Slack Review 2023: Features, Pricing, & Integrations

Slack is a project management software and messaging app highly rated among its competitors. It’s the digital headquarters of your small business, small teams, enterprises, customers, or clients to collaborate.

The cloud-based tool is built and dedicated to assisting all teams in holding online communication, file sharing, etc. In summary, it’s built to help teams on their journey to project success. It connects teams to the information and resources they need to enhance productivity and succeed.

1. 1. Advantage over Emails

Most companies often neglect tools for team collaboration, resorting to sending endless emails. Emails can be boring to read and might even be missed. This could cause team members to miss important information and cause delays.

Slack has bypassed this email flaw through its direct messages feature. This feature improves team communication. Slack is better than emails because it offers;

• • Collaboration

As a team, collaboration is better than going solo. When team members collaborate, they can rub their minds together and fast-track project execution. Slack helps teams enjoy the benefits of collaborating on projects. It helps teams – remote, on-site, hybrid, and external stakeholders work together to execute tasks.

• • Security 

The world is ravaged daily by cybercrimes, resulting in the loss of financial assets, intellectual property, sensitive data, etc. One of today’s most typical cyber crimes is phishing, often launched through emails.

With Slack, your team and clients don’t have to worry about the possibility of a cyber-attack. This is because it offers you the protection emails don’t give. To switch from email to Slack;

• • Create a Slack workspace.

• • Invite team members

• • Start to send your emails to Slack.

2. 2. Flexibility

Slack doesn’t limit you to an option. It lets you explore all sorts of resources in your workspace. You can share files – documents, audio, videos, etc., with your team members. When these files are in your workspace, your team members can revert to them for clarification.

3. 3. Integrations

Signing up on Slack opportune you to connect with and use third-party apps. Likewise, it allows you to build custom apps for your team’s needs.

In addition, Slack integrations enhance productivity. Also, they save time and improve collaboration. Slack integrations stand out among competitors because they are:

• • Unified

Connecting Slack with other tools makes it seem like you’re using a single tool. You don’t have to launch multiple apps and it prevents disorderliness or file loss.

• • Not costly  

Unlike other tools that charge some dollars for specific integrations, we don’t. Once you pay for Slack, you get all the integrations under that plan.

4. 4. Scalability

Slack scales with your business regardless of its size and workspaces. It increases engagement with crucial details and enhances collaboration. Also, it ensures that shared project updates reach everyone in your team or those concerned.

Through Slack’s scalability feature, you can;

• • Control and manage projects from a single location.

• • Customize your workspace to show your brand identity. This aids your clients in recognizing you fast and helps your team members to stay on track as they work.

• • Perform admin roles and delegate when necessary. You can assign tasks to a junior employee if you aren’t available or need a hand.

• • Track engagement by viewing the responses of your team members to a project or shared information.

• • Manage Slack with smart controls.

5. 5. Security

Uncompromising security is essential to tackling cyber-attacks. Slack perfectly understands this and sets measures to protect your data in compliance with regulatory policies. Its security team uses best practices accepted at the industry level.

Slack’s security approach focuses on risk management, compliance, and security governance. Its product security features are;

• • Identity and Access Control

    • • 2FA (Two-factor authentication)
    • • Domain claiming
    • • SAML-based single sign-on
    • • SCIM guest provisioning
    • • Session duration
    • • User and group provisioning via SCIM/JIT

• • Device management

• • Session management

• • Minimum app version

• • Default browser control

• • Block jailbroken or rooted devices

• • EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management)

• • Secondary authentication

• • Data Protection

    • • Audit logs API
    • • App and integration management
    • • EKM (Enterprise Key Management)
    • • DLP (Data Loss Prevention)
    • • Grid workspace discovery

• • Information Governance

    • • Data exports
    • • Information barriers
    • • Global retention policies
    • • eDiscovery
    • • Custom terms of service (TOS).

6. 6. Accessibility

Slack is accessible to all groups. Nobody is left out of using Slack due to body or health conditions. Users can use screen readers and access other features when they need to.

1. 1. Channels

Slack Channels redefine the way you and your team work. It works more like a space dedicated to workspace conversations. Once you add team members to a Channel, they can’t leave. With Channels, you can organize your work based on topic or assigned team for clarity.

Similarly, it keeps your team members on the same page as they will access the same information. Using Slack Channels enables your team to become more productive. It also helps your conversations, text files, media files, etc., become searchable whenever needed. Channels come in two forms;

• • Private Channels

Private Channels are enclosed and restricted to certain people. It helps share sensitive information with only those invited.

• • Public Channels 

Everyone on your team is welcome to your public channel. They can search for the channel and join. It opens every team member to workspace conversations and shared files. It also increases transparency.

To use a Slack Channel;

• • Create the channel by clicking ‘+’  on your sidebar. You’ll find the ‘+’ button next to ‘Channels.’ Name your channel and click ‘Create.’

• • Invite your team members. If your team is on the Business+ Plan or Enterprise Grid Plan, you can copy the invite link and share it with each team member.

• • Wait for the invitees to accept and set up the channel on their devices.

• • Get admin approval

Tips for using Slack Channels;

• • Have a precise topic or Channel description.

• • Use threads to organize discussions in Channels.

• • Use public Channels more to keep all team members on the same page.

• • Archive channels you no longer need.

2. 2. Slack Connect

Meet with several team members from other companies through Slack Connect. You can also connect with customers, clients, and vendors. Slack Connect helps you collaborate and communicate with partners effectively. It strengthens the relationship you share with your clients and helps to discuss and share files in real-time.

Connection with external organizations is secure with this feature. Slack Connect keeps your work secure and reduces exposure to email-related attacks. It also secures collaboration and communication.

Slack Connect streamlines processes for your team. Also, it builds, connects, and automates workflows across organizations. It can help you set up meetings and share documents with those needed.

You should consider bringing apps into Slack Connect to enhance collaboration with your partners and other external individuals. These apps include Google Driver, Highspot, Calendly, Zoom, and Simple Poll.

3. 3. Huddles

Connect with your team members via audio or video with Huddles. It gives you a side-by-side and face-to-face work feeling. You can make suggestions, share ideas and files, and get feedback live.

The content you share on Huddles automatically saves in Slack when your chat ends. So you can revisit them if you need to. You can spice things up with emojis, effects, and colorful backgrounds as you chat over audio and video. These keep you more interested in the conversation at hand.

4. 4. Messaging

Send messages to your team members or schedule them when necessary. The messaging feature also connects you with remote team members regardless of their location in the world.

Also, this feature works like a chat app where you can send direct messages to a team member (without others knowing what you discussed). You can take messaging even further if you download the Slack app, especially for mobile.

5. 5. Clips

Clips are a fun way to communicate with team members without setting up live meetings. A clip can be video or audio and up to 5 minutes long. Use clips to share announcements & updates and give explanations.

You can watch or listen to clips whenever and the number of times you wish. Likewise, you can adjust the speed as you wish or show its transcript. While recording a video clip, you can blur your background or share your screen. Clips are available for use on all plans – free or paid.

6. 6. File Sharing

Slack allows you to share files and collaborate with team members. You can also use the integrated file sharing through tools like Dropbox, Google Drive, Seismic, and One Drive.

On Slack, shared files are secure and private. You can access shared files from different devices as Slack automatically syncs them. The same messages, clips, audio, video, and documents you can access on your desktop will be available on mobile.

7. 7. Search

The Search feature gives anyone on your team access to resources whenever needed. Slack lets you search for resources shared a long time ago. It beats email as there’s no file loss or inbox archives. You can search for as little as a comment or message on the go.

8. 8. Workflow Builder

Ease the stress attached to work life with Slack’s workflow builder. You can automate processes and build any apps you need without coding. Slack workflows handle repetitive tasks or routines. It also reduces the time needed to perform tasks.

Slack commits heavily to helping teams grow massively. Let’s examine the teams that can use Slack;

1. Sales

Slack is an excellent choice for sales teams that want to attract prospects and convert them into repeat customers.

As a sales team, you can use Slack Connect to build lasting customer relationships that will grow into making huge sales. You can connect with customers and share valuable resources back and forth.

Likewise,  you can answer customers’ questions, provide feedback, and execute projects, as stated with Slack’s help.

2. Customer Success

Customer success depends on how your team maintains excellent customer relationships. With Slack, you can digitally meet your customers and engage them with great conversations. You will realize their pain points and offer solutions.

Your team can use Slack to create connections, sort customer issues, and share project updates.

3. Customer Service

Attend promptly to customers’ issues by providing support through Slack. As you work with Slack Connect, clients can reach you fast with their concerns while you offer customer support.

4. Marketing

Use Slack to hold meaningful discussions with your team members. You can also use Slack to discuss necessary changes and collaborate on campaigns. Likewise, you can share new concepts and feedback on Slack.

5. Operations

Manage operations and relationships with vendors and suppliers effectively. Your operations and logistics team can use Slack Connect to share real-time supply chain updates with partners. It also helps you to adapt to customers’ changing needs.

6. Business Development 

Build business connections with partners and accelerate business growth with Slack. You and your partners can also stay updated with new business development.