Item: Slack
Rating: 9
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Slack is our central means of internal communication across all verticals of our business. We use Slack for individual messaging, group messaging for internal teams, themed channels for all interested participants, and company wide announcements. It provides a quick way to ask questions, provide updates, and stay informed about business initiatives when email and calling are not quick enough or appropriate.

Pros and Cons

Easy to understand organization of threads, messages, and groups
Customized preferences for sound notifications
Thread function allows separate conversations to be grouped in large group chats

Wish there was a central location to view all public channels. "Browse channels" is not comprehensive.
Wish drafts would save for longer, they often disappear after a few minutes
Had some issues uploading a photo without it distorting the proportions

Most Important Features

Thread function so that messages involving a certain topic aren't lost in the larger chat
Tagging function so as to alert co-workers without having to send a separate, private message
Customized status function

Return on Investment

Increased transparency from upper management
Streamlined communication across all teams
Improved employee culture and unity

Alternatives Considered

3CX and Google Chat

Slack has expanded functions and much better connection. Slack is heavily customizable whereas 3CX and Google Chat are standard across the board. To my knowledge 3CX and Google Chat do not have the thread function, expanded reactions function, group channels vs group messages, profile photos/titles for users, or customized viewing preferences.

Key Insights

Do you think Slack delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Slack's feature set?

Yes

Did Slack live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Slack go as expected?

I wasn't involved with the implementation phase

Would you buy Slack again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Lattice, Google Drive, Google Meet

Likelihood to Recommend

Great for both in office and remote environments as a supplement to internal email. Whereas email communication can be slow and crowded, Slack allows for quick communication that is well organized. Great for corporate, internal communication that can also be utilized for outsourcing operations. For long and detailed announcements, especially ones involving legal implications, Slack should not be utilized over email.

Enthusiastic proponent of Slack!

Overall Satisfaction with Slack