Since launching a few years ago, Slack has rapidly won businesses over with its modern approach to instant messaging. Its real-time collaboration features and light-hearted approach to workplace communication has allowed the app to rocket in popularity. It’s used by companies ranging from startups to multinational enterprises.
Slack is growing much faster than Skype
Time Doctor
Despite its growth, Slack’s still a long way off catching up the established industry rival. According to a study conducted by time management software provider Time Doctor, Slack’s unlikely to catch Skype before February 2020. This is because Skype still has very strong user retention even as its growth has slowed. People use Skype up to 5.7 times more than Slack in a single day.
The study suggests Slack and Skype are still competing in a head-to-head battle for the workplace. Slack’s succeeding in sustaining its growth. However, it’s been unable to oust Skype from organisations where the 14-year-old app is already well established. Skype may not be gaining any users but it doesn’t appear to be losing any either.
Slack is growing much faster than Skype
Time Doctor
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Slack will eventually overtake Skype if both services continue to grow at their current rates. Microsoft could still fend off Slack’s rise though, particularly through its new Microsoft Teams service. The company recently confirmed that Teams will completely replace Skype for Business going forward, a development which could substantially alter the status quo in workplace chat apps.
Teams offers an experience that’s closer to Slack. It’s also fully integrated with Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud productivity platform. The service has seen impressive growth since its launch and is rapidly emerging as the biggest threat to Slack. Microsoft was previously the undisputed leader in workplace communications and it’s not going to let its dominance slip away without a fight.
Slack is growing much faster than Skype
Time Doctor
Time Doctor noted there are several other factors that could also upset Slack’s growth. There are other rival services stepping up too, including Facebook’s new workplace platform, a revived effort from Google and upstart apps from smaller companies. Although Slack is “on a roll,” new challenges could be just around the corner as workplace technology becomes more competitive.
