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Where does the Slack Workflow Builder start and end when using Workflow Steps for Jira?

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Hello everyone. We're back with another edition of Simply Slack, your one-stop shop for all things Slack.

The latest in our series continues to delve into the Workflow Steps for Jira app and its many customisable features. But how does it interact with the Slack Workflow Builder tool? Are they the same thing? Where does one end and the other begin? These are common questions that we'll address here. Specifically, we’ll look at:

  • What is the Slack Workflow Builder?
  • What is Workflow Steps for Jira?
  • How has Slack Workflow Builder evolved?
  • Slack Workflow Builder and Workflow Steps for Jira—where to start and end
  • How to find Slack Workflow Builder.
  • How to create a workflow using Slack Workflow Builder.
  • Slack Workflow Builder triggers.
  • How to find out more.

Without further ado, let's get started! 

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What is the Slack Workflow Builder?

Aimed at empowering Slack users to automate routine tasks and connect with their existing tools, without the need for complex coding knowledge, the Slack Workflow Builder allows any user within your workspace to create workflows to help streamline processes in real time.

Whether it's creating workflows to share need-to-know information with team members when they join a channel, or automating requests to cut down on the back and forth, Slack Workflow Builder enables you and your teams to boost efficiency, and cut down on task and context-switching between different tools.


Simply Slack tip #1


If you’re unable to view the Slack Workflow Builder, it may be because your Slack admin has restricted access to certain user groups. In this case, we recommend contacting your Slack admin to gain access.

Simply Slack tip #2

Slack Workflow Builder is only available on paid plans. Learn more about Slack’s paid plans, how to choose one that’s right for your team here.

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Slack Workflow Builder screenshot

What is Workflow Steps for Jira?

Ardent followers of Simply Slack will be very familiar with Workflow Steps for Jira by now. However, for any newcomers (the more, the merrier!) Workflow Steps for Jira is our app developed for the Slack Workflow Builder, allowing users to seamlessly integrate their Slack and Jira workspaces.

We like to think of Slack Workflow Builder as a Lego set, and our Workflow Steps for Jira app as the additional blocks that turn your Lego house into a Lego tower! You can keep adding additional blocks (or steps) to improve the functionality for you as the user.

Much like Slack Workflow Builder itself, it's for users of all technical abilities and doesn't require a deep coding background. It's flexible, easy to use, and comes with a number of ready-made templates you can start implementing into your workflows today!

Start connecting your Jira and Slack workspace, and try the app here.
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How has the Slack Workflow Builder evolved?

When the Slack Workflow Builder launched, it allowed no-code users to build simple automation within Slack. However, that was generally limited to collecting and sharing information via a channel/group conversation or direct message to a user."

Eventually, Slack improved the functionality to include Steps from Apps and developed some core functionality. For example, the ability to write form contents to a row on a Google sheet so that information could be exported from Slack. This was the start of Steps from Apps.

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Slack Workflow Builder steps from apps screenshot

An app step allows the Slack workflow builder to pass information into the app step as part of a workflow, but many people don’t fully understand where the native Slack functionality ends and where vendor app steps like Workflow Steps for Jira begin. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to access the Slack Workflow Builder and to build your first workflow and how Steps from Apps could fit into that workflow.

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Slack Workflow Builder and Workflow Steps for Jira—where to start and end

An app step allows the Slack Workflow Builder to pass information to external applications as part of a workflow. However, it's difficult to distinguish where the native Slack Workflow Builder functionality ends and where vendor app steps (like Workflow Steps for Jira) begin. 

Let's walk through how to access the Slack Workflow Builder, start your first workflow, and how Steps from Apps could fit into that workflow.

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How to find the Slack Workflow Builder

The Slack Workflow Builder can be found either by going through the tools menu in your workspace, the shortcuts menu or, if a channel you are in already has a workflow set up, you'll see a 'Manage Workflows' link in the Integrations tab.

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Screenshot showing how to access Slack Workflow Builder through the tools menu
Screenshot showing how to access Slack Workflow Builder using the shortcuts menu
Screenshot showing how to access Slack Workflow Builder via 'Manage workflows'

How to create a workflow using the Slack Workflow Builder

Slack entirely controls the initial modal window.

Click the 'Create' button and name your workflow. Or use the 'Import' feature to import one of our Workflow Steps for Jira templates.

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Slack Workflow Builder create menu

Slack Workflow Builder triggers

The Slack Workflow Builder supports the following triggers to initiate a workflow (see below).

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Slack Workflow Builder triggers
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Would you like to see a workflow example being built step by step?

Upon returning to the workflow configuration screen, you can now have the option to start interacting with functionality that isn't part of the native Slack Workflow Builder. While Slack offers useful steps like ‘Send a Form’ to gather details from your users, we’ll focus in this blog on the apps list in the 'Add Workflow Step' screen, which contains apps that support Workflow steps from apps.

You can mix and match app steps from different vendors, (including Workflow Steps for Jira) with native Workflow Builder steps to produce the custom automation you need.

A full list of compatible apps is available to view in the Slack app directory.

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Screenshot showing how to add a workflow step in Workflow Steps for Jira

Talk to us about automating your workflows

And with that, you’re now a Slack Workflow Builder veteran—kudos! By now, you should be able to distinguish between the Slack Workflow Builder and the many apps it can integrate with. However, if you’re looking for further guidance on building workflows, or have any other questions related to Slack or the Workflow Builder, please get in touch using the form below, and one of our friendly in-house Slack experts will be happy to help.

We also hope that, in understanding the difference between the Slack Workflow Builder and Workflow Steps for Jira, it’s clear how much value our app adds to Slack’s already very handy automation feature.

Still not given it a try?

Download it now
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About the authors

Alastair Wilkinson

Alastair Wilkinson

Alastair is the Product Manager on the Slack product team at Adaptavist. His passion is exploring technology in emerging ecosystems. Alastair is responsible for identifying customer pain points and developing innovative solutions that improve customer experience.