Workflows are automated multi-step tasks or processes you set up in Slack via a guided UI experience — no coding required!
Slack workflows are an easy way to automate everyday tasks in Slack without needing to write any code.
They are available for teams or companies that use Slack’s paid plans.
You can create these workflows using a tool called Workflow Builder.
It lets you choose a trigger (like when someone joins a channel or clicks a button) and then add steps (like sending a message or collecting information) to make things happen automatically.
It’s like setting up a mini assistant inside Slack to handle small, repeated tasks for you!
🔔 What Are Triggers in Slack Workflows?
Triggers are what start a workflow in Slack. Think of them like a button that tells your workflow, “Go!”
Here are the different types of triggers you can use:
- Link Triggers
Start a workflow when someone clicks a special link, which can be shared in any public Slack channel. - Scheduled Triggers
Run your workflow automatically at a set date and time, at regular intervals, or on a repeating schedule. - Event Triggers
Launch a workflow when something specific happens in Slack—like a new person joining a channel or someone reacting to a message with an emoji. - Webhook Triggers
Start a workflow when a special URL receives a message from another app or system (called an HTTP POST request).
These triggers make it easy to automate tasks based on timing, user actions, or external tools—all without writing a single line of code!
⚙️ What Are Steps in Slack Workflows?
Steps are the actions your workflow takes after it’s triggered. They can either start right after the trigger or follow one another in a sequence.
Here’s what steps can do:
- 🔹 Built-in Slack actions
Slack provides many useful functions, like:- Sending a message to a channel or user
- Showing a form (modal) where users can fill in answers like text, multiple choice, checkboxes, date/time, and numbers
- Creating, archiving, or inviting people to a channel
- Managing user groups (adding or removing members)
- 🔹 Third-party integrations
You can connect popular tools like Google Sheets, Jira, PagerDuty, GitHub, Giphy, Salesforce, Zoom, and more.
These integrations allow your workflow to interact with other apps directly from Slack. - 🔹 Custom functions (for developers)
Developers can create custom functions—reusable pieces of automation that take inputs, do some logic, and return outputs, just like coding functions. These are powerful for advanced workflows.
With steps, you can make your workflows do simple or complex tasks—all in a smooth, automated way!
You can create your own custom workflows directly inside Slack, or use ready-made templates like daily stand-ups or request handling.
If you want to start a workflow from another app and send information into Slack, you can do that by creating a workflow in Slack’s Workflow Builder using a webhook
🔧 Understanding Premium Workflows in Slack
In Slack, Workflows help automate everyday tasks — like sending messages, collecting responses, or integrating with other tools. But not all workflows are the same. Let’s break it down:
🆚 Standard vs Premium Workflows
- Standard Workflows use only built-in Slack functions (like sending a message or creating a form).
- Premium Workflows include at least one custom function, like calling an external service or using a webhook.
If your workflow includes even one custom function — it becomes a Premium Workflow
💳 Are Premium Workflows Free?
It depends on your Slack plan. Each paid Slack plan includes a certain number of premium workflow runs per month:
| Slack Plan | Monthly Premium Workflow Runs |
|---|---|
| Pro Plan | 1,000 runs |
| Business+ Plan | 2,000 runs |
| Enterprise Grid | 5,000 runs |
⚠️ Note: Workflow Builder (and premium workflows) are not available on the Free plan.
If you exceed the monthly limit, Slack may charge based on extra usage.
📊 Published Workflow Dashboard in Slack
Managing workflows in Slack just got easier!
Slack Owners and Admins can now view and manage all the workflows that have been published in their workspace or Enterprise Grid organization—all in one place. This is done through the All Published Workflows tab inside Workflow Builder.
From this dashboard, they can:
- 🔍 View all active workflows created using Workflow Builder
- ⚙️ Edit or manage workflows to keep them up-to-date
- 📈 Monitor usage to see how often workflows are being triggered and by whom
This makes it simple for workspace admins to stay on top of workflow automation, ensure everything is running smoothly, and keep things organized—no coding required!
Source : Slack , Trailhead
👥 Managing Collaborators on a Slack Workflow
Want to share the responsibility of managing a workflow you’ve created? Slack makes it easy!
You can add collaborators to any workflow you’ve built in Workflow Builder. Collaborators can help you edit, manage, and even add or remove other collaborators—just like you can.
Here’s how it works:
- ✅ Anyone you add as a collaborator can manage the workflow and its collaborators, including admins.
- 👑 Workspace Owners and Admins can also add themselves as collaborators on any published workflow.
- 🔒 If an admin adds themselves to a private channel’s workflow they’re not a member of, they won’t be able to see the channel name—privacy is still respected.
This feature makes collaboration smooth, especially for teams who co-manage automation or want backup support when one person is away.
🔐 Controlling Access to Workflows and Functions
When developers create workflows or custom functions in Slack, they can set permissions to control who can use or add them.
As a Workspace Owner or Admin, you have full control over access settings:
- 🔒 You can restrict who can build or run workflows across your workspace or Enterprise Grid organization.
- 🧩 If you’re using custom functions, you can limit who can add them to workflows—useful when you want only certain users or teams to access advanced automation.
This helps ensure that your workflows stay secure, organized, and only accessible to the right people—keeping your Slack environment clean and under control.
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