Slack

Receive your automated meeting briefs directly in Slack.

Slack is where your meeting preparation briefs come to life. Once connected, Formata automatically delivers comprehensive customer insights to your chosen Slack channel 30 minutes before each customer meeting.

Why Slack Integration is Required

Formata uses Slack as your meeting brief delivery system to:

• Deliver briefs where you work - Get insights in the platform you're already using

• Enable quick access - Meeting prep information available instantly without switching tools

• Maintain workflow - Briefs arrive in your natural work environment

• Allow team collaboration - Share insights with team members when needed

Without Slack integration, Formata has no way to deliver your meeting preparation briefs, making this connection essential for receiving customer insights.

What Formata Does in Slack

When you connect Slack, Formata will:

✅ Send meeting prep briefs

• Comprehensive customer context and insights

• Account history and recent activity

• Relevant conversation highlights

• Meeting-specific recommendations

✅ Deliver timely notifications

• Automatic delivery 30 minutes before meetings

• Consistent, reliable timing

• No manual action required

Setup Process

Setting up Slack integration takes about one minute:

Step 1: Install the Integration

1. Navigate to the Integrations page in your Formata dashboard

2. Find the Slack section

3. Click Install Slack Integration

Step 2: Authorize Formata

1. You'll be redirected to Slack's app installation page

2. Review the permissions Formata is requesting

3. Click Allow to install the Formata app to your workspace

Step 3: Choose Your Channel

1. Select which channel you want to receive meeting briefs in

2. Options include:

   • Direct messages (private, just for you)

   • Existing channel (share with team members)

   • New dedicated channel (create a #formata-briefs channel)

Step 4: Confirm Setup

Once connected, you'll see:

• ✅ Slack: Connected status in your integrations dashboard

Total setup time: 1 minute

Choosing the Right Channel

Direct Messages (Recommended for most users)

Best for: Individual CSMs who want private meeting prep

Pros:

• Complete privacy for sensitive customer information

• No channel noise or distractions

• Personal workflow integration

Cons:

• Can't easily share insights with team members

• No team visibility into account preparation

Dedicated Team Channel

Best for: Teams that collaborate on customer accounts

Pros:

• Team visibility into upcoming customer meetings

• Easy collaboration and insight sharing

• Collective knowledge building

Cons:

• Less privacy for sensitive customer details

• Potential for information overload

Existing Channel

Best for: Teams with established customer success channels

Pros:

• Integrates with existing team communication

• Maintains current workflow patterns

• Easy team coordination

Cons:

• Briefs may get lost in other channel activity

• Mixed message types in one channel

Brief Delivery Timing

Standard Delivery: 30 minutes before meeting start time

Slack Notification: You'll receive a standard Slack notification when your brief arrives

Format: Briefs are delivered as structured messages with clear sections for easy scanning

Managing Notifications

Slack Notification Settings

Control how Slack notifies you about meeting briefs:

1. In Slack: Go to your notification preferences

2. Channel-specific: Set custom notification rules for your Formata channel

3. Mobile/Desktop: Configure push notifications for meeting prep briefs

Brief Frequency

• One brief per meeting: Each customer meeting gets exactly one prep brief

• No duplicates: Recurring meetings won't spam you with identical briefs

• Updates only: If meeting details change significantly, you may receive an updated brief

Troubleshooting

"Not receiving briefs in Slack"

Check these common issues:

1. Integration status: Verify Slack shows as "Connected" in your dashboard

2. Channel selection: Confirm you selected the right channel during setup

3. Calendar setup: Ensure Google Calendar integration is also working

4. Meeting criteria: Verify meetings have external attendees and proper timing

"Briefs going to wrong channel"

To change your delivery channel:

1. Go to Integrations in your Formata dashboard

2. Click Configure next to Slack

3. Select a different channel

4. Save your changes

"Slack app permissions error"

If you see permission errors:

1. Check if your Slack workspace admin needs to approve the Formata app

2. Verify you have permission to add apps to your selected channel

3. Try reconnecting the integration

"Brief formatting looks broken"

Possible causes:

• Older Slack clients may not display rich formatting properly

• Some mobile versions of Slack have different message rendering

Solutions:

• Update your Slack app to the latest version

• View briefs on desktop for full formatting

Privacy & Security

Data Protection:

• Meeting briefs are delivered securely through Slack's encrypted channels

• Customer data is handled according to enterprise security standards

Access Control:

• Integration uses Slack's OAuth system for secure access

• You can revoke access at any time through Slack or Formata

• No sensitive tokens are stored long-term

Team Sharing:

• Be mindful of channel selection if customer data includes sensitive information

• Consider using direct messages for highly confidential accounts

• Review your organization's data sharing policies

Managing Your Integration

Changing Channels

To deliver briefs to a different channel:

1. Go to Integrations in your dashboard

2. Click Configure next to Slack

3. Choose a new channel

4. Confirm the change

Reconnecting

If your integration becomes disconnected:

1. Click Reconnect next to Slack in your dashboard

2. Follow the same authorization process

3. Reselect your preferred channel

Disconnecting

To remove Slack access:

1. Click Disconnect in your Formata integrations dashboard

2. Optionally remove the Formata app from your Slack workspace

Note: Disconnecting Slack will stop all meeting brief delivery since Formata won't have a way to send you the information.

Team Setup Considerations

For Individual Users

• Direct messages provide privacy and focus

• Personal channels keep briefs separate from team noise

• Mobile notifications ensure you see briefs even when away from desk

For Team Managers

• Shared channels increase team visibility into customer preparation

• Channel naming (like #customer-success-briefs) helps organization

• Permission management ensures right team members have access

For Workspace Admins

• App approval may be required depending on workspace settings

• Data policies should be reviewed for customer information sharing

• Integration management can be monitored through Slack admin tools

Next Steps

Once your Slack integration is connected:

1. Test the delivery by scheduling a customer meeting

2. Optimize your channel choice based on your first few briefs

3. Set up additional integrations like Gmail for richer brief content

4. Configure notification preferences for the best workflow integration