# Is it complicated to use?

Really, it is not complicated to start using Slack as a communication tool. However, best of all, in a few weeks you will see how inefficient it was to exchange hundreds and hundreds of emails that formed endless chains and where in the end the key aspects ended up being lost.

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: almost 6 years ago
- Author title: Planificador de Proyecto en CPI Asociados CA
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

Honestly, it’s not complicated at all. Slack is designed so that most people can jump in and use it within a day. After a few weeks, you start to realize how much time was wasted digging through long email threads just to find one decision or file. Conversations become more transparent, searchable, and easier to follow, especially in teams. 

That said, it works best when teams set some simple rules around channels, notifications, and when to switch back to email for formal or external communication.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 3 months ago
- Author title: Marketing & Strategy Lead at CONTUS 



### Comment 2

I don't find Slack complicated at all as a communications tool.  One of the things I love about Slack is the Channels function.  Now My team can have a channel dedicated only to estimates for work needing to be done and another one for Company Announcements.  Helps keep the clutter of sifting dozens of Happy Birthday messages trying to find the price of something that someone sent last month. 

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Community Manager at SUNRISE COMMUNITIES LLC



### Comment 3

Slack does not replace endless email chains and worse, things can get just as easily lost in Slack. What Slack IS amazing for is:

 1) Getting immediate alerts on your phone and desktop through Hubspot integration for live chat, and to function as a live chat response tool.

 2) Talking to teams of ppl to get quick answers to quick questions 

3) Getting ideas for how to solve something you're chewing on (if ppl have the time to respond & are actively using Slack.)

Slack is not complicated for most tech-savvy ppl, but ppl who are a little unfamiliar with tech tools will take some time to orient themselves to it.

Ultimately if you use Hubspot Live Chat - you will 100% want Slack on your desktop and phone.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: I help Sales teams get more qualified leads and close customers faster.



### Comment 4

I'd  disagree.  How channels work, how to directly messages someone, how to keep users on the side panel, how to reply to either a specific comment or in general,   how to edit a text you've already posted and how to navigate the various tags, are not all that obvious to new users.   I know it took me at least a few weeks to get proficient with it.  Formatting text use to be fairly cryptic as well.  

However, they have make formatting text more user friendly (it was fairly cryptic that you placed markup in your text -- at least for non-technical folks, that's not all that user friendly... if you've written in a Wiki language it would have been understandable)  But they've added some more common buttons to assist now.

That all said, once you figure out how these things work, you can be very productive with it.  It has a number of plugins that are excellent and can really bring a lot of information to you in once place.  You can have things like Jenkins and other tools post directly into channels.    It's voice/video calls work well. (though I don't like that you can't have video and screen sharing both active at the same time).  

It is my favorite messaging app by far... even though it has a steep learning curve to get proficient.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Sr EV Solutions Engineer -- Firmware



### Comment 5

Agreed Allison! As long as you can understand what a channel is and how to @ mention and Direct Messages you will be golden. Perfect spot to manage conversations with both individuals, groups, or projects. My favorite feature is the custom groupings for both channels and DMs. 

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Success: from Operations, Salesforce, Customer events and more.


#### Reply 1

I agree also. It's easy to use on a basic level, but requires a bit of learning to take full advantage of Slack's capabilities.

##### Reply Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Director of internal communications at Lafayette College

#### Reply 2

it is super easy to use and so helpful to get a hold of people or search for questions and answers. We have multiple private channels and then tons of DMs

##### Reply Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Senior Project Manager



## Related Product
[Slack](https://www.g2.com/products/slack/reviews)

## Related Category
[Work Management](https://www.g2.com/categories/work-management)

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