Build a workflow: Use a workflow template

Workflow templates help you build automated tasks and processes in Slack without starting from scratch.

What to expect

  • Workflow templates provide a sequence of steps to complete some of the most commonly automated tasks in Slack.
  • To customize a template, you’ll select the details like channels, messages and forms that determine exactly how the workflow behaves.


Customize a template

When you open a template, review the description to understand the actions the workflow will take. Words that appear in blue are the inputs that you'll customize to create a workflow that achieves your desired result.

For example, if you’d like a workflow to welcome a new member to a channel, you might select the New channel member welcome template, where the description will be something like this:

When someone joins a channel, DM them a welcome message and a form, and then send their responses to the channel.

For this template, the inputs like the channel, welcome message, form, and conversation where responses are sent, can all be customized.
Here’s how to create a workflow from a template:

  1. From your desktop, hover over   More, then select   Automations.
    Image of cursor selecting the More menu in the Slack desktop app.
  2. Click   Templates, then select the template you’d like to use.
  3. Click Set Up.
  4. Select the blue text in the sentence, then follow the prompts to customize the input. Repeat this step until you’ve customized the input for all the blue text.
  5. Click Publish Workflow.
Once published, you can edit and manage your workflow to reorder or add steps, add or remove workflow managers, or unpublish it.


Customize an advanced template

Some templates in the gallery are labeled as Advanced. When you select an advanced template, it will open in Workflow Builder where you can customize, reorder and add additional steps.

  1. From your desktop, hover over   More, then select   Automations.
    Image of cursor selecting the More menu in the Slack desktop app.
  2. Click   Templates, then select the template you’d like to use.
  3. Click Use Template.
  4. Click the   pencil icon beside each step you’d like to edit or delete. Make your changes, then click Save.
  5. When you’re ready, click Finish up.
  6. Give your workflow a name, then click Next.
  7. Add workflow managers and edit permissions if you’d like, then click Publish.
Who can use this feature?
  • By default, all members can create workflows, and members and guests can use them.
  • Available on paid plans