Slack has become a cornerstone of modern team communication. However, the real power of Slack emerges when it integrates seamlessly with other tools in your business ecosystem. By connecting Slack with project management, development, customer support, and sales tools, your teams can stay informed and work more efficiently.

Let’s explore the key considerations for Slack integrations, a list of common integrations with Slack, Slack's API functionality, examples of popular Slack integrations, and practical steps to set up two-way Slack integrations effectively with ONEiO.

How to Allow App Integrations in Slack

The most direct way to integrate apps with Slack is by using Slack's in-built integration capabilities. Workspace administrators can enable or restrict the addition of apps from the Slack Marketplace to maintain control over integrations across their organization. Here’s how an admin can manage app integrations effectively:

1. Navigate to App Management Settings

• Go to your workspace's Settings & Administration menu.
• Select Manage Apps to open the app management dashboard.

2. Set App Permissions

• Under the Permissions tab, decide whether team members can install apps individually or require admin approval.
• Choose to restrict apps by pre-approving certain tools that align with company policies.

3. Browse and Add Apps

• Visit the Slack App Directory to explore available integrations.
• Select an app, click Add to Slack, and follow the prompts to authorize its access.

4. Monitor Installed Apps

• It's smart to regularly review the list of installed apps in the Manage Apps dashboard and make sure they are being used.
• Remove or disable unused apps to maintain security and optimize workspace performance.

Slack Integrations List Based on Common Use-Cases

Nearly 80% of Fortune 100 companies use Slack. It's only natural that there are a broad range of use-cases across different business units and functions beyond internal communications. Here are some of the most common integrations you may find across different teams.

Slack Integrations for Customer Service

Customer service teams can enhance their operations significantly by integrating Slack with tools like Freshdesk, Intercom, and LiveChat. These integrations provide real-time notifications on customer inquiries, enable faster resolution of issues, and improve team collaboration. For example:

• Freshdesk:
  Integrating Freshdesk with Slack allows agents to receive notifications on ticket updates and collaborate directly in Slack to resolve issues.
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• Intercom:
  With Intercom integration, customer success teams can monitor user engagement, respond to queries faster, and align their efforts without switching tools.
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• LiveChat:
  Notifications and real-time conversations in Slack streamline customer support, ensuring quicker responses.

Key Benefits: Faster ticket resolution, better collaboration, and improved customer satisfaction.

Slack Integrations for Engineering

Engineering teams often use Slack integrations to stay on top of their workflows and manage code quality. Key tools include GitHub, Jira Cloud, and custom notification setups. These integrations provide visibility into development processes and ensure effective collaboration:

• GitHub:
  With Slack integration, developers receive notifications about pull requests, commits, and code reviews, reducing delays in the development cycle.
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• Jira Cloud:
  Integrating Jira Cloud with Slack enables real-time updates on issues, tasks, and project status, keeping engineering teams aligned.
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• Custom Notifications:
  Engineering teams can set up alerts for builds, deployments, and test results to maintain project momentum.

Key Benefits: Streamlined workflows, enhanced visibility, and faster development cycles.

Slack Integrations for Finance

Finance teams benefit from Slack integrations by automating routine tasks and improving visibility into financial operations. Tools like Spendesk, Stripe, and Google Sheets help manage expenses and payments:

• Spendesk:
  Slack integration allows teams to track expenses, manage approvals, and get notifications for financial activities.
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• Stripe:
  Real-time alerts about transactions and payment statuses ensure finance teams stay updated.
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• Google Sheets:
  Automating data syncing with Slack provides insights and real-time collaboration on budgets and reports.

Key Benefits: Improved financial tracking, faster approvals, and streamlined collaboration.

Slack Integrations for Human Resources

HR teams can use Slack to boost employee engagement, automate workflows, and streamline communications. Integrations like Polly, Donut, and Greetbot make onboarding, feedback, and team-building effortless:

• Polly:
  Conduct quick surveys and gather team feedback directly in Slack to improve workplace satisfaction.
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• Donut:
  Facilitate team bonding through virtual coffee chats and introductions for new hires.
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• Greetbot:
  Automate onboarding workflows and welcome new employees in Slack.

Key Benefits: Enhanced employee engagement, efficient onboarding, and improved workplace culture.

Slack Integrations for Marketing

Marketing teams leverage Slack to align their campaigns, manage projects, and track performance. Key tools like Trello, Mailchimp, and HubSpot ensure seamless collaboration and data sharing:

• Trello:
  Integrating Trello with Slack enables marketers to manage tasks, track deadlines, and receive updates on campaign progress.
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• Mailchimp:
  Notifications on email campaign performance and engagement metrics allow teams to adjust strategies quickly.
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• HubSpot:
  Syncing Slack with HubSpot provides real-time insights into leads, CRM data, and campaign outcomes.

Key Benefits: Increased collaboration, better project tracking, and faster campaign adjustments.

Slack Integrations for Project Management

Project managers can enhance efficiency and collaboration by integrating Slack with tools like Asana, ClickUp, and Teamwork. These integrations centralize task updates and improve team communication:

• Asana:
  Stay on top of project tasks with real-time notifications and updates directly in Slack.
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• ClickUp:
  Teams can create and update tasks in ClickUp without leaving Slack, ensuring smooth project tracking.
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• Teamwork:
  Integration with Teamwork provides project updates, task reminders, and collaboration tools.

Key Benefits: Improved task visibility, reduced context switching, and better project coordination.

Slack Integrations for Sales

Sales teams benefit from Slack integrations by staying updated on leads, deals, and CRM activities. Tools like Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Zoho CRM ensure seamless communication and faster decision-making:

• Salesforce:
  Notifications on opportunities, leads, and customer interactions allow teams to act quickly.
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• Pipedrive:
  Slack integration with Pipedrive provides real-time updates on deal progress and activity tracking.
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• Zoho CRM:
  Alerts for CRM updates, lead activities, and sales performance help teams close deals faster.

Key Benefits: Streamlined sales processes, better lead tracking, and faster response times.

Why Slack’s Connected Apps May Not Be Enough

While Slack’s app directory offers many integrations, they often lack the customization and flexibility needed for complex workflows. Many built-in integrations provide only one-way data flow—for instance, sending notifications to Slack without allowing actions back to the integrated tool. Advanced use cases often require bi-directional synchronization or deeper customization, which is where API-based integrations come into play.

Slack’s API Functionality

Slack’s APIs offer developers tools to build integrations that meet enterprise needs. These APIs allow IT leaders to customize workflows, automate processes, and integrate Slack with critical business tools. Here’s an overview of Slack API capabilities:

Web API for Data Access and Interaction

The Web API allows developers to access Slack data and automate tasks such as:

• Sending messages to channels or users programmatically.
• Managing workspaces, users, and channel settings.
• Fetching and updating information about conversations, users, and files.

Event Subscriptions for Automation

Slack’s Event API enables integrations to listen for specific events, like:

• New messages in channels.
• Users joining or leaving a workspace.
• Reactions added to posts.This allows for the automation of workflows, such as triggering alerts or logging data changes in external systems.

OAuth 2.0 for Secure Authentication

Slack ensures secure access through OAuth 2.0 protocols, allowing enterprise IT teams to maintain strict access controls while integrating with other apps.

Real-Time Messaging (RTM) API

The RTM API lets developers create bots that can interact with Slack users in real time. This is ideal for building chatbots, live support agents, and collaborative automation tools.

Admin API for Workspace Management

Enterprise admins can use the Admin API to:

• Manage members and permissions.
• Set up organization-wide policies for app usage.
• Automate onboarding and offboarding of employees in Slack.

Custom API Integrations

Enterprise IT leaders can create custom integrations tailored to their organization’s needs. Examples include:

• Synchronizing Slack with on-premise systems.
• Automating approval workflows.
• Custom analytics and reporting tools.

Key Benefits: Greater control, advanced automation, and seamless integration with enterprise systems.

Setting Up Bidirectional Slack Integrations with ONEiO

ONEiO simplifies the process of building robust, bidirectional Slack integrations. The advantage of bidirectional integrations is that you can synchronise data across multiple systems and enable end-to-end automation of key processes and business tasks.

Here’s how you can get started:

1. Preparation

• Define Requirements:
  Identify the data you want to synchronize between Slack and other tools.
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• Permissions:
  Ensure you have admin access to configure both Slack and the connected tool.

2. Configure Slack for ONEiO

• Create an App in Slack:
  Go to the Slack API settings, create a new app, and assign the necessary permissions to enable integration.
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• Enable OAuth and Scopes:
  Generate an OAuth token and configure the required scopes for reading and writing data to Slack.
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• Set Up Event Subscriptions:
  Subscribe to relevant Slack events, such as message updates or channel activity, by configuring event URLs in the app settings.
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• Install the App to Your Workspace:
  Add the app to your Slack workspace to activate the configuration.

3. Set Up ONEiO Integration

• Log in to ONEiO:
  Access your ONEiO account and navigate to the integration setup panel.
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• Create a Slack Endpoint:
  Define Slack as an endpoint in ONEiO. Provide the app credentials, including the OAuth token and event subscription details.
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• Field Mapping:
  Map fields between Slack and the connected tool, ensuring seamless data flow for messages, notifications, or other activities.

4. Test and Activate Integration

• Run Integration Tests:
  Use test cases to verify the bidirectional synchronization of data between Slack and the other tool, for example, Jira.
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• Activate Integration:
  Once testing is successful, activate the integration for real-time synchronization. Use ONEiO’s monitoring tools to track integration status and resolve any errors.

You can find detailed instructions on how to activate bidirectional integrations for Slack in our support documentation.

Bottom Line on Slack Integrations

Integrating Slack with other tools allows teams to collaborate more effectively, respond faster, and eliminate redundant workflows. Whether you’re connecting with Jira, Salesforce, or Zendesk, Slack integrations create a unified workspace that enhances productivity and transparency.

For more advanced use cases, ONEiO provides a scalable platform to build bidirectional and multi-endpoint Slack integrations. Ready to take your team’s Slack experience to the next level? Book a meeting with an integration expert to go through your Slack integration options.