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At its simplest, Slack is a channel-based chat tool that many agencies and client services teams use to discuss issues in real-time.
Instead of relying on buried email threads, phone calls, or carrier pigeons, Slack has become a popular tool for one-to-one business messaging, private group chat, voice and video calls, and inter-business collaboration via Slack Connect.
Advanced Slack users often take advantage of Slack’s Workflow Builder for basic automation and its file-sharing functionality, which some users find simpler than other options like OneDrive or DropBox.
Slack also integrates with more than 1,500 apps, including most of the top business apps and software suites, and many project management apps. By bringing your project management and collaboration functions together, your agency works in greater harmony with fewer manual steps.
What are the benefits of using a Slack project management integration for agencies?
Most agencies keep their work organized with some form of project management (PM) tool as well as a project collaboration tool — but many are using them in siloed, non-integrated ways.
If you’re using Slack (or are strongly considering switching to it), most of the major project management tools on the market offer some sort of integration.
But are they worth using?
What are the advantages of using a Slack project management integration and what distinguishes a good integration from a mediocre one?
Below, we’ll cover the traits and advantages we’re certain you’ll want in any integration you’re considering.
Remember: The point of integrating is to simplify processes, reduce manual steps, and improve efficiency. If the integration isn’t doing those things, you’re better off not using it — or switching to project management software with superior integration.
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Benefit 1: Timely and accessible notifications
One of the greatest advantages of tools like Slack is cutting through the noise, delivering timely notifications that users see right away, and (presumably) acting on quickly. When you send an email, you never know when (or even if) your teammate will open it and act on it.
Slack instantly delivers notifications via the Slack app or desktop/web interface, prompting punctual responses.
So, on the integration front, you want to make sure your project management tool can produce timely — and useful, not spammy — notifications in Slack. This is a core advertised function of most integrations.
But make sure your specific integration delivers the kind of granularity you need to better manage and monitor your workflows.
Benefit 2: Simple coordination
Again, the point of using integrations is to simplify your operations, not to add complexity. Does a given integration make it simpler to coordinate people, new tasks, due dates, remote teams, Gantt charts, and whatever else you need?
Or do you find yourself wasting more time trying to keep the integration working properly than you’re saving by using it?
Benefit 3: Easy file-sharing capabilities
Pre-integration, file-sharing is one of the biggest challenges of using disparate systems for different business functions. Your Microsoft apps all want to use OneDrive, while other third-party apps may not integrate well with your organization’s current technical setup.
Whatever your existing file-sharing structure or restrictions (e.g., are you all-in on Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or some other service?), adding a project management app integration to your Slack app should allow for easy file-sharing.
Slack allows you to send Google Sheets, Google Docs, or whatever else you need to send (if it’s in the right cloud location), and the best Slack integrations piggyback on this file-sharing capability.
Benefit 4: More effective reporting
One of the most frustrating aspects of day-to-day work for many project managers is getting everyone on their team to report consistently and in a timely fashion.
Email reports are commonplace, but then the project manager must manually update charts or buttons in their task management software. And when a project manager is drowning in reporting emails, it’s easy for them to miss things.
With a Slack integration, team members can drop their PM notifications into a dedicated Slack channel, keeping email inboxes free from clutter. Project managers can also reach out via Slack message for reporting updates.
Overall, Slack integration can make the reporting process much smoother and more effective.
The 13 most useful Slack project management integrations
Below, we’ll show you 13 of the most useful Slack project management integrations out there.
But before we get started, here’s a little context — or should we say, boundary-setting: This list isn’t intended to tell you which project management tool is best for your business. It also isn’t intended to convince you to use Slack more or less than you do right now.
Instead, this list is for businesses that are already committed to Slack, or that are planning to move toward Slack for their collaboration needs. If you’re using Slack — or are planning to switch to it — and you need a project management solution that plays nicely with Slack, this is the list for you.
Our methodology is simple: We’re looking specifically at how deeply and how well each entry on the list integrates with Slack. Nothing more, nothing less.
1. Teamwork.com
Teamwork.com’s Slack integration lets its agencies or client services users take action on conversations and manage team projects with clients directly from within the Slack app. Best of all, Teamwork.com recently updated to version 2.0 of its Slack integration, unleashing a host of new features and refinements.
Check out a few examples of what you can do with the Teamwork.com for Slack integration:
Turn requests into tasks or messages.
Send and receive real-time task updates; follow up by adding comments (even from clients you invited to Teamwork.com) to those updates.
Project Channels allow you to share channels between Teamwork.com and Slack.
Automatically pull in links shared in Slack into the Teamwork.com links library.
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Want to see what makes Teamwork.com and its Slack integration different from the rest? See for yourself with a free trial. For help getting the Slack integration up and running, check out Enabling the Slack integration.
Pros
Project managers can consolidate client communications into one centralized platform to get work done.
Message shortcuts are a powerful way to create events in Teamwork from within Slack.
Pull content, ideas, and more from Slack into Teamwork.com, where they can be converted into project-managed tasks.
Version 2.0 adds many new slash commands, allowing users to do even more from within Slack.
Cons
Some users don’t prefer Teamwork Chat over Slack, but with the integration, switching to Slack entirely is a workable alternative.
Integration is not available for Free plans on both Teamwork.com and Slack.
2. Trello
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Trello is a project management tool from Atlassian that focuses on light-touch, simpler workflows. Trello made a name for itself with its board-only design. Other tools have since added a similar view, but Trello has stuck with this single view as the only option.
Trello focuses on lighter workflows that might not address your agency's or firm's needs. It can only handle tasks with shorter durations and that focus shows up in the Trello for Slack integration too. You can do Trello things from within Slack, like adding new Trello cards to boards without switching over to Trello. Links pasted into Slack get smarter within Trello too, as insights automatically pulled in.
There are some powerful aspects to the Trello integration, like the ability to change due dates and join cards and boards from within Trello. Of course, all of this is moot if Trello itself isn’t robust enough to meet your project management needs — a serious consideration for businesses with higher-complexity projects.
Pros
The integration allows you to send Trello notifications through Slack.
Some unique functions like changing due dates within Slack.
Clever use of slash commands.
Many users comment on the integration being particularly well built.
Cons
Trello itself has certain limitations around project complexity, and the integration can’t overcome them.
Overreliance on Markdown for formatting is frustrating for some users.
3. ClickUp
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ClickUp is a project management tool that markets itself as a single app that does everything; from project management to chat to documents. Of course, any tool that claims to do everything can’t do everything equally well, so ClickUp users often turn to better-dedicated tools for specific functions.
Few would argue that ClickUp’s chat function is better than Slack, so the integration exists to pick up the “slack.”
ClickUp can have a steep learning curve and can struggle with longer, more complex projects. Pricing is interesting as well: ClickUp’s free tier is more functional than most, but paid plans can get pricey.
The ClickUp Slack integration is well built and delivers strong functionality. If you’re already using both apps, there’s no reason not to integrate.
Like most others, this integration allows you to turn messages into tasks and comments and enables better cross-app notifications. A dropdown Manage Tasks menu lets you edit most attributes of any task directly from within Slack.
Pros
The powerful Manage Tasks dropdown menu gives you access to most attributes for most tasks.
Like Trello, ClickUp turns task links into rich ones with context and the ability to perform task actions.
ClickUp claims that using Slack and ClickUp together increases productivity by 30%.
Cons
Integration is limited to fairly straightforward functions.
Notifications and chat within ClickUp itself can be cumbersome.
Slack notifications tend to be team-based, leading to notification clutter.
4. Asana
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Asana is a task-based project management app that helps businesses (primarily smaller businesses) coordinate work across teams. As a more lightweight solution, Asana doesn’t include support for certain elements like time tracking or custom client permissions.
Most of the functionality of Asana’s Slack integration mirrors what other apps are doing. One standout feature is the ability to automate processes by combining Asana Rules with Slack.
Triggers in Asana automatically generate Slack messages to channels or teammates. Also noteworthy is the ability to actually mark tasks as complete within Slack, which is a big step up from simply notifying your project manager.
Pros
A focus on smaller teams and companies results in better support for SMBs.
Ability to mark tasks as complete from within Slack — not just send completion messages.
Cons
Asana isn’t an ideal choice for most larger organizations, and it doesn’t scale particularly well.
Asana’s tie-ins work very well once configured, but some users found the configuration very challenging.
Fewer slash commands than other apps.
5. Wrike
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Wrike is an enterprise-grade project management software suite that’s built to deliver impressive and powerful project management tools to enterprise organizations, primarily for use among in-house teams.
Existing Wrike users can find a lot to like about the integration. You can create new tasks for Wrike directly in Slack, post-task previews with task details in chats, and receive Wrike notifications in Slack.
Pros
Provides great ways to extend Wrike into Slack, and vice versa.
Integration is easy to implement.
Cons
Wrike likely isn’t the best choice for small and midsize organizations.
Nothing unique or particularly deep about this integration.
Slack integration isn’t right for every workflow: Many users prefer keeping Wrike notifications and Slack channels separate.
6. Smartsheet
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Smartsheet is a different approach than most others listed here. It’s similar to Airtable being a massively pumped-up database tool to help teams manage projects, streamline and automate workflows, and build new no-code tools and solutions.
It can help with project management and a whole lot more. And in the right contexts, it can boost productivity and efficiency.
Because Smartsheet does more, its Slack integration works a little differently. There are four main functions:
Create a Slack alert from within Smartsheet (tied to rows or sheets).
Get detailed backlinked notifications in Slack from Smartsheet.
Get Smartsheet notifications sent as direct messages.
Review and approve Smartsheet approval requests without leaving Slack.
Pros
A powerful suite of tools, with integrations customized to work well with the toolset.
Keeps users working productively and smoothly within Slack, giving them access to powerful Smartsheet tools within a sleek interface.
Cons
Smartsheet is overwhelming if all you need are project management tools.
Alerts don’t work the same as with other tools.
7. Jira
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Jira and slack integration example
Also made by Atlassian, Jira is an issue and project tracking software built primarily with software developers in mind. It goes far deeper than its more general-market sibling, Trello.
It has plenty of developer-focused features and tools, including a development workflow, integration with Atlassian Open DevOps, and preconfigured fields for tracking release versions and issues within those versions.
Jira’s Slack integration can pull your Jira notifications into Slack, display Jira issue previews within the communication tool, and allow your Slack teams to create Jira issues from within Slack.
Bonus: Did you know Teamwork.com integrates with Jira, GitHub, and other popular developer software?
Pros
A perfect integration solution for many software developers.
View details of an issue from within Slack so you can stay focused on what matters most.
Cons
Highly configurable notification settings can take some adjustment to get right (or lead to notification spam).
Not designed with all conventional project management functions in mind.
8. Mavenlink
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Mavenlink is a professional services-focused automation, resource management, business intelligence, and project management platform. Mavenlink covers a great many aspects of business, including project management, and the company offers a Slack integration to enhance its services.
The Mavenlink integration for Slack isn’t nearly as robust as others and appears to be limited to automatically sharing communications from Mavenlink to the appropriate Slack channel.
Pros
The integration makes Mavenlink more usable by routing notifications through Slack.
Zendesk provides very detailed setup instructions.
Cons
Integration is limited to sending notifications of various types to relevant Slack channels.
You can’t change information in Mavenlink from Slack.
9. HoneyBook
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HoneyBook is an all-inclusive management platform designed with small businesses in mind. Task automation and project management make up a small part of the HoneyBook portfolio, but some small businesses do rely on them for these functions.
HoneyBook doesn’t have its own Slack integration, but third-party firms (including Zapier and SourceForge) have created some.
Zapier’s primary integration function appears to be creating new Slack channels when new projects are booked on HoneyBook. There are a handful of others, and most have to do with the creation of new channels or messages.
Pros
Zapier offers a wider range of triggers than many first-party integrations do.
Multiple third-party companies offer integrations.
Cons
Third-party integrations can be finicky and lack support.
Numerous triggers are listed, but few offer meaningful functionality.
10. Airtable
Airtable is another wide-ranging platform that does much more than just traditional project management. Its integration with Slack is fairly limited in scope, though, allowing you to send Airtable updates to a specific Slack channel and not much more.
Pros
Its main function works well.
Cons
Extremely limited functionality elsewhere.
No ability to interact with Airtable content from within Slack.
11. BigTime
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BigTime focuses on projects for professional service firms. Their seven-step process includes traditional project management and work management functions, along with invoices, metrics, and reporting.
Like Airtable, BigTime’s Slack integration is very narrow in focus, but it at least allows for a broader range of notification types.
Pros
Send a range of BigTime notifications automatically through Slack via Slackbot.
Easy access to support.
Cons
Slack can’t send or modify information within BigTime.
Users can simply turn off notifications.
12. ActiveCollab
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ActiveCollab is collaborative project management software. With a focus on collaboration, support for Slack should be no surprise.
ActiveCollab’s Slack integration offers a wide range of notification options, including when a task is created, completed, or moved when users are invited or accept invitations, and when time or expenses are logged.
Unfortunately, notifications are the only game in town — there’s no controlling ActiveCollab from within Slack.
Pros
Offers more notification-based options than some integrations.
Affordable compared to many options (though the Slack integration requires the most expensive plan).
Cons
It’s a far less popular solution, so community support and knowledge base may be slim.
Integration is one-way, with no way to control or influence ActiveCollab from within Slack.
13. Scoro
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Scoro describes itself as “the control hub for your business” and an “end-to-end work management platform.” A favorite of smaller firms, usually in tech, Scoro offers a Slack integration (powered by Zapier) with true two-way communication.
Got a Slack message that should have been a Scoro task? You can send it over to Scoro as soon as you receive it, among many other things.
Pros
True two-way integration lets you send information from Scoro to Slack and from Slack to Scoro.
More features, like Comments, are said to be coming soon.
Cons
Zapier integrations can be trickier to implement.
“Coming soon” could mean tomorrow, or it could mean five years from now — there’s no way to be sure of the exact timeline.
Optimize your company’s Slack experience with the Teamwork.com integration
For teams and businesses already using Slack and Teamwork.com, integrating the two is a no-brainer: You’ll gain robust, two-way integration, giving both apps the ability to communicate with the other in automated, powerful ways.
If you’re relying on another project management tool and you’re frustrated by the limitations or complete lack of Slack integration, perhaps it’s time for a change. Teamwork.com can do more and does it better.
To see more about how Teamwork.com and Slack can combine as a powerful force multiplier for your business, check out our in-depth knowledge base article on the topic.
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