What is Slack?
Slack describe themselves as a platform that connects teams with the apps, services, and resources they need to efficiently work together and achieve project goals. Slack was launched in 2014, and now a vast number of companies are using Slack to bring their teams together, make sense of their work, and drive their business forward.
It is easy to use, brings all your communication together in one place and you can access it remotely no matter where you are based.
The main components of slack are as follows:
Teams and Workspaces: A team is a group of people that use Slack to communicate. Your Slack workspace is the digital space you and your team will share to communicate with eachother each day.
Channels: Your Slack workspace is comprised of channels. Channels are used to hold your conversations with your Team members.
Messages: You can send direct messages (DM’s) to Team Members. DM’s are best for ad-hoc, quick discussions. These conversations are only visible to and searchable by you and the other members you DM. You can also messages within a public channel where everyone who is part of that channel will be able to see what you have posted and be able to respond.
Search: You’ll notice a search box in the upper-right corner of Slack. Try typing a word or phrase into the search box to start looking.
Notifications: This is Slack’s way of telling you about items that need your attention. You can choose to receive notifications on your desktop, your mobile device, or by email.
Salesforce Testing
One of the best things about Slack is how easy it can be used in conjunction to testing a Salesforce project. Using the Slack App listed within the Salesforce AppExchange it is possible to link Salesforce records with channels in your Slack workspace as well as share messages between Slack and Chatter.
To Communicate with Slack and Salesforce Chatter
- Use the /chatter command in Slack to send updates to Chatter.
- Enter /slack in Chatter to send a post from Chatter to Slack.
Next time that you are a Salesforce QA Consultant on an all important Salesforce Project, why not make a suggestion the Project Manager about integrating Salesforce and Slack.
A Certified Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Einstein Analytics and Discovery Consultant, ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level, Jitterbit Foundations and Jitterbit Core Certified QA Test Automation Manager who is also an experienced creative all-rounder with enthusiasm and the proven ability to understand client needs and deliver satisfying solutions. A thirst for new technology and modern Quality Assurance and Testing techniques keeps me aspiring to learn at every opportunity. My current role is at Publicis Sapient who are an official Salesforce Platinum Partner. Publicis Sapient provide Salesforce expertise and strategic thinking that enables organisations to transform their business to Cloud-based technology.