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The Slack integration turns Slate into a co-worker inside Slack. Mention @Slate in a connected channel or send it a direct message, and it answers with your workspace data, runs workflows, and posts the results back into the conversation. Channels can also receive automatic notifications — workflow runs finishing, approvals waiting, reports ready.

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Why connect Slack to Slate?

Your team already coordinates in Slack. Connecting Slate means answers, reports, and workflow runs happen where the conversation already is — no tab-switching, no copy-pasting results back into threads. Approvals arrive as buttons your team can click directly in the channel.

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Prerequisites

  • A Slate account with workspace admin access
  • Permission to install apps in your Slack workspace

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Setup

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Step 1: Connect Slack

  1. In Slate, open Workspace settings → Integrations.
  2. Find Slack and click Connect.
  3. Slack opens in a popup. Review the permissions and click Allow.
  4. Back in Slate, Slack shows as Connected and is enabled for this workspace.
If your organization has already connected this Slack workspace from another Slate workspace, you’ll see Enable for this workspace instead — one click, no Slack approval needed.

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Step 2: Connect a channel

Channels are paired from inside Slack, so you always prove you have access to the channel you’re connecting:
  1. In the Slack channel, type @Slate connect. Slate replies in a thread with a pairing code like SLT-4K7Q2N.
  2. In Slate’s Slack settings, click Add channel in the access tree and paste the code.
  3. Click Connect channel. Slate posts a confirmation in the Slack channel.
Pairing codes expire after 15 minutes and can be used once. Each Slack channel maps to exactly one Slate workspace — if a channel is already connected elsewhere, Slate tells you which workspace owns it.
Slate attributes every request to a Slate user, so it knows who is asking and what they’re allowed to do.
  • Automatic — if your Slack profile email matches your Slate account email, you’re linked the first time you interact. Most people never notice this step.
  • Manual — in Slate’s Slack settings, click Link your Slack account under Your Slack identity.

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Using Slate in Slack

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Ask questions in channels

Mention @Slate followed by your request in any connected channel:
  • Slate reacts to your message with 👀 to confirm it’s working on it.
  • The answer arrives as a threaded reply, formatted natively — headings, bullets, links, and tables.
  • When the run finishes, 👀 becomes ✅ (or ❌ if the run failed).
  • Follow-ups in the same thread don’t need another mention — just keep typing.

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Send direct messages

DM Slate like a teammate. A workspace admin controls this with the Allow direct messages option on the connection. If you belong to several Slate workspaces, Slate asks which one a new conversation is for, and each DM thread stays pinned to its workspace. These commands work in any DM:

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Give a channel custom instructions

Tailor how Slate behaves in each channel — tone, format, focus:
  1. In Slate’s Slack settings, select the channel in the access tree.
  2. Type into Custom instructions (for example, “Summarize meeting notes into decisions, owners, and next steps. Keep replies under 120 words.”).
  3. Click Save changes.
Slate applies these instructions every time it replies in that channel.

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Approve runs from Slack

When a run needs sign-off, Slate posts an approval card with Approve and Reject buttons. Only linked Slate members with a workspace role above Viewer can act on it — anyone else gets a private “no permission” note. Every decision is recorded with who clicked.

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Receive notifications

Channels can subscribe to events instead of (or in addition to) answering questions. When mapping a channel, choose the events it should receive:
  • Workflow started / completed / failed
  • Approval required
  • Report ready

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Review activity

In the access tree, select Audit log → Conversations to see every thread where Slate was tagged — the channel, the request, who asked, and when.

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Managing channels

Select any channel in the access tree to manage it:
  • Active in channel — toggle off to pause Slate there (the channel shows an off badge; mentions get a polite “paused” reply). Toggle back anytime.
  • Remove channel mapping — in the ⋯ menu; disconnects the channel entirely.
  • Add workspace — connect an additional Slack workspace from the bottom of the tree.

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Permissions and security

  • Slate only participates in channels an admin has explicitly connected.
  • Every request requires a linked Slate identity — people without a Slate account get a prompt to link instead of an answer, so outsiders can’t query your workspace data.
  • If Slate gains new capabilities that need extra Slack permissions, the settings page shows Needs reauthorization — click it and re-approve in Slack. Channel mappings and settings are unaffected.

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Troubleshooting