Stewart Butterfield and Bret Taylor: A New Disruption?
Salesforce and Slack: Assessing the Integration
The acquisition of Slack by Salesforce late last year, valued at nearly $28 billion, initially appeared strategically sound. The increasing need for remote work solutions, spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, combined with the fact that approximately 90% of Slack’s enterprise clients were already Salesforce users, supported the rationale behind the deal.
Currently, the central inquiry revolves around the progress of this integration. Is the synergy proving effective?
Initial Integrations and Future Vision
Salesforce recently unveiled preliminary integrations with Slack. These include the introduction of dedicated “account and deal” rooms within its “Sales Cloud.” Salesforce asserts this will facilitate enhanced collaboration among sales teams throughout the customer deal process.
Rob Seaman, SVP for Slack at Salesforce, articulated a broader ambition to TechCrunch, stating the intention to establish Slack as the central hub for user engagement. This encompasses communications, workflows, supported applications, and overall work processes.
However, public statements offer only a partial view of the internal dynamics.
TechCrunch Disrupt: An Exclusive Conversation
At TechCrunch Disrupt, scheduled for September 21-23, we will host a discussion with Bret Taylor – a seasoned entrepreneur and former Facebook executive currently serving as Salesforce’s second-in-command – and Slack’s founder, Stewart Butterfield.
This conversation will delve into their shared objective of challenging Microsoft, and explore any market misconceptions regarding the Salesforce and Slack partnership.
Salesforce’s stock performance has seen only a modest increase over the past year, with a 16% rise from the beginning of the year. This contrasts with the S&P 500’s 35% growth.
Key Questions to be Addressed
Several critical questions will be explored during the session:
- How is reporting structured between the two organizations?
- To what extent is Slack operating autonomously?
- What metrics will be used to evaluate the merger’s success, and within what timeframe?
This candid discussion with these two influential leaders promises valuable insights and is an event you won’t want to miss.
Interested in attending this year’s virtual event? A range of pass options, including discounts for founders, students, and nonprofits, are currently available. Secure your ticket soon, as prices will increase significantly after September 20. We look forward to your participation.
