Communication Channel Integrations

The Awardco communications channel integrations feature allows you to process recognitions with your established Awardco recognition programs directly in your organization's preferred communication application. Here we will walk through linking your accounts to these apps and how to process a recognition. 

This integration is only available for Awardco platforms utilizing the recognition programs feature. Slack and Microsoft Teams are currently the only business communication platforms available for social integration with the Awardco platform. 

This article is for Awardco platform administrators. If you are looking for a guide that explains recognizing using the Slack or Microsoft Teams integrations, please see the Sending Recognitions in Slack or New Microsoft Teams Integration: Linking Your Account and Recognizing articles.

Microsoft Teams: Linking your Awardco and Teams Accounts

Step 1 - Navigate to Integrations Page in your Awardco Platform Settings

1.  Login to your Awardco Account
2. Select "Admin" in top right corner
3. Click the "Settings" tab
4. Select "Integrations" from left hand list

From here you will select the "Connect to Teams" button and it will open a window from Teams that will mention "allowing permissions" to Awardco.  Once this action is complete you will see the following screen and the integration will reflect "Active". You can choose to which team and to which channel in Teams you'd like your recognitions to post to. You are now ready to post in either Teams or Awardco, and they will reflect in both platforms. 

Slack: Linking your Awardco and Slack Accounts

Step 1 - Adding the Awardco App to Your Slack Workspace

Begin by logging into your Awardco account and navigate to the admin section of your account, click Settings, and Integrations. On the integrations page, click the Details button next to the slack logo. 

On this page, click the Connect to Slack button in the integration status section. This button will redirect you to the Slack website to finalize the integration. 

Once you are brought to Slack's site, sign into your account and click Allow on the permissions page. Learn more about the Awardco app in Slack's app directory. 

After clicking "Allow" you will be presented with a confirmation page letting you know the Awardco app has been added to your Slack workspace. Return to your Awardco platform, navigate back to the integrations tab, and click Details next to the Slack logo. Here you will see the integration status has been changed to "Active." Under the "Settings" section on this page, you will be able to change the channel in your Slack workspace where public recognitions will be posted and shared. 

Your Slack workspace can only be connected to one Awardco platform. If your organization uses one Slack workspace and multiple Awardco platforms, you will need to choose one platform to integrate. For questions about this feature, please contact your Client Success Manager. 

Step 2 - Connecting Your Slack and Awardco Accounts

Open your Slack application and navigate to any Direct Message or Channel. In the message entry field, type "/recognize" and hit enter. Don't worry, sending this command will not send a message. 

Once the command is sent, a message will appear directing you to connect your Slack and Awardco accounts. Click the "Connect Account" button. 

The link will take you to your Awardco platform and will automatically authenticate your connection once you log in. Once you see this second confirmation screen, you are all set up and ready to recognize in the platform. 

Please also note that each individual employee will need to follow the directions in Step 2 to connect their individual Awardco and Slack accounts. You can direct these employees to Send Recognition in Slack to follow setup instructions for a non-admin user. 

Setting up Multi-Channel Posting for Slack

Recognitions can be posted to different channels based on the recipient's metadata. To set this up go to Admin > Integrations > Slack > Channel Settings. 

The default channel will allow a place for recognitions to post if the recipient doesn't meet the channel rule requirements. You may leave the default channel blank. This means that only recognitions matching the recipient's metadata will post to the appropriate channels.

Choose a metadata field then add rule. Pick the channel you are creating the rules for. Only public channels will show. Channels that are the default or already have channel rules will not show in the dropdown.

Pick the recipient metadata that will be posted to the channel. Multiple metadata values can be selected. If a metadata value was previously used in a rule, it will be not be available. Metadata values can only be associated with one channel.

Sending Recognitions in Awardco via Slack

Now that your Awardco platform and Slack workspace are connected, you're ready to begin recognizing. To start, go to any channel or direct message, type /recognize and hit enter. When you hit enter, a recognition pop-up will appear and will prompt you to search for the user you would like to recognize. Search for the user, select the user, and click "Submit." The recognition won't be sent just yet, though—the system needs more information before that happens. You can select as many users as you want. 

Remember, this app is an extension of the recognition programs you have configured in your Awardco platform. This means all eligibility rules, limit guidelines, and approval systems you have in place in the platform will be in place in this app as well. This will function exactly like your in-platform recognition programs. If you mess up along the way, just click "Cancel" and start again from /recognize. 

If you are eligible for multiple recognition programs, you will select those here. Review the programs you are eligible for, and click "Choose" on the program you want to use. If you select the wrong program, close out of the recognition window and start again from the beginning. 

Finally, complete the recognition form required for the associated recognition program. If a budget is associated with the program, you will be able to designate the value of the award here. 

When you click "Submit" the recognition will be sent in the channel or direct message you are in and will be processed in your Awardco platform. If approvals are required for the program you selected, the recognition will be placed in the appropriate approval queues. If no approvals are required, you will be able to see your recognition in the platform immediately. 

Please note, submitting a recognition in a direct message does not necessarily mean the recognition will post as private in your Awardco platform.

If you have any questions, please contact our Awardco Support Team.