Slack is a channel-based messaging platform. With Slack, people can work together more effectively, connect all their software tools and services, and find the information they need - all within a secure, enterprise-grade environment.
Slack enables users to:
- Organize conversations in channels
- Share files and documents
- Search the conversation archive
- Make voice and video calls
- Share channels with clients, vendors, and partners
To learn more about the features of Slack, visit https://slack.com/features.
Key integration benefits
The Ruddr integration for Slack significantly enhances the functionality and user experience of Ruddr. It is highly recommended that you install the Ruddr integration for Slack for your workspace. Below is an overview of the main features of the Slack integration.
Track Time Directly within Slack
With the Slack integration configured, workspace members can track time in Ruddr without ever leaving Slack. To do this, simply type the following slash command into the new message box in Slack.
/ruddr time
This command will take you through the steps of creating a time entry in Slack. Note that the time command will also allow you to view all time entries for any day and edit a time entry.
Missing Time Alerts
In professional services organizations, it is important that time gets recorded as the work is being delivered. When there is a delay in tracking time, the likelihood of errors (and ultimately lost revenue) increases.
Ruddr can help the organization ensure that all time is being entered by reminding workspace members if they are missing time for the week or month. Each workspace member in Ruddr is set up with an available number of hours for each day of the week. This allows Ruddr to know precisely how much time each member should have entered in any given timeframe.
A Workspace Admin can enable missing time alerts and configure them to be sent at at the end of each week, each month, or both. When a workspace member has missing time, the member will receive a direct message from Ruddr (Figure 1) as follows:
Figure 1 - Ruddr Missing Time Notification via Slack
Pending Approval Alerts
Every project in Ruddr must have a project team and each project team must have a Project Admin. The Project Admin is responsible for project administration, which includes approving time and expenses (if time and expense approval is enabled for the project).
The Project Admin for a project will be shown on the Team tab (Figure 2) of the project with a checkmark within a green badge.
Figure 2 - The Checkmark Designates the Project Admin
When time and expenses for a project are submitted for approval, the Project Admin will be notified via a Slack direct message (Figure 3) as shown below:
Figure 3 - Ruddr Notification to Project Admin via Slack
Project Channel Alerts
In order to deliver a project successfully, it is important to keep the project team on the same page. Often, project managers have a lot on their plate and aren't always able to keep the team updated on all key project events.
The Ruddr integration for Slack helps keep the project team informed by sending slack messages to a designated project slack channel. When Slack is integrated with Ruddr, the Overview tab of the Edit Project drawer will include a drop-down box (Figure 4) that will allow you to pick a Slack channel to receive project notifications.
Figure 4 -Associate the Project Channel in Slack with a Ruddr Project
Once a Slack channel is selected, Ruddr will send a message to the channel any time an important event related to the project occurs. Examples of the types of notifications that will be sent to the designated Slack channel include:
- A new member has been added to the project team
- The status of a project task has changed
- The status of the project has changed
- An invoice has been published for the project
Note that you must create the project channel via Slack and assign appropriate members to the channel. Ruddr does not create Slack channels or manage the membership of Slack channels.
Setting up the integration
For step-by-step instructions on setting up the Ruddr integration for Slack, see the Slack integration setup article.