8 Slack Commands Every Remote Team Should Know

Async collaboration in action: remote team members sharing updates, decisions, and progress seamlessly across Slack.

Slack has become the heartbeat of remote work.

For distributed teams, it’s not just a messaging app — it’s where decisions happen, updates are shared, and collaboration stays alive across time zones.

But here’s the catch:

Most teams only use a fraction of what Slack can actually do.

In 2026, high-performing remote teams aren’t typing more messages — they’re using Slack commands and native bots that reduce noise, speed up communication, and support async workflows.

This guide covers 8 essential Slack commands every remote team should know, plus one Slack-native command many modern teams use to replace daily standups entirely: @alice.

Why Slack Commands Matter for Remote Teams

Remote work depends on clarity and speed. Slack commands help teams:

• Take action without switching tools

• Reduce back-and-forth messages

• Keep conversations focused

• Support async updates instead of constant pings

When used correctly, Slack becomes a control center, not a distraction.

And when paired with async-first tools like Alice, Slack becomes a system for alignment — not just chat.

If your team is already using Slack efficiently, the next step is improving how updates are shared asynchronously. These guides explore how modern teams reduce meetings and improve alignment using async-first workflows:

• 👉 What to Do When Team Members Skip Daily Standups

• 👉 How to Use StandupAlice for Weekly Team Retrospectives

• 👉 How to Replace Your Standup Spreadsheet with a Smart Bot

1. /remind — Never Forget Follow-Ups

The /remind command is one of Slack’s most powerful tools for async teams.

What it does: Sets reminders for yourself or others — privately or publicly.

Example:

/remind #engineering Check sprint blockers every weekday at 10am

Why remote teams love it:

• Reduces manual follow-ups

• Encourages accountability

• Works across time zones

2. /status — Share Availability Instantly

Remote teams don’t see each other — so visibility matters.

What it does: Updates your Slack status quickly.

Example:

/status In deep work

Best use cases:

• Focus time

• Time off

• Meetings or deadlines

Small signal. Big async impact.

3. /mute — Control Notification Noise

Slack notifications can overwhelm remote teams if unmanaged.

What it does: Temporarily silences notifications in a channel.

Example:

/mute #random

Why it matters:

• Protects focus

• Encourages async reading instead of instant replies

• Helps prevent burnout

4. /search — Find Context Fast

Remote teams rely heavily on written communication — which makes search critical.

What it does: Finds past messages, files, and decisions.

Example:

/search sprint goals from:@alex

Benefits:

• Fewer repeated questions

• Faster onboarding

• Better async decision-making

  
  

5. /collapse — Reduce Visual Clutter

Busy channels slow teams down.

What it does: Collapses images, previews, and attachments.

Why it helps:

• Cleaner reading experience

• Faster scanning

• Less cognitive load

6. /who — Know Who’s in a Channel

Clarity matters in remote collaboration.

What it does: Shows who belongs to a channel.

Why it’s useful:

• Avoids tagging the wrong people

• Helps new hires

• Supports async etiquette

7. /apps — Extend Slack’s Power

Slack becomes far more useful when paired with the right tools.

What it does: Shows installed apps and integrations.

Common remote-team integrations:

• Alice (async standups & summaries)

• Google Drive

• Jira

• Calendars

This is where Slack shifts from chat to workflow hub.

8. /shortcuts — Discover What Slack Can Do

Slack keeps evolving.

What it does: Opens Slack’s shortcut and command launcher.

Why it matters:

• Helps teams discover new features

• Speeds up actions

• Allows Slack to scale with the team

@alice — Replace Daily Standups With One Slack Command

Most Slack commands help manage messages. @alice helps teams manage progress.

What it does: Allows team members to submit async standups, updates, and retrospectives directly inside Slack — without meetings.

Example:

@alice Yesterday I finished API testing. Today I’m deploying v2. No blockers.

Or prompted automatically:

@alice What did you work on yesterday?

Why remote teams rely on it:

• Replaces daily standup meetings

• Creates structured updates instead of scattered messages

• Sends automated summaries back to Slack

• Works across time zones with zero coordination

Instead of chasing updates across threads, teams get one clean update per person — in one place.

Slack Commands vs Async Workflow Needs (Remote Teams)

Slack Features & Benefits for Remote Teams

Slack works best when used intentionally.

Key benefits:

• Real-time + async communication

• Powerful integrations

• Flexible workflows

• Strong search and visibility

But Slack alone isn’t designed to replace structured daily updates — which is why many teams pair it with async-first tools like Alice.

Slack vs Teams: A Quick Perspective

While Microsoft Teams excels at meetings and enterprise control, Slack remains a favorite for remote teams because of:

• Faster command-based workflows

• Cleaner async communication

• Stronger ecosystem of lightweight tools

The best platform is the one that supports clarity without forcing constant presence.

Where Alice Fits In

Slack is excellent for conversation. Alice turns conversation into alignment.

Remote teams use @alice inside Slack to:

• Run daily standups asynchronously

• Eliminate status meetings

• Receive automatic summaries

• Track progress without micromanagement

Slack handles discussion. Alice handles discipline.

Final Thoughts

Remote work doesn’t fail because teams lack tools. It fails when tools are used without intention.

By mastering Slack commands — and using Slack-native bots like @alice — teams can:

• Communicate faster

• Reduce interruptions

• Support async workflows

• Stay aligned without burnout

Slack becomes quieter. Work becomes clearer.