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Deploying your chatbot to Slack lets your team interact with it through direct messages in a Slack workspace. Instead of opening a separate URL, users message the bot right where they already work. VectorShift supports two connection methods: a one-click OAuth flow through the UI, and a manual OAuth token for more control.

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Prerequisites

Your chatbot must be deployed before connecting to Slack. Open the chatbot builder, go to the Export tab, and toggle Deployment Enabled to on. See Share via link for details on deployment.

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Method 1: Connect via the VectorShift UI

This is the recommended approach. VectorShift handles the OAuth flow for you.

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Step 1. Open the Export tab

Navigate to the Chatbots page, open the chatbot you want to deploy, and go to the Export tab. Select the Slack sub-tab. Chatbot Export Slack page

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Step 2. Click “Connect Account”

Click the Connect Account button to start the OAuth flow. VectorShift will open a Slack authorization page in a new window. Connect Slack account

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Step 3. Authorize the workspace

Select the Slack workspace you want to deploy to. Review the permissions VectorShift is requesting, then click Allow to grant access. Authorize Slack workspace

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Step 4. Deploy to Slack

After authorization, you will be returned to VectorShift. Click Deploy to Slack to activate the bot in your workspace. You should now be able to find the bot in Slack’s direct messages and start chatting with it. Deploy to Slack Chatbot running in Slack

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Method 2: Connect via a manually generated OAuth token

If you need more control over the Slack app configuration (for example, to set custom scopes or use an existing Slack app), you can generate an OAuth token manually and paste it into VectorShift.

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Step 1. Create a Slack app

Visit https://api.slack.com/apps and click Create New App. Follow the prompts to set up a new app in your workspace. Create Slack app

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Step 2. Select your workspace

Choose the workspace where you want the bot to operate. Select Slack workspace

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Step 3. Generate and copy the access token

Navigate to the OAuth & Permissions section of your Slack app. Install the app to your workspace and copy the Bot User OAuth Token that Slack generates. Copy Slack OAuth token

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Step 4. Paste the token into VectorShift and deploy

Back in the chatbot’s Export tab under the Slack section, paste the OAuth token into the token field. Click Deploy to Slack. The bot is now active in your workspace. Paste OAuth token into VectorShift

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Role-based access control (RBAC)

You can restrict who in your Slack workspace is allowed to chat with the bot by enabling Role-Based Access Control. When RBAC is on, only members of your VectorShift organization who have been granted access can interact with the bot. Other workspace members will be unable to chat with it. To enable RBAC, check the Enable Role-Based Access Control toggle in the Slack deployment section before clicking Deploy.
RBAC requires that your Slack workspace is connected to a VectorShift organization. If you have not set up an organization, see Organizations.

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Testing

After deployment, open Slack and find the bot in your direct messages (or in the Apps section of the sidebar). Send a test message to confirm the bot responds correctly. If RBAC is enabled, test with both an authorized and an unauthorized user to verify access control works as expected.

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Next steps

Deploy via WhatsApp and SMS

Connect to WhatsApp or SMS through Twilio

API access

Run the chatbot programmatically from your own application