Slack Reviews

We use Slack for collaboration between engineering teams, cloud teams, and technical support. One particular use case is releasing updates to our software. This process involves a risk management process, code review by different stakeholders, and testing by QAs. It is a multi-disciplinary task, and Slack helps to manage these releases via channels.

In managing releases via Slack channels, one major advantage over Teams is the ability to have threaded discussions, which helps in catching up on relevant discussions without the distraction of interleaved conversations. Slack's wikis, or task-tracking capabilities for different responsibilities, are useful for setting times and documenting release issues. These canvas and list items provide a management overview of release activities.

I categorize Slack as a modern workstream collaboration and automation tool. The simple use cases are peer-to-peer or group chats and collaborating in channels. I might create a channel based on certain needs, like a project or a particular subject, but it's not just chat, there are also features like the sharing of information and knowledge. I also use Slack for document collaboration.

Then you get into more advanced features for tools with things like automation, such as being able to integrate with ServiceNow. This ITSM platform opens up tickets and automatically creates a channel where service teams can easily communicate about that event or that outage if it's a high-priority ticket.

Twenty years ago, we communicated through email, where we would send documents back and forth with different versions as people changed them. If we sent the documents to a group of people, we would have to figure out the versions and who modified what. When we work with a platform like Slack, we can have one source without merging different document versions. That makes people more productive and collaborative at the end of the day.

Slack is primarily used for communication, file sharing, and sometimes for Huddle, which is similar to a Zoom call within Slack. You can start a call with the person directly. 

Slack offers several valuable features. Firstly, they have a message deletion feature, which is now available in other software as well, but Slack was the one who introduced it in enterprise solutions. 

Additionally, Slack has a great feature for creating communities. This means that if you want to communicate with someone from a different company, you can create a channel specifically for them. They won't have access to other channels or public channels in your company, only the channel you've created for them. This is particularly useful for our interactions with one of our client, as we have a dedicated channel with them, allowing us to receive support. It's one of the best use cases I've seen for Slack, apart from its primary use for intra-company communication.

We use the solution for internal communication within the company. We also use Slack for one-to-one messages and audio and video meetings.

The most valuable features of Slack are basic chatting, file sharing, and screen sharing. I've also used the solution for automation.

We use the solution to collaborate with other teams. As a product manager, I need to engage with the engineering team, marketing department, and account executives.

The solution suits collaboration, where multiple people work on the same issue. We use it for integration with Google Drive and Zoom. It syncs up with the official Google account. So, I get notified through Slack whenever I have a meeting or if somebody shares a particular document on Google Drive. It also tells if somebody leaves a comment on a document on Google Drive. I also use it to connect with my internal IT team.

Slack allows me to write personal notes to myself and set reminders for them. It has a send now and a schedule send option, so I can send messages immediately or schedule them for later. Maybe you don't want to send a reminder to a certain team now, but you'll forget when you have to; you can schedule it.

We primarily use it for internal communication and coordination. Mostly, we were using it to share information and then, you know, use it more as a repository for exchange and communication among users. 

So we were using it more like an alternative to email, at least for all internal conversations and coordination. That's one. And mostly to share info and share docs, etcetera.

Basically, the fact that we moved to one platform and away from emails has helped us. Everybody can see what everybody else is saying, so we don't have to plow through tons of emails. The fact that there is a history already there for somebody to see, at least since the time they became a member of a group or a team, is the biggest time saver. 

We can always scroll back and look at the history to see what happened and react based on the context of the conversation or discussion. For me, that would be the biggest advantage of moving away from emails.

We use Slack mainly for internal communication and some file storage and document storage.

The most valuable features of Slack are communication and its ability to create hidden, private, and open groups.