Quick replies in Slack and Microsoft Teams
Greetings to customers, daily updates, answers to questions that keep coming up: here's how to stop typing them by hand in Slack and Teams.
In work chat we repeat lots of messages: the daily update, welcoming a new teammate, the answer to that question that arrives every week. And unlike email, neither Slack nor Teams includes message templates as such.
Here's what each tool offers and how to get shortcut replies when you use them in the browser.
What Slack offers
- Slackbot custom responses: your workspace can set up replies that appear when someone types a keyword. They're for common questions, not for your own messages.
- Drafts and sent: your unfinished and scheduled messages are saved.
- Later: save messages to review afterwards.
- Workflow Builder and third-party apps, to automate forms and processes.
- No saved replies to insert your own text into any conversation.
What Microsoft Teams offers
- Save messages: from a message's options you can save it and find it later in the Saved section.
- Copilot, on licensed accounts, can help you draft.
- No message templates to insert your usual replies.
Shortcut replies in Slack and Teams (in the browser)
Slack and Teams also work in the browser, at app.slack.com and teams.microsoft.com. There you can use NexoPad: save your messages once and insert them by typing a shortcut in the chat box.
For example, with the shortcut /standup NexoPad asks what you did yesterday, what you'll do today and whether you have any blockers, then writes the update with its formatting. If you forget a shortcut, type // in the chat and search for the reply by name. The same replies work in email, your CRM or your help desk.
Chat messages worth saving
Daily update
Yesterday, today and blockers, in the same format every day.
Welcoming a teammate
A greeting with the key channels, the docs to get started and who to ask.
Frequent questions
How to request time off, where the templates are, how to invite a customer.
Handing off a topic
Context, what's been done and what's left, to pass a case to someone else.
Frequently asked questions
Does NexoPad work in the Slack or Teams desktop app?
No. NexoPad is a browser extension, so it works when you use Slack or Teams in your browser.
Can I share replies with my team?
Yes. With NexoPad Teams you share a template vault with your team, with roles and approvals.
Does it also work in WhatsApp Web?
Yes. We explain how in our guide to quick replies in WhatsApp Web.
What are Slackbot custom responses?
Replies your workspace sets up that Slackbot sends when someone types a keyword. They're useful for general questions, but they don't replace your own templates.
Published on October 11, 20266 min read
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