How to Automate with Slack Workflow Builder
Build powerful no-code automations in Slack. Daily standups, approval flows, onboarding sequences, and custom request forms.
Step-by-step
How to Automate with Slack Workflow Builder
Plan your automation
Before building, define the trigger (what starts it), the steps (what happens), and the output (where results go). Common automations: daily standup collection, PTO request forms, new hire welcome sequences, and incident response.
Create a new workflow
Open Workflow Builder (Tools > Workflow Builder), click 'Create Workflow', and name it. Select your trigger type: scheduled (recurring), channel event (new member joins), shortcut (manual), or webhook (external trigger).
Build the step sequence
Add steps in order. For a standup bot: (1) Send a form asking 'What did you do yesterday? What will you do today? Any blockers?', (2) Post the collected responses to a channel. Use variables to pass data between steps.
Add conditional logic and connectors
Use connector steps to send data to external tools: create a Jira ticket, add a row to Google Sheets, or send an email. Conditional steps let you branch the workflow based on form responses.
Publish and monitor
Publish the workflow and monitor its usage in the Workflow Builder dashboard. Check for failed runs, review usage stats, and iterate on the design based on team feedback.
Tips
Pro tips
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The most impactful first workflow is usually a daily standup — it saves 15 minutes of meeting time daily
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Use webhook triggers to connect external tools (e.g., trigger a Slack workflow when a form is submitted in Typeform)
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Combine Workflow Builder with Slack Canvas for powerful documentation workflows
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Workflow Builder requires a paid Slack plan to create workflows, but anyone can trigger published ones
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