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

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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. You also need a Slack workspace where you have permission to install apps.

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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. The Slack section of the Export tab

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Step 2. Click “Connect Account”

Click the Connect Account button to start the OAuth flow. VectorShift opens a Slack authorization page in a new window. The Connect Account button

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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. The Slack authorization page with workspace selection and Allow button

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Step 4. Deploy to Slack

After authorization, you are 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. The Deploy to Slack button and confirmation

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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. The Slack API apps page

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Step 2. Select your workspace

Choose the workspace where you want the bot to operate. Workspace selection in the Slack app setup

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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. The OAuth and Permissions page with the token highlighted

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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. Pasting the OAuth token and clicking Deploy

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Setting up slash commands and app mentions

Once your chatbot is deployed to Slack, users can interact with it in two ways:
  • Direct messages: Open a conversation with the bot in the Apps section of Slack’s sidebar and type a message.
  • App mentions: Mention the bot in any channel where it has been added (for example, @YourBot what is the status of order #12345?). The bot reads the message after the mention and responds in the same channel.

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Managing channel permissions and bot responses

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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 get responses. 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 members are also members of your 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 that access control works as expected. The VectorShift chatbot responding to a user message in Slack

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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