Slack has continuously promised that they will replace email. With the launch of Slack Connect, comes the emergence of a better way to work with external partners. So, what is Slack Connect? And how does it compete with AirSend? In this blog post, we will provide a thorough overview of Slack Connect capabilities and functions. Additionally, we will compare both platforms to see, which is the ideal project management tool.
What is Slack Connect?
According to Slack’s webpage, Slack Connect is a better way to work with external partners. “Designed to replace email, Slack Connect extends channel-based messaging to everyone you work with- inside and outside your organization,” so long as they have a Slack account (Slack webpage, 2020).
The new launch allows companies to:
- Collaborate with unprecedented speed
- A secure connection across organizational boundaries
- Automated workflow with integrations
The idea of connecting with external partners is game-changing. However, Slack Connect has a few significant setbacks. The first is that Slack Connect is not available to free users. Companies must pay for the new platform, which can be costly. For startup businesses or bootstrap companies, Slack Connect may not be an ideal choice. To see free alternatives to Slack, check out our blog post.
The second major setback is that companies must have a Slack account to use Slack Connect. In a way, this is a bit ironic to their message of working better with external partners.
When companies collaborate across organizations, the assumption is that all parties have a paid Slack account. But, what if their partners do not have a Slack account, let alone a paid version? The inability to collaborate then poses a problem.
To work with internal/external partners, everyone must have a Slack account. AirSend does not require all parties to have an account, which we will look at shortly.
In conclusion, Slack’s new feature is a useful tool for those who:
- Have a Slack account
- Pay for Slack
“For the most part, the channel will look and feel like regular channels in Slack but have people from different companies inside.”
Slack webpage, 2020.
The new platform is undoubtedly efficient compared to the free version. Companies no longer have to exit out of their organizations to jump into another organization. However, the current limitations of Slack’s new feature poses are the inability to collaborate with non-paid users and users who do not have Slack accounts. The final question we ask is, how does AirSend compete with Slack Connect?
Slack Connect vs. AirSend
As mentioned before, Slack’s new external function is somewhat ironic. To connect with businesses outside of your own company, external parties must have a paid Slack account. With AirSend, this is not the case. AirSend does not require external partners to have an account.
For example, Company A is looking for third-party PR agencies (Company B). Company A hires Company B. As long as Company A has an AirSend account, Company B does not need to have one. How this works is that Company B can communicate with Company A via email. Their messages will be displayed in the Company’s A AirSend channel. Doing so does not inhibit the collaboration, nor the communication. Additionally, AirSend is currently free.
Unlike Slack that offers a ton of integrations, AirSend offers built-in essentials:
- Video/audio calling
- Task management
- File storage/organization
- Note management/tracking
- Public channel
Summation
In summation, Slack Connect and AirSend are both ideal tools for project management. Whereas Slack Connect finally offers external companies to collaborate with others, companies must have a paid version of Slack.
In contrast, AirSend, currently free, does not require all parties to have an account. So long as one company has an account, external parties can communicate via email. Their messages will be displayed in an AirSend channel.
Additionally, companies that use Slack have more accounts through third-party integrations. On the other hand, AirSend offers built-in essentials and no extra accounts.
It all comes down to whether companies want to have a paid version of Slack and a ton of third-party accounts through integrations. To see what others are saying about us, check out the latest review on us.