Slack

Enable an AI chat interface within your Slack workspace, allowing team members to interact with your ept AI chatbot directly in Slack channels and direct messages.

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Overview

The Slack integration enables your ept AI chatbot to:

• Provide AI chat functionality within Slack channels and direct messages
• Respond to user queries using your configured knowledge base
• Maintain conversation context within Slack threads
• Offer 24/7 AI assistance to your team members

Important: This integration does not grant AI access to Slack's message history or internal knowledge. It only enables real-time AI chat conversations within Slack.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the Slack integration, ensure you have:

• Slack Workspace: Active Slack workspace with admin permissions
• ept AI Setup: Your ept AI chatbot configured and ready
• Knowledge Base: Team documentation loaded into ept AI

Setup Instructions

Step 1: Create Slack Integration in ept AI

1. Access Integration Settings:

   • Log into your ept AI dashboard
   • Navigate to Configuration > Integrations
   • Click "Create Integration"
   • Select "Slack" from the available integrations

2. Authorize Connection:

   • Click "Connect to Slack"
   • Complete the OAuth authorization flow
   • Grant necessary permissions to ept AI
   • The integration will be automatically configured

Step 4: Configure Slack Channel

1. Create Channel:

   • Navigate to Configuration > Channels
   • Click "Create Channel"
   • Configure the channel:
     • Channel Name: "Slack AI Chat"
     • Channel Type: Select "Slack"
     • Integration: Select the Slack integration you created
     • Knowledge Source Configuration: Choose your team knowledge base

2. Configure Channel Settings:

   {
     "slack_channel_config": {
       "integration_id": "slack_integration_123",
       "knowledge_source": "team-ksc",
       "responseMode": "thread", // "thread" or "channel"
       "mentionRequired": true, // Only respond when mentioned
       "triggerWords": ["@ept-ai", "@assistant", "@help"],
       "allowedChannels": ["general", "help", "ai-chat"],
       "excludedChannels": ["private-stuff"],
       "maxResponseLength": 2000
     }
   }

Use Cases

Team AI Assistant

Provide instant AI assistance to your team:

• Answer questions about company policies and procedures
• Share documentation and resources
• Provide onboarding assistance for new team members
• Help with common workflows and processes

Channel-Specific AI Chat

Enable AI chat in different channels for specific purposes:

• #ai-chat: Dedicated channel for AI interactions
• #help: AI assistance for technical support
• #general: Company-wide AI assistance
• Direct Messages: Private AI conversations

Real-Time Support

Offer immediate AI support to team members:

• Quick answers to common questions
• Process guidance and workflow assistance
• Resource sharing and documentation access
• Training and onboarding support

Configuration Options

Response Modes

Configure how the AI responds in Slack:

{
  "response_modes": {
    "thread": {
      "description": "Respond in a thread to the original message",
      "benefits": "Keeps conversations organized, reduces channel noise",
      "useCase": "Detailed discussions and troubleshooting"
    },
    "channel": {
      "description": "Respond directly in the channel",
      "benefits": "Visible to all channel members, promotes collaboration",
      "useCase": "General announcements and shared information"
    }
  }
}

Trigger Configuration

Control when the AI responds:

{
  "trigger_config": {
    "mentionRequired": true,
    "triggerWords": ["@ept-ai", "@assistant", "@help"],
    "autoRespond": false,
    "allowedUsers": ["user1", "user2"],
    "excludedUsers": ["bot1", "bot2"]
  }
}

Channel Access Control

Manage which channels the AI can access:

{
  "channel_access": {
    "allowedChannels": ["general", "help", "ai-chat"],
    "excludedChannels": ["private-stuff", "confidential"],
    "publicChannelsOnly": true,
    "requireInvitation": false
  }
}

Example Usage

Channel Chat

User: @ept-ai What's our company's vacation policy?
AI: Our vacation policy allows 20 days of PTO per year. You can find the complete policy in the employee handbook. Would you like me to help you with the request process?

Direct Message

User: Can you help me set up the new project workflow?
AI: I'd be happy to help! The new project workflow involves these steps: 1) Project initiation, 2) Planning phase, 3) Execution, 4) Review. Which step would you like to know more about?

Thread Conversation

User: @ept-ai How do I submit an expense report?
AI: To submit an expense report, follow these steps: 1) Log into the expense portal, 2) Click "New Report", 3) Add your expenses, 4) Submit for approval. Do you need help with any specific step?

Best Practices

Chat Management

• Start with a dedicated #ai-chat channel for testing
• Use clear trigger words like @ept-ai or @assistant
• Set appropriate response modes for different channels
• Monitor usage and gather feedback from team members

Response Quality

• Train the AI on your team's specific terminology and processes
• Include company-specific knowledge and documentation
• Configure appropriate escalation paths for complex queries
• Monitor and optimize response accuracy

Privacy and Security

• Respect Slack's privacy settings and channel permissions
• Don't access private channels without explicit permission
• Implement proper error handling and logging
• Follow your organization's data security policies

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Authentication Errors

• Verify Bot User OAuth Token is correct and active
• Check app permissions and scopes
• Ensure app is properly installed to workspace
• Test authentication outside of ept AI

Event Subscription Issues

• Verify Request URL is accessible and properly configured
• Check event subscription settings
• Ensure bot events are properly subscribed
• Test with Slack's event testing tools

Response Problems

• Check channel permissions and bot access
• Verify mention requirements and trigger words
• Test with simple messages first
• Review Slack API rate limits

Error Codes

Error Code	Description	Solution
401	Unauthorized	Check bot token and permissions
403	Forbidden	Verify channel access and scopes
404	Not Found	Check channel IDs and user permissions
429	Rate Limited	Implement rate limiting and retry logic

Support Resources

• Slack API Documentation
• ept AI Support
• Integration Status Page

Monitoring & Analytics

Key Metrics

• Chat Volume: Number of AI conversations per day/week
• Response Time: Average time to respond to queries
• User Engagement: Number of unique users interacting with AI
• Channel Usage: Most active channels for AI interactions

Dashboard Views

Configure your ept AI dashboard to show:

• Slack integration status
• Recent chat activity
• Response time analytics
• User engagement metrics

Advanced Configuration

Custom Commands

Set up custom commands for specific functions:

{
  "custom_commands": {
    "/help": "Show available commands and features",
    "/docs": "Search and share documentation",
    "/process": "Explain specific processes",
    "/contact": "Get contact information for team members"
  }
}

Integration with Other Systems

Connect Slack AI chat with:

• Knowledge management systems
• Documentation platforms
• Training resources
• Company intranet

Next Steps

After setting up your Slack AI chat:

1. Test the Integration: Try different types of queries and responses
2. Monitor Performance: Track usage patterns and response quality
3. Gather Feedback: Collect team feedback to improve responses
4. Scale Gradually: Expand to additional channels based on usage

For additional support or custom Slack configurations, contact our integration team.