Approval workflows, routine updates, and cross-department requests often create bottlenecks that slow down teams. Slack, as a central communication hub, is an ideal platform for streamlining these tasks.

By integrating Slack using Celigo, you can transform how your team works — automating repetitive processes and delivering results where your employees spend the most time: Slack.

This guide is for:

• IT Teams: You’re the go-to problem solvers. By automating routine Slack tasks, you can empower employees, reduce IT requests, and simplify your workflows.
• Technical Professionals Outside IT: You’re not on the IT team, but you know your way around APIs, JSON, and workflows. With Celigo, you can create Slack automations that enhance productivity without involving IT.

→ Get the Slack Helper template 

Video demo: Creating Slack automations

Use case: Expense approvals

At Celigo, we implemented automation to solve a common challenge: managing expense approvals.

Traditionally, managers had to log into Coupa, navigate multiple screens, and manually approve each expense. This process was time-consuming and cumbersome.

We streamlined this workflow: 

• Expense reports in Slack: All necessary details, including receipts, are sent directly to managers via Slack.
• Interactive approvals: Managers can approve or reject requests with the click of a button, without leaving Slack.
• File attachments: Receipts are uploaded as attachments in Slack threads, ensuring managers have everything they need to make informed decisions.

This integration has saved countless hours and reduced friction in a critical business process.

Why use Celigo for Slack automations?

Many think of iPaaS solutions as tools for mission-critical integrations like syncing financial systems or managing inventory. While true, Celigo stands out for its easy handling of fun, lightweight, low-hanging fruit automations.

Here’s why Celigo is ideal for Slack workflows:

• Built for iteration: Test and fix workflows in real-time, directly in production.
• Flexible integrations: Celigo connects with any API, enabling endless automation possibilities.
• Prebuilt components: Save time with preconfigured flows and steps available in the Celigo Marketplace.

Best practices for Slack automations

• Collaborate with AI: Use ChatGPT for API payload generation and troubleshooting.
• Iterate in production: Build, test, and refine workflows live.
• Start small: Begin with simple use cases like approval flows or status notifications.

By leveraging Slack automations, you can transform how your team interacts with routine workflows. From setting up a Slack app to integrating advanced automations and real-time debugging, this video equips you with the tools to simplify processes and boost productivity.

Whether handling approvals, sharing updates, or adding file attachments to conversations, these integrations enhance Slack’s utility while saving your team valuable time.