Slack and Salesforce Integration Made Easy: 5 Steps to Do it Right

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Salesforce and Slack Integration: Why it Matters?
  
• Steps for Integrating Salesforce and Slack

The traditional support model is evolving, making way for a more efficient and customer-centric approach.

That’s when the dynamic synergy of Salesforce and Slack emerges as a game changer.

With Slack and Salesforce integration, agents can collaboratively converge on cases, accelerating the resolution process.

This not only expedites issue resolution but also empowers service agents by rapidly disseminating crucial knowledge.

The result?

A swift onboarding process for new agents and a faster, more effective resolution of customer concerns.

In this blog post, we will learn about business use cases of Slack and Salesforce integration and how to set it up for success for better team collaboration.

Salesforce and Slack Integration: Why it Matters?

The acquisition of Slack by Salesforce in 2021 sent ripples through the industry, with anticipation mounting as Marc Benioff hinted at significant post-acquisition initiatives aimed at making Salesforce “Slack-first^[i].”

While the Salesforce App for Slack had already been in existence for several years, the synergy between the two platforms promised to overhaul technology, simplifying processes and elevating the user experience.

According to Forrester’s study, this integration can yield substantial benefits for sales teams, including $2.6M in gains from faster deal closing, a 338% ROI over three years, and $2.6M saved on service tickets^[ii].

Let’s delve into specific examples that illuminate the diverse business use cases of this powerful alliance.

• Effortless Object Search:

In Slack, you can use simple commands to search for specific sales opportunities in Salesforce, quickly retrieving crucial details without leaving the conversation.

• Enhanced Engagement and Process Alignment:

Team members can discuss and align their strategies directly in Slack channels, ensuring everyone is on the same page and fostering a collaborative approach to closing deals.

• Centralized Access to Vital Information:

Access to key customer details, deal status, and notes is centralized. Team members can seamlessly update Salesforce records, add relevant notes, and keep the information up-to-date without navigating between platforms.

• Unified Sharing of Salesforce Records:

Share specific Salesforce records, such as a promising lead or a closed deal, directly within Slack channels or private messages. This promotes transparency and keeps everyone informed in real-time.

• Consolidated and Secure Collaborative Space:

Utilize a dedicated channel in Slack as a secure space for collaboration on important deals. Team members can discuss strategies, share insights, and maintain a consolidated record of communication.

• Timely Automated Notifications and Alerts:

Receive instant notifications in both Slack and Salesforce for significant events, such as a new lead assignment or a deal reaching a critical stage. This ensures timely responses and proactive actions.

• Elimination of Data Silos and Work Barriers:

Break down data silos with all relevant information accessible within Slack. This eliminates barriers to effective communication, allowing the team to work more cohesively towards shared goals.

• Seamless Integration with Favorite Business Apps:

Integrate seamlessly with other essential business apps, such as email or calendar tools, ensuring a smooth workflow without disruptions.

• Custom App Development with Low-Code and No-Code:

If there’s a unique process or requirement, the team can leverage Slack and Salesforce Integration to develop custom apps within the Salesforce platform using low-code or no-code tools to address specific needs.

• Access to a Vast Ecosystem:

Explore and integrate additional apps from the vast ecosystem compatible with Salesforce and Slack, expanding the team’s toolkit for specialized functionalities like analytics, reporting, or project management.

This example showcases how the Salesforce Slack integration enhances collaboration, communication, and efficiency within a sales team, ultimately leading to more successful outcomes.

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of Slack and Salesforce, let’s see how to set up Slack in Salesforce.

Salesforce to Slack Setup: The Fundamental Requirements

Install the Slack application on your system. Ensure access to download apps over Slack and follow the below-shared steps:

Steps for Integrating Salesforce and Slack:

Step 1: Establish a Workspace in Slack

• Open Slack and create a workspace in your Slack account.

• Observe default channels (General and Random) and create a new channel if needed.

Step 2: Install the Salesforce App in Slack

• Navigate to the “Apps” section at the bottom-left corner of Slack.

• Select “Manage Apps” from the dropdown menu.
• In “Manage Apps,” click on “Browse Apps” to go to the Slack App Directory.
• Search for “Salesforce,” open the app details page, and click “Add to Slack” to initiate installation.
• Grant necessary permissions for installation.

Note: Installation of apps in Slack necessitates administrative access.

Step 3: Install Slack in Salesforce (for earlier orgs)

• For the Winter 21 release and later, the Slack app is auto-installed in Salesforce Org.

For older Orgs, integrate Slack with Salesforce via AppExchange:

• Navigate to Setup and choose “AppExchange.”
• Search for “Slack” and click to access detailed information.
• Click “Get It Now” or “Install” and follow the installation prompts.

Step 4: Configure Slack App

• Log in to Salesforce, go to Setup, type “Slack,” and select ‘Slack Apps Setup.

• Enable configurations based on your business use case.
• Enable Slack Apps Setting: Salesforce offers various app options for connecting with Slack, such as Sales Cloud for Slack and Service Cloud for Slack.

Step 5: Configuration Verification

• Access the Slack channel integrated with your Salesforce org.
• In the message field, type ‘/’ to trigger the Slack command menu.
• Press ‘Enter’ to view available Salesforce-related actions and shortcuts.
• Create Salesforce Records directly from Slack using specified commands.

The Bottom Line

Slack and Salesforce Integration offer a powerful collaboration platform that enhances communication, streamlines workflows, and brings together the best of both worlds. By seamlessly connecting these two robust systems, users can leverage a range of features, from simplified object searches and efficient engagement to centralized access to vital information. The step-by-step setup guide ensures a smooth and effective integration process, enabling teams to unlock the full potential of Salesforce and Slack synergies.

Start Your Slack to Salesforce Integration Journey. Talk to Us!

Statistical References:

^[i][ii] Salesforcereader