Slack Integration

Deploy your Chipp AI to Slack so team members can interact with your AI assistant directly in Slack channels and direct messages.

How It Works

Once connected, your AI becomes a Slack bot that:

Responds to mentions: @YourBot how do I reset my password?
Uses threads: Replies in threads to keep channels organized
Maintains context: Remembers conversation history within each thread
Works everywhere: Public channels, private channels, and DMs

Key Features

Feature	Description
Threaded Conversations	Every response goes in a thread, keeping channels clean
Multi-user Support	Multiple team members can participate in the same thread
Context Retention	Your AI remembers what was discussed earlier in each thread
Direct Messages	Chat privately with the bot in DMs

Setting Up Slack Integration

The Slack integration requires creating your own Slack app. Chipp provides a pre-configured manifest to make this easy.

Open Slack Configuration in Chipp

Go to your Chipp app and click Share in the navigation. Select the Deploy tab and find the Deploy to Slack card. Click Add Deployment.

Create a Slack App

Go to api.slack.com/apps in a new tab
Click Create New App
Select From manifest
Choose your Slack workspace

Copy the Manifest from Chipp

In the Chipp dialog, you'll see a JSON manifest section. Click Copy to copy the entire manifest to your clipboard.

This manifest is pre-configured with:

Your app's name and branding
Required bot permissions
Event subscriptions
Webhook URLs pointing to Chipp

Paste and Create the App

In Slack's app creation flow, select JSON format
Delete any existing content and paste your copied manifest
Click Next, then Create

Get Your App Credentials

After creating the app, go to Basic Information under Settings in the left sidebar. You'll need three values:

Client ID: Found in "App Credentials" section
Client Secret: Click "Show" to reveal it
Signing Secret: Found below the Client Secret

Enter Credentials in Chipp

Back in the Chipp dialog, enter all three credentials:

Client ID: The app's Client ID
Client Secret: The app's Client Secret
Signing Secret: The app's Signing Secret

Click Save Configuration.

Install to Slack

After saving credentials, click Install to Slack. You'll be redirected to authorize the bot in your workspace.

<Callout type="warning"> Only Slack workspace admins can install apps. If you're not an admin, ask your Slack administrator to complete the installation. </Callout>

Invite to Channels

After installation, invite the bot to channels where you want to use it:

/invite @YourBotName

Replace YourBotName with your Chipp app's name.

Using the Slack Bot

Basic Usage

Mention the bot followed by your question:

@YourBot How do I process a return?

The bot replies in a thread so the main channel stays clean.

Following Up

Continue the conversation in the same thread - the bot remembers context:

@YourBot How do I process a return?
└── Bot: To process a return, go to Orders > Returns and...
    └── You: What if the customer doesn't have a receipt?
        └── Bot: Without a receipt, you can still process...

Multiple Users

Team members can jump into threads. The bot considers all messages:

@YourBot Draft a response to this customer complaint
└── Bot: Here's a draft response...
    └── Alice: Make it more empathetic
    └── Bob: And mention our 30-day guarantee
        └── Bot: Here's the revised version incorporating both suggestions...

Direct Messages

DM the bot for private conversations:

Find the bot in your Apps or search for it
Send a direct message
No need to @mention in DMs

Best Practices

Channel Organization

Create dedicated channels for AI assistance (e.g., #ask-ai, #sales-bot)
Use private channels for sensitive topics
Set channel topics explaining what the bot can help with

Prompt Engineering for Slack

Optimize your system prompt for team use:

You are a helpful assistant for the Acme Corp team in Slack.

When responding:
- Keep answers concise (Slack conversations should be quick)
- Use bullet points for lists
- If you need more context, ask clarifying questions
- For sensitive topics, suggest moving to a private channel

Thread Management

One topic per thread: Start a new message for different questions
Don't resurrect old threads: Context has limits; start fresh for new topics
Use reactions: Thumbs up or check to indicate resolved questions

Managing Your Integration

Editing Credentials

If you need to update your Slack app credentials:

Go to Share > Deploy > Deploy to Slack
Click Manage Deployment
Click Edit Credentials
Enter the new values and save

Reinstalling

If you need to reinstall to a different workspace or fix permission issues:

Open the Slack deployment dialog
Click Install to Slack
Select the workspace and authorize

Troubleshooting

Bot Not Responding

Make sure the bot is invited to the channel (/invite @YourBotName)
Check that you're @mentioning the bot correctly
Verify your Chipp app is active and published

"I don't have permission" Error

The bot needs to be installed by a workspace admin. Contact your Slack administrator to install the app.

Bot Responding Slowly

Check your AI model - faster models respond quicker
Complex queries with custom actions take longer
High workspace usage can cause brief delays

Installation Failed

Verify all three credentials are entered correctly
Make sure the Slack app was created with the correct manifest
Check that your Slack app is not restricted by workspace policies

Security & Permissions

What the Bot Can Access

Messages where it's mentioned
Messages in threads it's participating in
DMs sent directly to the bot

What the Bot Cannot Access

Messages in channels where it's not invited
Private messages between other users
Files or messages it wasn't mentioned in

Data Handling

Conversations are processed through Chipp's secure infrastructure
Messages are not stored beyond what's needed for context
You can view conversation logs in your Chipp dashboard under Chats