Is Teams a good alternative to Slack

[Velvis]

I have an O365 customer that uses Slack for instant messaging. (Not sure what it costs monthly) But he is looking to cut expenditures during this virus (The company business is large gatherings.)
I know O365 includes Teams but I don't know much about it.

Before I go down the rabbit hole, is Teams ever going to be able to easily replace something like Slack?
or is it an uphill battle that will bite me in the ass for suggesting it?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Teams and Slack are two very different beasts. The former is better for managed organizations, the latter is better for organizations that need a more decentralized administration. The users do most of the lifting with Slack.

Slack can handle a STUPIDLY large group too... millions strong. A single Team is limited to 5,000 people.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What is it you're looking to do? (or your clients are looking to do?)

Teams is much more than "just internal chat/messaging"....a lot of people just see that and leave it there.
Learn the features of what Teams can do...the add on apps, the way it easily creates document libraries in Sharepoint...controlling permissions, "syncing" to file explorer so users can work in those files easier, add on apps such as calendars, OneNote, Planner, and tons more. And the replacement for "Zoom".

 

[Velvis]

What is it you're looking to do? (or your clients are looking to do?)

Teams is much more than "just internal chat/messaging"....a lot of people just see that and leave it there.
Learn the features of what Teams can do...the add on apps, the way it easily creates document libraries in Sharepoint...controlling permissions, "syncing" to file explorer so users can work in those files easier, add on apps such as calendars, OneNote, Planner, and tons more. And the replacement for "Zoom".

I believe they only use Slack as an instant messenger, using the different channels for each department.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@Velvis, if that's the case and they also have O365 already then yes... they need to start using Teams and cut that expense out of their day.

 

[Velvis]

Can Teams be used to replace a standalone VOIP solution like 8x8?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Can Teams be used to replace a standalone VOIP solution like 8x8?

Yes, but I don't recommend it. From what I've heard it crashed pretty hard in the last week or so due to load issues. Also, you need Skype compatible handsets... and the ecosystem just isn't there yet. And if that wasn't bad enough, hunt groups ring in your ear even if you're on the phone.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/here-s-what-you-get-with-phone-system

 

[frase]

Personally I use teams, is effective and does the job required for me.

 

[SAFCasper]

We started using Teams last week across a company of ~140 staff. So far feedback has been very positive and it has became an essential tool with the lockdown forcing us to work from home in the UK.

For just messaging I think Slack is still king. But Teams is very good and essentially free if already using 365 - it's hard to argue against that.


FYI - you can get 100 subscriptions of "Teams Exploratory" for free right now which are valid until at least Jan 2021 (ends on your next renewal date after that).
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-exploratory

 

[Fred Claus]

I have an O365 customer that uses Slack for instant messaging. (Not sure what it costs monthly) But he is looking to cut expenditures during this virus (The company business is large gatherings.)
I know O365 includes Teams but I don't know much about it.

Before I go down the rabbit hole, is Teams ever going to be able to easily replace something like Slack?
or is it an uphill battle that will bite me in the ass for suggesting it?

I am a professor for Penn Foster University and they just recently switched. We used Slack for a few years and now everyone was switched over to Teams. I personally like it better.