CRM giant Salesforce has announced the completion of its acquisition of enterprise communications platform Slack, which it first announced in December of 2020.
Aside from internal communications, Slack also features Slack Connect functionality which allows communication and collaboration with external partners, vendors and customers.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have Slack as part of the Salesforce family, combining the #1 CRM and the trailblazing digital platform for the work anywhere world,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO of Salesforce. “Together we’ll define the future of enterprise software, creating the digital HQ that enables every organisation to deliver customer and employee success from anywhere.”
New CRM Interface
Salesforce framed the acquisition as in-line with digital working practices prompted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the ambition being to create a combined offering which connects people across the Salesforce platform in a single interface. As a result, Slack will become the interface for Salesforce Customer 360, with every Salesforce cloud and industry solution integrated with Slack.
“We’ve learned over the past year that the workplace isn’t snapping back to the way it was,” said Bret Taylor, President and Chief Operating Officer of Salesforce. “Together, Slack and Salesforce Customer 360 will give every company in the world a single source of truth for their business and a single platform for connecting employees, customers, and partners with each other and the apps they use every day.”
Slack will continue operating under its existing branding, with CEO Stewart Butterfield continuing in his role.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and reshape how and where we work,” said Stewart Butterfield, Slack CEO and Co-Founder. “Salesforce and Slack are uniquely positioned to lead this historic shift to a digital-first world. I could not be more excited for what’s to come.”
