What you're setting up: a one way, read only connection that lets Databook read your public Slack channel activity, so those conversations appear against the right account in Databook. For what this brings into Databook and why, see Slack integration.
Before you start
You'll need | Why |
Access to the Databook GTM Control Center Admin Console | The integration is installed from the Integrations page of the admin console |
A Slack account that can install apps into your workspace | You'll sign into Slack during the install to authorize Databook's access. If your workspace restricts app installation, this needs to be a Workspace Owner or Admin, or the install needs to be requested and approved before it can complete |
The right workspace selected | Slack authorization is per workspace. If your organization has more than one, authorize against the one where your account conversations happen |
CRM connected to Databook | Databook maps channels to accounts using your CRM records. Without this, channels are read but can't be matched to an account |
Install the integration
Databook uses Ampersand as its integration platform for the Slack connection. Integration data is not persisted in Ampersand's systems.
1. Sign into the Databook GTM Control Center Admin Console and go to Config, then Integrations (link).
2. Under Intelligence and Data, select the Slack tile.
3. On the Install Slack Integration screen, you'll see four steps: Connect, Select Objects, Configure and Review. On the Connect step, click Next.
4. A Slack authorization window opens. Confirm the workspace shown in the top right is the one you want to connect, review the permissions Slack lists, then click Allow.
5. On Select Objects, choose the Slack records to sync. Databook needs conversations and users, so leave both selected.
6. On Configure, review the field and sync frequency settings. The defaults are prefilled for Databook and should be left as they are unless your Databook contact has told you otherwise.
7. On Review, check the summary and confirm to complete the install.
Add the Databook app to the channels you want read
Slack requires an app to be a member of a channel before it can read that channel's message history. Authorizing the app in the step above isn't enough on its own: someone still needs to add it to each account channel you want Databook to read.
From within a channel: open the channel, go to Integrations, then Add an App, and select the Databook app.
As an admin, across multiple channels: add the app to channels from the Slack web app.
What Databook reads, and what it doesn't
Check | What it means |
Public channels only | Private channels, direct messages and group DMs aren't read. Databook doesn't hold the Slack permissions that would allow it to |
Mapped to an account | The channel must be matchable to an account in your CRM. This is what tells Databook which account a conversation belongs to. Channels that can't be matched aren't surfaced on any timeline |
For channels that pass both checks, Databook reads the messages, identifies material points such as stated requirements, stakeholders, competitive mentions, risks and next steps, and adds them to that account's timeline.
Access is read only. Nothing is posted back into Slack, and no Slack content is modified or deleted.
Confirming it's working
Check that the Slack tile on the admin console Integrations page shows the integration as installed.
Check that the Databook app appears in your Slack workspace's installed apps list.
Pick a public account channel with recent, substantive activity and confirm the Databook app is a member of it.
Allow a full sync cycle to pass.
Open that account in Databook and check the timeline for events sourced from Slack.
If Slack activity isn't appearing
Symptom | What to check |
Nothing at all is reaching Databook | Check the tile shows as installed, and that the Databook app is present in your Slack workspace. An authorization that was started but not approved by a workspace admin can leave the install looking complete on one side only |
Some channels appear, others don't | Check the missing channels against the two rules above, in order: is the channel public, and can it be matched to a CRM account. Then check whether the Databook app is a member of the channel |
A channel appears on the wrong account | Check what the channel is named and which CRM account it resolves to. Ambiguous channel names are the usual cause |
The install couldn't be completed | Your workspace most likely restricts app installation. Ask a Workspace Owner or Admin to approve the app, then run the install again |
A message from an hour ago isn't there yet | This is expected. Slack is read on a schedule, not in real time |
Making changes later
To review or change what's synced: return to the Slack tile on the admin console Integrations page. It shows the current configuration and lets you update it.
To stop reading a specific channel: remove the Databook app from that channel in Slack. Content already ingested isn't removed by this, so raise anything that needs deleting with your Databook contact.
To stop the integration permanently: uninstall it from the Slack tile in the admin console, then remove the Databook app from your Slack workspace.
To load historical messages: raise this with your Databook contact.