Slack vs Wrike

2022. Slack adds persistent information layer to channels called Canvas



Slack has achieved considerable success in the enterprise realm by offering various communication options and seamless integration with common enterprise applications. However, until now, Slack has lacked a persistent way to share project-related information. While users could create channels to narrow down content and share documents, links, and other materials, finding them again required searching or extensive scrolling. Acknowledging this limitation, Slack has taken a step forward by combining the collaborative tooling of Quip with Slack's communication capabilities, resulting in a new tool called Canvas. Positioned alongside a channel's conversation stream, Canvas grants users access to a range of information, including data and charts, text, tasks, internal and external links, training videos, and more. This integration allows for a seamless experience where project-related information can be easily shared and accessed within the Slack platform.


2022. Slack gains new automation features, including conditional logic for workflows



Announcing a significant update, Slack has introduced new automation features aimed at enhancing the shareability and discoverability of workflows. Building upon the existing Workflow Builder tool launched in 2019, these latest capabilities enable users to easily send workflows to other Slack users and utilize "if-then" statements to create more advanced flows. Slack's increased focus on automation aligns with the growing popularity of no-code development tools, which empower users to build apps and pipelines without requiring programming expertise. According to a survey conducted by 451 Research and FileMaker, nearly 60% of all custom apps, including automations, are now developed outside of the IT department. Furthermore, the survey revealed that 30% of these apps are created by employees with limited or no technical development skills. This trend emphasizes the importance of providing accessible automation solutions to a broader range of users.


2022. Slack is increasing prices and changing the way its free plan works



Slack, the chat platform widely used as an online watercooler for numerous teams, is implementing changes to its pricing structure and free plan functionality. For users subscribed to the "Pro" plan on a monthly basis, the price will increase from $8 per user per month to $8.75 per user per month. Similarly, for users on the annual "Pro" plan, the price will rise from $6.67 per user per month to $7.25 per user per month. As for the free plan, Slack is modifying how messages are stored. Previously, free users had access to the last 10,000 messages and 5 GB of uploads. Going forward, message retention will be based on time rather than quantity, allowing free users to view the last 90 days' worth of messages and uploads, regardless of the volume exchanged.


2021. Salesforce announces first integrations with Slack



When Salesforce completed its acquisition of Slack towards the end of the previous year, it was evident that they had ambitious plans for the company. Today, the renowned CRM giant has unveiled the initial integrations that are set to benefit Salesforce customers. To begin with, the Sales Cloud now offers dedicated deal rooms. These rooms allow all parties involved in a complex sale, including internal departments such as finance and product teams, as well as external partners, to collaborate within Slack throughout the sales cycle. This enables them to stay updated on the fluctuations and progress of all sales activities. By leveraging Slack's capability to integrate external enterprise applications within its platform, the goal is to foster collaboration and discover methods to streamline and automate various Salesforce tasks. This ultimately results in faster and more efficient usage of Salesforce, eliminating the need to switch contexts in order to achieve desired outcomes.


2021. Slack now lets you DM employees in other companies



Slack has recently introduced a new feature that enables users of the platform to send direct messages to each other. Known as Slack Connect DMs, this functionality allows Slack users to privately communicate with individuals outside their own company. While primarily intended for companies collaborating with partners or clients, it can also be utilized to message friends employed at other companies. This new DM feature expands on Slack's existing Connect feature, which was introduced last year. Slack Connect primarily facilitates business collaboration through shared channels, and cross-organizational DMs represent the next significant aspect of Connect. To initiate a DM, users send a special link to start a conversation, and depending on your organization's Slack setup, Slack admin approval may be required.


2021. Citrix is acquiring Wrike for $2.25B



Citrix, a company known for its network security and desktop virtualization software tools, is looking to expand its presence in the collaboration space through the acquisition of work management platform provider Wrike. The deal, valued at over $2 billion, aims to enhance Citrix's offerings in the digital work management domain. Wrike's platform serves as a comprehensive tool for tracking project dates, managing dependencies, allocating assignments and resources, as well as monitoring time. Additionally, it offers collaboration features that facilitate conversations, asset creation, and decision-making. Citrix has recently been focusing on its Citrix Workspace, a solution that integrates various collaboration tools. The technology and expertise brought by Wrike are expected to greatly contribute to the advancement of this product.


2020. Salesforce buys Slack for $27.7B



Salesforce, the renowned CRM giant, has embarked on a monumental $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack. This substantial deal positions Salesforce in closer competition with its longtime rival and occasional ally, Microsoft, whose Teams product has been directly challenging Slack in the market. Microsoft, having previously passed on acquiring Slack for a fraction of the current purchase price, has now prioritized Teams as a key focus, determined not to concede any portion of the enterprise software market to another company. What has truly set Slack apart, particularly in its early stages, is its remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate with other enterprise software. Coupled with intelligent digital assistants known as bots, Slack has the potential to offer Salesforce customers a centralized platform where they can carry out their work without shifting focus, as virtually all their necessary tasks can be accomplished within the Slack environment.


2020. Wrike launches new AI tools to keep your projects on track



Project management service Wrike has announced a significant platform update during its user conference. The update introduces various AI capabilities aimed at ensuring individual projects stay on track and meet deadlines. Additionally, new solutions have been introduced to cater to the needs of marketers and project management offices in large corporations. With the latest enhancements, Wrike can now predict potential delays and notify project and team leaders of any indications of potential issues. AI-powered task prioritization assists users in identifying the most crucial tasks that require immediate attention, facilitating project progress. Another noteworthy addition is the support for optical character recognition, enabling users to scan printed and handwritten notes from their phones and attach them to specific tasks (available on iOS only). Moreover, voice commands (via Siri on iOS) and smart replies resembling Gmail's functionality (available in English for iOS and Android) have also been introduced.


2020. Slack introduces simplified interface as usage moves deeper into companies



Slack has unveiled its most significant update to date, focusing on enhancing the user experience and transforming it into a more accessible enterprise communications hub. Over the years, Slack has continuously introduced new features to meet the evolving needs of its user base. However, this has led to some interface clutter. The latest redesign aims to address this issue. In addition to a cleaner overall look, one notable feature is the ability to nest channels in the Channel sidebar, allowing for better organization. As the number of channels grows, it can become challenging to navigate through them all. With the new update, users now have the option to group their channels logically and label them for easier access and management.


2019. Slack adds workflow automation feature


Slack has introduced Workflow Builder, a visual tool that empowers all Slack users to automate repetitive tasks by creating personalized workflows. With just a few minutes of setup, you can establish streamlined processes for gathering team requests, promptly reporting any service disruptions, welcoming new team members with automated messages, and a multitude of other valuable applications. To kickstart your workflow-building journey, it's recommended to leverage one of Slack's pre-built workflow templates, which can be easily downloaded and imported. These templates include features such as automatically onboarding new teammates with welcome messages, using custom forms to request specific information, and swiftly collecting real-time incident reports.