Slack Connect allows you to work with people outside your company in channels and direct messages (DMs). By moving conversations out of emails, you can work securely and collaboratively with partners, vendors, or customers. Read on for an overview of Slack Connect.

Tip: Book a free 20-minute call with an expert to help you get started working with your partners in Slack.

Slack Connect for channels

When you need to work as a group, you can create a channel where teams from up to 20 companies can communicate. Here's what to keep in mind when using channels with Slack Connect:

• To work in channels together, each organization must be using a paid Slack plan.
• Like other channels in Slack, people can join a channel or be added to it by another member of their organization.
• People from different companies working together in channels can send each other DMs. To work in a group DM, everyone in the conversation must be sharing at least one channel.

Tip: If you have partners not yet using Slack or using the free version, you can invite them to try Slack Connect for free.

Channel ownership

An organization either owns a channel or is invited to one. Channels that were created in your workspace or Enterprise Grid org are owned by your organization. Only the channel owner can invite organizations to it, remove other organizations from it, and continue using the channel if it's no longer shared.

Using apps and workflows

When using apps and workflows in a channel that’s shared, here’s what to expect:

• Workflows can be used by anyone in the channel.
• App shortcuts are available to people from other organizations if an app is installed to their workspace. When people take an action from an app shortcut, it will only apply to the account they've connected to the app. 
• Apps added by another organization will include that organization's Slack icon next to the app name. Only people from the organization that added an app can remove it from a channel.
• People in the channel can see messages from bots and apps. They can also exchange messages with an app’s bot user if it’s been added to the channel.
• Custom apps and slash commands created for your workspace can only be used by members of your organization.

Slack Connect for DMs

When you don't need to work in a channel with someone outside your company, you can talk one-on-one in a DM instead. If you’re using Slack on a paid plan, you can start a DM by sending someone an invitation. You can receive and accept a DM invitation on any Slack plan.

Using Slack Connect

Whether you're using channels or DMs, here's what to expect when working with people from other organizations in Slack.

Security 

Slack Connect provides a secure way for organizations to communicate and collaborate together. Read more about Slack Connect security and data policies and Slack's enterprise-grade security.

Identifying Slack Connect conversations

Channels or DMs using Slack Connect will be marked with a  diamond icon. You'll see this icon appear next to Slack Connect conversations in most places where a channel or member name is visible in Slack. You’ll also see a sidebar section dedicated to your Slack Connect channels and DMs.

Managing Slack Connect from your sidebar

Click  Slack Connect at the top of your left sidebar to send and accept invitations, find Slack Connect resources, and more. Depending on your role and permissions in Slack, you may find key actions to manage Slack Connect for your workspace or Enterprise Grid organization. 

Viewing member profiles

Profile photos for people from other companies will be marked with their organization’s Slack icon in the bottom-right corner. You can view some of their profile information, but you won't be able to see custom profile fields or their statuses.

Using custom emoji

You can use your workspace’s custom emoji like you would in any other channel or DM. People from other companies can see your workspace’s custom emoji, but can’t use them in their messages or as emoji reactions.