Salesforce announces the acquisition of Slack

CRM company Salesforce has announced the acquisition of Slack.

The combination of Salesforce and Slack brings together two of the software industry's most dynamic communities, creating an ecosystem that will play a significant role in delivering the next generation of digital-first apps and work flows for business.

"We couldn't be more excited to have Slack as part of the Salesforce family, combining the number one CRM and the trailblazing digital platform for the work anywhere world," says Salesforce chair and CEO, Marc Benioff.

"Together, we'll define the future of enterprise software, creating the digital HQ that enables every organisation to deliver customer and employee success from anywhere.

Salesforce's president and chief operating officer, Bret Taylor, says over the past year, they've learned the workplace isn't adjusting back to the way it was.

"Together, Slack and Salesforce Customer 360 will give global companies a single platform for connecting employees, customers, and partners with each other and the apps they use every day," says Taylor.

While Slack CEO and co-founder Stewart Butterfield says, "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and reshape how and where we work. Salesforce and Slack are uniquely positioned to lead this historic shift to a digital-first world. I could not be more excited for what's to come.

Salesforce says companies worldwide have learned one thing over the past year, if you don't have a digital way to connect with your employees, customers, and partners, you don't have much of a chance of surviving. It says headquarters are no longer on Madison Avenue or Main Street; they're now in the cloud.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and reshape everything about how and where we work," says Salesforce.

"That's what the combination of Salesforce and Slack is all about, creating the business operating system for the new world of work.

IBM's 380,000 employees work together in Slack, with numerous work flows across Salesforce Sales Cloud and Service Cloud across locations and time zones.

"We are obsessed with continually delighting our clients and offering them the best experience and value across every interaction," says IBM chairman and CEO, Arvind Krishna.

"Salesforce and Slack coming together will help us become more connected, more productive, and more innovative, so we can better serve our clients."