Slack for Enterprise: Features, Benefits, and Best practices

If your organization is large and complex, you need something bigger than the usual Slack plans. You want to tap into Slack for Enterprise, or as Slack calls it, Slack Enterprise Grid. 

This robust platform is specifically designed to cater to the intricate needs of large-scale businesses, seamlessly integrating communication across various departments and with external stakeholders.

In this article, we're going to explore Slack Enterprise Grid, from its cutting-edge features and extensive benefits to best practices that can transform your organizational communication. Let’s jump right in!

What is Slack for Enterprise (Slack Enterprise Grid)?

Slack Enterprise Grid is a Slack solution tailor-made for big players—large, complex organizations that need a bit more than what standard Slack plans offer. Think of multinational corporations, big nonprofits, or educational institutions with thousands of employees to keep in sync. This is what Slack for Enterprise is built for.

Source: Slack

What sets it apart? Firstly, it's built to scale. No matter how big your organization grows, Slack Enterprise Grid grows with you.

Then, there's the security aspect. We're talking about top-notch security features that are essential for large organizations. You get peace of mind knowing your communications are safe and secure.

But there's more! Enterprise Grid offers extensive integrations and customizable workspaces. This means each team or department can tailor their Slack experience to fit their specific needs, all while staying connected within the larger organizational framework.

In short, if you're a big business looking for a communication tool that's cohesive, secure, and efficient, Slack Enterprise Grid is what you need.

Key Slack for Enterprise (Slack Enterprise Grid) features

So, how is Slack for Enterprise different from the rest of its offerings? Let’s take a look.

Enhanced security and compliance

One of the most robust features of Slack Enterprise Grid is its commitment to security and compliance. With enterprise-grade security, the platform offers data encryption in transit and at rest, along with support for enterprise key management and integration with popular DLP providers.

Gartner reports that 88% of enterprises rank cybersecurity as a top concern. That's where Slack Enterprise Grid comes in with its strong security features, making it an attractive option for companies that can’t take any risks.

Customizable and scalable workspaces

The ability to create and manage multiple interconnected workspaces is another key feature of Slack Enterprise Grid. This allows large organizations to set up individual workspaces for different departments, locations, or teams. At the same time, it keeps the door open for cross-team collaboration as needed.

The scalability and customization offered here make it a perfect fit for businesses that have diverse teams and complex structures.

Integrated workflows

Slack Enterprise Grid seamlessly integrates with over 2,600 third-party applications, making it a central hub for many organizational workflows. Whether it's project management tools like Asana and Jira, or CRM systems like Salesforce, Slack Enterprise Grid brings them all together. This centralization streamlines workflows and boosts efficiency across the board.

Compliance, certifications, and regulations

Finally, Slack Enterprise Grid is designed with a strong focus on compliance. It's tailored to meet your compliance obligations, adhering to widely recognized standards and equipping you with the necessary tools to manage these requirements.

Slack is compliant with the following:

• SOC 2 Trust Service Principles;

• ISO/IEC 27017 Cloud Computing Security;

• FedRAMP (Li-SaaS);

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation);

• FINRA, and many more.

What's the difference between Slack Connect and Slack Enterprise Grid?

Slack Connect and Slack Enterprise Grid cater to different needs. Slack Connect is designed to improve communication with external organizations, allowing you to create shared channels with outside companies, clients, or partners.

On the other hand, Slack Enterprise Grid is tailored for large organizations, offering advanced features like enhanced security, scalable workspaces, and comprehensive administrative controls.

Slack Connect is offered under all Slack’s paid subscriptions, including Slack Enterprise Grid.

Slack for Enterprise pricing

Pricing for the Slack Enterprise Grid plan is customized based on the specific needs and size of an organization. Unlike standard Slack plans with fixed pricing, Enterprise Grid offers a more flexible approach. The cost typically depends on the number of users, desired features, and level of support required. Organizations interested in adopting Slack Enterprise Grid are advised to contact Slack's sales team for a tailored quote.

Best practices of using Slack Enterprise Grid

If you're leaning towards Slack Enterprise Grid, or already have it but suspect you're not tapping into all its features, here are some handy tricks to enhance your experience:

1. Set up structured channels for better organization

As your complex organization is divided into departments, teams, subdivisions, or even countries, your Slack workspace needs to match that. The best way to organize your operations in Slack’s Enterprise plan is by setting up structured channels.

You can, for example, create channels for different departments like #marketing, #HR, and #sales. Likewise, if your business is spread across several countries, you can set up channels for different geographic locations or offices (e.g. #NYC-office or #London-HQ).

Well-structured communication channels enhance productivity by reducing time spent searching for information.

2. Integrate with other business tools

Integrating Slack for Enterprise together with a range of business tools—think CRM systems, project management software, and HR platforms—can amp up your operational efficiency. This kind of integration creates a more unified and streamlined workflow.

It also means less time spent bouncing between different applications or sending emails. Imagine your teams tracking project progress, pulling up customer data, or handling HR tasks, all directly within Slack.

3. Don’t forget training

Slack is constantly changing, and the Enterprise version comes loaded with additional features that your organization might not be fully taking advantage of. This is why ongoing training and support for users of Slack Enterprise Grid is essential.

Continual training ensures that employees are kept up-to-date with the latest features and best practices. This maximizes the benefits of the platform, ensuring your organization's communication strategy remains effective and up to speed.

Introducing Thena—a tool that makes Slack for Enterprise even better

Thena is an AI-driven customer management tool that enhances the functionality of Slack, particularly for B2B SaaS companies focusing on customer engagement and support. Here’s what it does:

Streamlined omnichannel customer support

Thena links together different communication channels such as Slack Connect, email, and web chat. Integrating these allows teams to handle customer interactions more effectively right within Slack. This means all customer questions, no matter where they come from, get pulled into one place. It leads to faster, more organized resolutions.

Effective request management

With its focus on managing customer requests, Thena simplifies tracking and resolving issues. It integrates seamlessly with ticketing systems such as Zendesk and Freshdesk, providing a cohesive platform for handling customer support tickets. This is particularly beneficial for companies dealing with high volumes of customer interactions. For example, by using Slack forms, you can let users submit structured tickets or requests directly in Slack, which Thena can ingest and route.

Customer service analytics like no other

Keeping tabs on customer service analytics directly through Slack can be a bit of a challenge. Sure, you can see how many users are active in channels, count the messages sent, and other basic metrics. But when it comes to really understanding customer conversations and gaining insights, Slack falls short.

This is where Thena steps in. It offers detailed analytics that give you a clear picture of how your customer service is doing and can even help predict customer behavior. With Thena, you're equipped to track:

• Requests detected;

• Unresolved requests;

• Closed requests;

• Escalated requests;

• One touch resolution;

• Median first response;

• Median time to resolution;

• SLA breaches;

• CSAT responses over time, among others.

Enhanced internal helpdesk support

Apart from external customer support, Thena also facilitates internal team request management. This feature allows for better coordination within teams, ensuring that internal queries are addressed promptly, which is crucial in large-scale enterprises.

The bottom line? Incorporating Thena into your Slack Enterprise Grid allows you to create the ultimate ecosystem that enhances internal communication and the level of customer engagement and support.

Understanding Slack pricing: a comprehensive overview

Slack offers flexible plans designed to fit teams of all sizes — from startups to global enterprises. Here’s a breakdown:

• Free plan – Great for small teams starting out.

• Pro plan – $7.25 per user/month (annual billing) or $8.75 (monthly). Best for small to medium teams needing unlimited history and more integrations.

• Business+ Plan – $15 per user/month (annual billing) or $18 (monthly). Ideal for growing teams that need advanced security, compliance, and support.

• Enterprise Grid – Custom pricing. Tailored for large, complex organizations that require enterprise-grade compliance, security, and scalability.

Your costs depend on team size, chosen plan, and billing cycle.

Free plan features: starting with Slack

Slack’s Free plan is perfect for small teams experimenting with collaboration. Here’s what you get:

• Access to 90 days of message and file history.

• Up to 10 integrations with apps like Google Drive or Trello.

• 1:1 voice and video calls.

• 5GB storage per workspace.

It’s a lightweight option to get teams up and running at no cost.

Pro plan: next-level communication tools

At $7.25 per user/month (annual) or $8.75 (monthly), the Pro plan unlocks advanced features for small and mid-sized businesses:

• Unlimited message history.
  Unlimited integrations with apps and tools.

• Group video calls and screen sharing.

• 10GB storage per user.

This plan is ideal for teams that have outgrown the free version and need more collaboration power.

Business+ plan: advanced features for growing teams

At $15 per user/month (annual) or $18 (monthly), the Business+ plan adds enterprise-ready features:

• Everything in Pro, plus:

• Advanced identity management with real-time Active Directory sync (Okta, OneLogin, Ping Identity).
  SAML-based SSO (single sign-on) for stronger security.

• 24/7 support with 4-hour response time.

• 20GB storage per user.

• Message exports for compliance needs.

This plan is ideal for scaling companies that require tighter security, admin control, and support.

Enterprise Grid: Slack for Enterprise

For the largest organizations, Enterprise Grid offers custom pricing and advanced enterprise solutions:

• Unlimited workspaces under one organization.

• Enterprise-grade security and compliance (HIPAA, FINRA, FedRAMP, GDPR, SOC 2).

• Centralized admin controls for global teams.

• 24/7 premium support and dedicated account teams.

• Deeper integrations with enterprise systems like Salesforce.

If your business operates at scale or in a regulated industry, this is Slack’s most powerful and customizable plan.

Comparing Slack plans: which is right for your team?

The right plan depends on your team size, compliance needs, and growth stage. Start small, then scale up as your needs evolve.

Additional costs: apps, integrations, and more

Dive into Slack, and you'll see it's more than chats. Add apps and integrations to supercharge it. Suddenly, it's not just talk; it's your work's command center. But, watch for the costs—Slack has its price, and extras add up. Some apps are free; others, not so much. Fancy a project tool or deep analytics? They could hit your wallet hard. Yet, the right tools can spike productivity and smooth out work flows. Find what fits your team. Just keep an eye on your budget with each new Slack addition.

Tips to optimize your Slack subscription

To keep your Slack expenses in check while making the most of its features, consider these straightforward tips. Start with the Free Plan. It’s perfect for small teams or projects. You get access to 10,000 of your team's most recent messages and 10 integrations with other apps, which is usually enough for new or small teams. If your needs grow, then think about upgrading. Always assess your team's size. Remove inactive users regularly to avoid paying for them. Slack charges per active user, so this step can save you a noticeable amount of money. Use the annual payment option. Slack offers a discount for subscriptions paid annually compared to monthly. This approach can lead to significant savings over time. Take advantage of nonprofit discounts if applicable. Slack offers discounts to qualified nonprofit organizations, which can greatly reduce costs. Lastly, monitor your usage. Slack provides analytics and tools to help you understand how your team uses the platform. Use this data to adjust your plan or usage, ensuring you're always on the most cost-effective option. Keep it simple, and don't pay for what you don't need.

Who should use Slack for Enterprise?

Slack for Enterprise (Slack Enterprise Grid) is designed for organizations that need security, scalability, and advanced collaboration tools beyond what the Free, Standard, or Plus plans offer. Here are the types of organizations that benefit most:

• Large Enterprises & Multinationals – Companies with thousands of employees across multiple locations who need centralized yet customizable communication.

• Highly Regulated Industries – Financial services, healthcare, and government agencies requiring strict compliance and enterprise-grade security.

• Customer-Facing Organizations – Enterprises that manage external partners, clients, and customer support teams across different geographies.

• Rapidly Growing SaaS Companies – Businesses scaling quickly that need seamless integration with CRM, ticketing, and analytics platforms.

If your organization needs more control, security, and customization than Slack’s Plus plan, Slack for Enterprise is the solution.

Slack for Enterprise vs. Microsoft Teams vs. Google Chat

When evaluating enterprise collaboration tools, businesses often compare Slack for Enterprise with competitors like Microsoft Teams and Google Chat. Here’s how they stack up:

Bottom line: Slack for Enterprise is the best choice for organizations that prioritize flexibility, integrations, and compliance across complex global structures.

How to implement Slack for Enterprise

If you’re considering Slack Enterprise Grid, here’s a quick setup roadmap:

1. Assess organizational needs – Identify security, compliance, and integration requirements.

2. Contact Slack Sales – Pricing is custom, based on user volume and features.

3. Set up multiple workspaces – Create departmental or regional workspaces under a unified grid.

4. Enable enterprise-level security – Integrate SSO, data loss prevention (DLP), and identity management tools.

5. Integrate essential apps – Connect CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), ticketing tools (Zendesk, Freshdesk), and analytics.

6. Train your teams – Provide onboarding and ongoing training to maximize adoption.

With the right setup, Slack for Enterprise becomes a centralized communication hub for your entire organization.

Future of Slack for Enterprise (2025 & beyond)

Enterprise collaboration is evolving fast, and Slack is adapting to meet tomorrow’s challenges:

• AI-Powered Workflows – Expect smarter automations, predictive suggestions, and AI agents handling routine queries.

• Advanced Analytics – More enterprise-grade reporting to track productivity, customer engagement, and security.

• Deeper Security Enhancements – Expanded compliance support for global regulations and sector-specific needs.

• Expanded Integrations – Stronger native ties with Salesforce (Slack’s parent company) and other enterprise systems.

Organizations that adopt Slack for Enterprise today will be better prepared to leverage these innovations tomorrow.

FAQs: Slack for Enterprise

1. Is Slack for Enterprise the same as Slack Enterprise Grid?

Yes — Slack for Enterprise is commonly used to describe Slack Enterprise Grid, the plan designed for large organizations with advanced needs.

2. How much does Slack for Enterprise cost?

Pricing is not fixed and depends on your organization’s size, number of users, and required features. You’ll need to contact Slack’s sales team for a tailored quote.

3. What makes Slack for Enterprise different from the Plus plan?

While the Plus plan supports growing teams, Slack for Enterprise offers unlimited workspaces, advanced compliance, custom integrations, and centralized admin controls.

4. Is Slack for Enterprise secure enough for regulated industries?

Yes — it meets enterprise compliance requirements including SOC 2, ISO 27017, FedRAMP, FINRA, HIPAA, and GDPR.

5. Can Slack for Enterprise integrate with existing business tools?

Absolutely. It integrates with 2,600+ apps including Salesforce, Jira, Asana, Zoom, and Thena for enhanced customer engagement.

Conclusion

Slack for Enterprise is the ultimate solution for complex organizations looking for one, secure platform to manage all company-wide and customer communications. Thena makes it even better! Book a free demo to see how it works.