Slack and/or Google Hangouts

[HCHTech]

Are you using one of these platforms in your business for group messaging between your team?

If so, I'd like to ask some questions:

• Why did you choose the platform you did?
• How are you using the platform?
• What kind of data is shared?
• What integrations are you using and why?
• Why is this better than just sending a text?

We're mostly a Google shop (android phones, google contacts, google calendar, etc) so it would seem that Hangouts would be the obvious choice, but I guess I'm having a hard time deciding why we should do this. Slack has more integrations, but again, I'm not sure what the big win would be. I did find this article, which seems unbiased, but I didn't get any 'aha' moments reading it...

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I have used Google Hangouts in a Google based company and it just worked. It's definitely more ingrained than Slack would be.

 

[HCHTech]

I have used Google Hangouts in a Google based company and it just worked.

Ok, great. What did you use it for? How was this a better solution than "regular" texts or emails? Thanks for your insight.

 

[MichaelBits]

• 1. Why did you choose the platform you did?

• 2. How are you using the platform?

• 3. What kind of data is shared?

• 4. What integrations are you using and why?

• 5. Why is this better than just sending a text?

1. Honestly no idea, one of the owners started using it and it caught on.
2. We use Slack for interoffice communication. Quick and easy to send someone a website link or message.
3. Not sure what you mean here. We don't really share any data over it as in sending files.
4. Integrates with Repairshopr. I have a channel setup to notify me of new tickets and payments taken.
5. I don't like using my phone personally. If I'm going to write something to someone, much prefer a full keyboard. Even if they aren't at their desk, they'll have a notification of a new message and can check it when they are back. If it's important and/or time sensitive, then I'll call them.

 

[neotechnet]

We're on google apps and use Google hangouts love it .I think my guys use outlook but I use Gmail and love being able to open a chat window right in there .

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

Ok, great. What did you use it for? How was this a better solution than "regular" texts or emails? Thanks for your insight.

We used Gmail for email, Google Hangouts for both IM and weekly video meetings. We had several offices and the video meetings made the team closer. There's something about seeing people you work with vs just emailing. Plus IM is nice for quick things that don't need a full email. The contacts integrate into all of the Google platforms so that was convenient.