Using the Answer Bot for Slack integration

The Slack for Zendesk integration includes the Answer Bot for Slack integration.

The integration implements Answer Bot in Slack so you can get help without waiting for someone to reply. It listens on selected Slack channels and resolves questions by providing article suggestions from your Guide knowledge base.

Answer Bot for Slack is a free feature which is available in the Slack for Zendesk integration if you are on the Professional plan.

This article includes the following topics:

• About the Answer Bot for Slack integration
• Enabling Answer Bot on a Slack channel
• Removing Answer Bot from a Slack channel
• Asking a question in Slack
• Viewing feedback to a question
• FAQs

For more information about Answer Bot and the Slack for Zendesk integration, see the following articles:

• Understanding everywhere you can use Answer Bot
• Using the Slack for Zendesk integration

About the Answer Bot for Slack integration

This feature is built on top of the Slack for Zendesk integration. It is automatically available when you install the Slack for Zendesk integration. Your Slack administrator can see Answer Bot settings by entering the command /zendesk settings in the Zendesk app channel in Slack.

Enabling Answer Bot on a Slack channel

Answer Bot is configured to specific Slack channels in the Zendesk Apps channel. Only a Slack administrator can configure Answer Bot for Slack. This configuration applies for public and private channels.

Don't forget that you need to install the Slack for Zendesk integration for this feature to be available.

To enable Answer Bot on a specific channel

1. In the Zendesk App channel, enter /zendesk settings to display the app settings.
2. In Answer Bot, click Add channel.
   Note: If your Slack workspace has a lot of channels, after clicking Add Channel, please wait up to 10 seconds for the channel dropdown to show.
3. In Which channel(s) would you like me to listen to and suggest articles for?, select the channel from the dropdown list, and click Next.
   
4. From the dropdown list, select the brand articles to recommend in the channel, and click Done.

Removing Answer Bot from a Slack channel

Answer Bot can be removed from a Slack channel by a Slack administrator.

To disable Answer Bot on a Slack channel

1. In Zendesk App channel, enter “/zendesk settings” to display the app settings.
2. Click Edit existing settings, and select the channel from the dropdown list.
3. Click Remove Answer Bot.

Asking a question in Slack

Answer Bot listens on configured Slack channels and offers article suggestions when a question is posted.

Note: Because of the way Answer Bot is integrated and authenticated, user segment and label restrictions aren't applied to the suggested articles. Any articles visible to the admin who configures the integration will also be accessible to the users asking questions in Slack.

To ask a question using Answer Bot in Slack

1. Post a question in the Slack channel which contains at least five words ending with a question mark. Answer Bot responds to the question by starting a thread.
   
2. Click Yes or No to indicate whether your question is answered.
3. If more than one article is found, click More suggestions. Additional articles are listed.
   
4. Click the article number button if it answers your question, or None of the above if a suitable answer is not provided.

Viewing feedback to a question

Your response to article suggestions is visible in the form of a green tick or red cross emoji reaction after the question. This is particularly useful in a busy Slack channel. This indicates to other members of the channel whether the question was successfully resolved or if it needs someone to respond.

If the suggestion doesn’t answer your question, you can create a ticket directly from Slack by clicking on Submit a Request. For more information on submitting tickets in Slack and viewing tickets created in Slack, see Using the Slack for Zendesk integration.

FAQs

Can I connect multiple Zendesk instances to my Slack workspace?

No. You can only connect one Zendesk instance to a Slack workspace.

Can Answer Bot respond in a direct message (DM)?

Answer Bot only listens on Slack channels and does not interact with a DM.

How do I create a view in Zendesk Support that shows only tickets created by the integration?

When you create a ticket via the integration, a tag is automatically added to your ticket: "created_from_slack". You can use this tag as a filter in your Views in Zendesk Support.

How can I find out how many questions are being deflected by Answer Bot?

This capability is not currently available, but will be available in Zendesk Explore in the future.