> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bubblav.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Slack

> Connect your Slack workspace to add AI chatbot capabilities to your team channels

Transform your Slack workspace with an intelligent AI chatbot that can answer questions, provide support, and engage with your team members automatically using @mentions and channel monitoring.

## Why Connect Slack?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="@Mention Support" icon="at-sign">
    Mention the bot for instant answers in any channel
  </Card>

  <Card title="24/7 Bot Support" icon="bot">
    AI responds to team questions anytime, day or night
  </Card>

  <Card title="Channel Monitoring" icon="hash">
    Choose specific channels where the bot should be active
  </Card>

  <Card title="Thread Support" icon="message-square">
    Reply in threads to keep conversations organized
  </Card>

  <Card title="Team Knowledge" icon="brain">
    Answers based on your website's content and documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Flexible Responses" icon="zap">
    Optional mention requirement for controlled responses
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What Can the Slack Bot Do?

### Answer Questions Instantly

Your team members can ask questions about your product, service, or content directly in Slack:

**Using @Mentions:**

```
@BubblaV How do I reset my password?
@BubblaV What are our business hours?
@BubblaV Tell me about our premium features
```

### Provide 24/7 Support

* Responds instantly to common questions
* No waiting for human team members
* Reduces support workload
* Consistent, accurate answers

### Search Your Knowledge Base

The bot uses your website's content to provide accurate answers:

* Documentation pages
* FAQ sections
* Product information
* Help articles
* Custom knowledge content

### Create Organized Conversations

* **Thread Support**: Reply in threads to keep channels clean
* **Channel-Specific**: Limit bot to specific channels (support, help, FAQ)
* **Mention Control**: Require @mention for responses

## Prerequisites

* Slack workspace where you have **permission to install apps**
* Active BubblaV account with a website
* Website with knowledge base content

## Setup Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Integrations">
    Go to **Dashboard** → **Your Website** → **Integrations** and find the Slack card
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Connect">
    Click **Connect Slack** to start the OAuth installation flow.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Authorize Bot">
    After clicking the button, you'll be redirected to Slack to authorize the bot:

    1. Review the requested permissions
    2. Click **Allow** to install the bot to your workspace
    3. The bot will be added to your workspace
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Connection">
    Return to the BubblaV dashboard. The Slack integration should now show **Connected** with your workspace name
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Bot Settings">
    Click **Configure** on the Slack integration to customize:

    * Which channels the bot should respond in
    * Whether @mention is required
    * Thread reply preferences
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test the Bot">
    Go to your Slack workspace and test:

    ```
    @BubblaV Hello, are you working?
    ```

    The bot should respond with an AI-generated answer based on your website's content.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using @Mentions

### Basic Mentions

The primary way to interact with the bot. Simply @mention the bot followed by your question.

**Syntax:**

```
@BubblaV [your question here]
```

**Examples:**

```
@BubblaV How do I create an account?
@BubblaV What payment methods do we accept?
@BubblaV Where can I find the API documentation?
@BubblaV Tell me about our pricing plans
```

**Response Format:**

* The bot responds with a formatted message
* Includes AI-generated answer from your knowledge base
* May include links to your website pages
* Threaded responses keep main channel clean

**Availability:**

* Works in all public channels (unless you restrict it)
* Works in threads
* Requires the bot to be a member of the channel

## Configuration Options Explained

### Channel Selection

By default, the bot will respond when mentioned in any channel where it's a member. You can specify channels for monitoring:

1. Go to **Dashboard** → **Integrations** → **Slack** → **Configure**
2. View the list of all channels in your workspace
3. Check only the channels where you want the bot active
4. Click **Save Slack settings**

**Best Practices:**

* Start with dedicated support/help channels
* Add bot to channels where it should be active
* Perfect for: `#support`, `#help`, `#faq`, `#questions`

**Empty Selection:**
If no channels are selected, the bot responds in **all channels where it's a member** when mentioned.

### Require Mention

Control whether users must @mention the bot to get responses:

* **Enabled** (Recommended): Bot only responds when mentioned
  ```
  @BubblaV How do I reset my password?
  ```

* **Disabled**: Bot responds to every message in monitored channels
  * Can be useful for dedicated support channels
  * May be spammy in busy channels

**When to Enable:**

* Busy channels with lots of conversation
* General discussion channels
* Channels where bot should be passive

**When to Disable:**

* Dedicated support channels
* Low-traffic help channels

### Enable Threads

When enabled, bot responses are posted as thread replies:

**Benefits:**

* Keeps main channels cleaner
* Creates organized discussions
* Users can follow up in thread
* Easier to track conversation history

**How It Works:**

1. User asks question with @mention
2. Bot posts response as a threaded reply
3. Users can continue conversation in thread

**Best For:**

* Busy workspaces
* Channels with high message volume
* Teams that value organization

## Response Examples

### Simple Question

**User:**

```
@BubblaV What are our business hours?
```

**Bot Response:**

```
We're open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.

For urgent matters outside business hours, you can email support@...
```

### Product Question

**User:**

```
@BubblaV Tell me about the Pro plan features
```

**Bot Response:**
Provides detailed information about Pro plan features, pricing, and benefits with links to pricing page.

### Technical Question

**User:**

```
@BubblaV How do I integrate the API?
```

**Bot Response:**
Provides code examples, API documentation links, and step-by-step integration guide based on your docs.

## Test Your Integration

After setup, test the bot in your Slack workspace:

### Basic Test

1. Go to a channel where the bot is a member
2. Type: `@BubblaV Are you working?`
3. The bot should respond within 2-3 seconds

### Knowledge Test

1. Ask a question that's answered on your website
2. Example: `@BubblaV What is [your product]?`
3. Bot should provide answer with relevant information

### Channel Test

1. Try mentioning bot in a non-monitored channel
2. Bot should still respond (if it's a member)
3. Verify bot works in your selected channels

### Mention Test

If "Require Mention" is enabled:

1. Try asking without @mention
2. Bot should not respond
3. Try with @mention: `@BubblaV Hello`
4. Bot should respond

## Best Practices

<Tip>
  **Start Small**: Begin with "Require Mention" enabled and limit to 1-2 channels. Expand after testing.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Monitor Usage**: Check the Slack integration analytics in your BubblaV dashboard to see how often the bot is used.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Update Knowledge Base**: Regularly update your website content to improve bot responses. The bot is only as good as your knowledge base.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Set Expectations**: Add a channel topic or pinned message explaining that responses are AI-generated and may not always be perfect.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Bot not responding to @mentions">
    **Check:**

    * Verify bot is online and a member of the channel
    * Ensure channel is enabled in BubblaV dashboard
    * Check if you're mentioning the correct bot name
    * Verify your website has knowledge base content
    * Try asking a different question

    **Test Connection:**

    1. Go to BubblaV Dashboard → Integrations → Slack
    2. Check connection status
    3. Refresh the page and try again
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bot responding too often (spam)">
    **Solutions:**

    * Enable "Require Mention" so bot only responds when called
    * Limit bot to specific channels (not #general or #random)
    * Remove bot from busy social channels
    * Consider enabling thread creation to reduce clutter
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Channels not loading in configuration">
    **Solutions:**

    * Ensure bot has been installed to the workspace
    * Check bot has necessary permissions
    * Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration
    * Verify you're configuring the correct Slack workspace
    * Refresh the page and try again
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bot responses are incorrect or off-topic">
    **Solutions:**

    * Review your website's knowledge base content
    * Add more detailed documentation to your site
    * Use BubblaV's Q\&A feature to add specific answers
    * Check that your website crawler is up to date
    * Report issues to BubblaV support for AI improvements
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bot offline in workspace">
    **Solutions:**

    * Check BubblaV status page for outages
    * Verify Slack integration is still connected in dashboard
    * Try disconnecting and reconnecting integration
    * Reinstall bot with fresh authorization
    * Contact support if issue persists
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission errors when installing bot">
    **Solutions:**

    * Ensure you have permission to install apps to workspace
    * Try using a different browser or incognito mode
    * Contact workspace owner if you lack permissions
    * Verify workspace is not restricted by Slack policies
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bot not in channel member list">
    **Solutions:**

    * Use `/invite @BubblaV` to invite bot to the channel
    * Ask a workspace admin to add the bot
    * Verify bot is installed to your workspace
    * Check if there are restrictions on bot invitations
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Plan Limits

Slack bot messages count toward your BubblaV plan's message quota:

| Plan      | Monthly Messages | Slack Usage        |
| --------- | ---------------- | ------------------ |
| **Free**  | 100              | Shared with widget |
| **Pro**   | 5,000            | Shared with widget |
| **Turbo** | 15,000           | Shared with widget |

**Note:** Each @mention response counts as 1 message toward your quota.

**Upgrade:** If you exceed your limit, upgrade your plan in Dashboard → Billing.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I connect multiple Slack workspaces?">
    **Yes**, but each Slack workspace requires its own website integration in BubblaV. One workspace can only connect to one website, but you can create multiple websites in BubblaV if you manage multiple workspaces.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I customize the bot's name and avatar?">
    Currently, the bot uses the default BubblaV branding. Custom bot names and avatars are planned for a future update. All bots across different workspaces share the same BubblaV identity.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the bot store conversation history?">
    Yes, Slack conversations are stored in your BubblaV dashboard for analytics and training purposes. This helps improve response quality over time. You can view Slack interactions in Reports → Conversations.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can the bot handle direct messages (DMs)?">
    Currently, the bot only works in public channels. Direct message support is planned for a future update.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What permissions does the bot need?">
    The bot requires these permissions:

    * **Read Messages**: To see when users ask questions
    * **Send Messages**: To post responses
      **Add Reactions**: For interactive features

    These are requested automatically during installation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How fast does the bot respond?">
    The bot typically responds within 2-5 seconds:

    * Processing: 1-3 seconds
    * Response Delivery: \< 1 second

    Response time may vary based on:

    * Question complexity
    * Knowledge base size
    * Slack API latency
    * Server load
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if the bot doesn't know the answer?">
    If the bot can't find relevant information in your knowledge base, it will:

    1. Respond honestly: "I don't have information about that"
    2. Suggest contacting human support
    3. Optionally offer to escalate to your team (if Escalate to Human integration is enabled)

    The bot never makes up information or guesses.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can team members see bot analytics?">
    Team members cannot see analytics directly in Slack. However, if you grant them access to your BubblaV dashboard (via Team feature), they can view:

    * Message count and usage
    * Popular questions
    * Response quality metrics
    * User satisfaction ratings
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the bot available in multiple languages?">
    The bot responds in the same language as your knowledge base content. If your website has multi-language content, the bot can provide answers in those languages. Automatic translation is not currently supported.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Security & Privacy

<Info>
  **Data Security**: We only request read and send message permissions. Your Slack workspace data remains secure and private.
</Info>

<Info>
  **Privacy Compliance**: Slack conversations are processed according to our [Privacy Policy](https://bubblav.com/privacy). We do not share conversation data with third parties.
</Info>

<Warning>
  **Workspace Permissions**: Only users with permission to install apps can add the bot. If you lack permissions, contact your workspace owner.
</Warning>

<Warning>
  **Rate Limits**: Slack enforces rate limits on bot activity. If the bot stops responding temporarily, it may be rate-limited. This resets automatically within minutes.
</Warning>

## Need Help?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Documentation" icon="book" href="https://docs.bubblav.com">
    Read our full documentation
  </Card>

  <Card title="Support" icon="life-ring" href="https://bubblav.com/contact">
    Contact our support team
  </Card>

  <Card title="Community" icon="users" href="https://discord.gg/bubblav">
    Join our community
  </Card>

  <Card title="Report Bug" icon="bug" href="https://bubblav.com/contact?topic=bug">
    Report an issue
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What's Next?

After setting up Slack, consider:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Zendesk Integration" icon="ticket" href="/user-guide/integrations/zendesk">
    Escalate complex questions to your support team
  </Card>

  <Card title="Custom Tools" icon="wrench" href="/user-guide/integrations/custom-tools">
    Add custom actions for Slack users
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analytics" icon="chart-line" href="/user-guide/integrations/google-analytics">
    Track Slack bot interactions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Knowledge Base" icon="brain" href="/user-guide/knowledge/overview">
    Improve bot responses with better content
  </Card>
</CardGroup>