial response time.

Additionally, the Slack Help Center provides a wealth of troubleshooting articles. They are all very detailed, but simple enough to guide users in solving problems or answering questions.

Slack doesn't offer phone support, but their Live Chat assistant responded quickly and got right to the point. Image Source: Author

Benefits

Slack is to business email what zoom Is at the videoconferencing : a tool that excels at its main asset - corporate email that reduces the need for tedious emails - and even more.

Slack's main selling point is that it massively reduces communication and software system silos, allowing users to perform the vast majority of their daily tasks on a single platform.

Slack lets you have ongoing private and group conversations and share documents from any device at any time. Channels help keep users organized, and the platform is highly customizable and fun to use. It also has the advantage of being able to serve and support a variety of professional needs.

For example, far from being just a chat room where colleagues can meet, Slack channels can be used as both project planning tools and project communication management tools.

FAQs

Is Slack free to use?

Slack offers a free plan, but it only allows you to access the 10,000 most recent messages, add only 10 app integrations, and limits you to 5GB of file storage for downloads.

What other apps integrate with Slack?

The question really should be: What apps don't integrate with Slack?
Slack hosts a powerful ecosystem of integrations, integrating seamlessly with over 2,000 applications.
Zoom, Webex Meetings, Google Hangouts, MailChimp, and Salesforce are some of the most popular apps that integrate with Slack.

Is Slack good for small businesses?

Yes. Slack offers a range of pricing plans that work for all types of businesses.

What is Slack?

Slack offers communication tools and tools, all in one place, to improve collaboration between teams.

Is Slack good?

Our experts voted for Slack as the #3 video conferencing tool and the #6 project management tool.

What are Slack's best features?

Work channels. Voice and video calls. File storage.

Final Verdict

Slack had few real competitors when it launched in 2014. It has taken advantage of this huge advance to establish itself as the first choice for businesses looking to improve their communication strategies.

It also gave Slack an opportunity to build on an already solid product offering — an intuitive user interface with individual and group messaging capabilities.

Slack was designed to make business communication effortless and to encourage collaboration in the workplace.

The fact that it integrates with so many different applications gives users the ability to work almost exclusively within a single application to get most tasks done. In short, Slack is much more than just an instant messaging tool.

However, while Slack is a powerful and feature-rich tool, users need to understand that its primary function is messaging.

It can promote discussion and serve as a place to review project communication plans, but the platform is not designed to replace a project management tool robust offering workflows, shared calendars, and task scheduling and assignment