Slack

Abstract

Slack is a business communication app for teams that need more structure than a single group chat. It brings project, department and topic-based conversations into separate channels, with search and threaded discussions to keep decisions attached to the relevant work. It suits organisations coordinating across offices, projects or time zones, as well as smaller teams that want one place for day-to-day collaboration.

What it includes

• Channels: Create focused spaces for projects, departments or particular subjects instead of mixing every conversation together.
• Direct messages and threads: Handle one-to-one conversations and replies without losing the surrounding context.
• Huddles and clips: Use voice or video conversations for immediate discussion, or send an asynchronous video message when a live meeting is unnecessary.
• Integrations: Connect Slack with services such as Salesforce, Google Drive and Asana so some updates and approvals can happen alongside team conversations.
• Canvas and AI tools: Collaborative canvases keep notes and plans near the relevant discussion, while Slack AI can help summarise threads and find information in a team’s knowledge base.

Choosing Slack

Slack’s main advantage is its ability to combine messaging with connected work tools. Search is particularly useful for teams that need to recover an earlier decision or file reference, while channels make it easier to limit who needs to follow each subject. The trade-off is that a large workspace can become busy. New users may need time to understand channel organisation, threads, notifications and the wider set of integrations.

At a glance

Listed in the Business category, Slack is developed by SLACK TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C. It has a 4.66/5 rating from 175,345 reviews and 10,000,000+ installs. Those figures indicate broad adoption, but the app is best judged by whether a team will use its channel structure and connected tools consistently.