Set up and manage Salesforce channels in Slack
Salesforce channels allow your team to update Salesforce records and centralize conversations about customers right in Slack. You can create and manage channel configurations to control which record types can be used in Salesforce channels.
Note: You can also set up Salesforce channels to let members collaborate directly on Salesforce records. Visit the Salesforce Help Center to learn more.
Configure Salesforce channels
Follow the steps below to set up Salesforce channels in Slack. Work with an Admin in Salesforce to complete the setup steps in Salesforce.
Step 1: Connect a Salesforce org to Slack
- Follow the steps in our Connect Salesforce and Slack guide.
- Once your Salesforce org is connected, you’ll need to manually map users if they haven’t already been granted access to Salesforce in Slack.
Step 2: Create Salesforce channel configurations
Create a configuration for each record type your members can use when they create a Salesforce channel. Salesforce channels can map to any record type except Users.
- Sign in to Salesforce, then select Setup.
- In the Quick Find box, search for and select Slack Channels for Records.
- Click + Add Objects.
- Search for and select the objects that you want to use for Salesforce channels.
- Click Add Objects to finish.
Note: The default privacy setting for a Salesforce channel configuration is based on the object type's record access settings in Salesforce. If the object is set to public in Salesforce, the default will be Public. For all other settings, the default will be Limited.
Manage Salesforce channel privacy
You can adjust the privacy for certain Salesforce channels and also set a default privacy level for your workspace or Enterprise organization.
Salesforce channel privacy levels
Salesforce channels can be either public, private, or limited access. While visibility for public and private Salesforce channels works just like other channels in Slack, limited access channels use Salesforce record permissions to determine channel visibility, including who can join them without being added.
You have the following options when selecting limited access permission levels:
-
Anyone who can view record
Anyone with access to the Salesforce record can view the channel and invite others. -
Record editors
People who can edit the Salesforce record can view the channel and invite others. -
Record owners
Only record owners and those with transfer access can view the channel and invite others.
Note: For more on how privacy for Salesforce channels differs from regular channels, visit Security for Salesforce channels.
Adjust Salesforce channel privacy
Owners and admins can adjust the channel privacy for any channel they're a member of and Channel Managers can do so for the channels that they manage.
- From your desktop, open a Salesforce channel.
- Click the channel name in the conversation header.
- Select the Settings tab.
- Next to Channel visibility click Edit.
- Select a channel privacy level. If you select Limited, choose what Salesforce permission level can access the channel.
Manage default privacy settings
Default privacy settings determine the privacy level for new Salesforce channels created in Slack. People with permission can override this default for specific channels. When you set the default, you can choose whether new Salesforce channels are public, private, or limited access.
Free, Pro, and Business+ plans
Enterprise plans
- From your desktop, click Admin in the sidebar.
- Select Manage Salesforce Organizations from the menu.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Channel configurations tab.
- Click the three dots icon next to a Salesforce channel configuration, then click Edit default preferences.
- Below Channel privacy, select a default privacy. If you select Limited, choose a Salesforce record permission level from the drop-down menu.
- Choose Save to finish.
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Manage Salesforce Organizations.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Channel configurations tab.
- Click the three dots icon next to a Salesforce channel configuration, then click Edit default preferences.
- Below Channel privacy, select a default privacy. If you select Limited, choose a Salesforce record permission level from the drop-down menu.
- Choose Save to finish.
Manage Salesforce channel default settings
For each Salesforce record type, you can choose default settings for channel names and list tabs. Salesforce channel names will match the names of their corresponding records, but you can choose to map them to other fields in Salesforce. Here's how to adjust default settings for Salesforce channels:
Free, Pro, and Business+ plans
Enterprise plans
- From your desktop, click Admin in the sidebar.
- Select Manage Salesforce Organizations from the menu.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Channel configurations tab.
- Click the three dots icon next to a Salesforce channel configuration, then click Edit default preferences.
- Adjust your settings, then click Save.
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Manage Salesforce Organizations.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Channel configurations tab.
- Click the three dots icon next to a Salesforce channel configuration, then click Edit default preferences.
- Adjust your settings, then click Save.
Note: If you use the record name field as your default channel name, the channel name will automatically update in Slack when the record name changes in Salesforce.
Manage Salesforce record previews
When someone shares a Salesforce record in a channel or direct message (DM), a preview will appear containing record details. You can restrict the details that appear in record previews and allow exceptions for certain record object types (like Account or Opportunity) to override these restrictions. Here are the options:
-
Show record details (default)
Record name, object, and record details (such as Stage or Amount) are shown. -
Show name and object only
No additional fields are shown -
Show object only
Only the record object type is shown
Note: Record previews are visible to all members of the conversation they appear in, regardless of member permissions in Salesforce. Visit Security for Salesforce channels to learn more about permissions for record previews.
Free, Pro, and Business+ plans
Enterprise plans
- From your desktop, click Admin in the sidebar.
- Select Manage Salesforce Organizations from the menu.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Under Record unfurl settings, click Edit.
- Choose an unfurl setting from the drop-down menu.
- Below Exceptions, choose which record object types to show record details for, if you’d like.
- Click Save.
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Manage Salesforce Organizations.
- Select a Salesforce org.
- Click the Settings tab.
- Under Record unfurl settings, click Edit.
- Choose an unfurl setting from the drop-down menu.
- Below Exceptions, choose which record object types to show record details for, if you’d like.
- Click Save.
Remove Salesforce channel configurations
If you no longer need a Salesforce channel configuration, coordinate with an Admin in Salesforce to remove it.
- Sign in to Salesforce, then select Setup.
- In the Quick Find box, search for and select Slack Channels for Records.
- Click the drop-down icon next to the configured record type, then click Remove Object.
Note: Editing or removing a Salesforce channel configuration won’t affect Salesforce channels that have already been created.
Who can use this feature?
- Workspace Owners/Admins (Free, Pro, and Business+ plans), Org Owners/Admins (Enterprise plans), and Salesforce Admins
- Available on all plans