Using Slack Commands

Once IntelliRepo is connected to your Slack workspace, you can query your knowledge base in several ways. This guide shows you how.

The /ask Command

The most common way to query IntelliRepo from Slack.

Basic Usage

/ask What is our refund policy?

The bot responds in the channel with:

An AI-generated answer
Source documents with page numbers

In Any Channel

The /ask command works in any channel - the bot doesn't need to be invited.

Private Responses

Responses to /ask are visible only to you by default. To share with the channel, click "Share" after receiving the answer.

@Mentioning the Bot

You can also @mention the bot for a more conversational experience.

Usage

@IntelliRepo How do I request time off?

Requirements

The bot must be invited to the channel first
Type /invite @IntelliRepo to add it

Response

The bot replies in a thread, visible to everyone in the channel.

Direct Messages

For private queries, message the bot directly.

Find IntelliRepo in your Slack sidebar (under Apps)
Click to open a DM
Type your question

What are the steps for expense reimbursement?

When to Use DMs

Sensitive questions you don't want visible in channels
Testing queries before sharing
Personal reference lookups

Response Format

All responses include:

The Answer

A natural language answer based on your documents.

Sources

Up to 3 relevant documents with page numbers:

According to the Employee Handbook, employees receive 15 days of
paid vacation per year, accruing at 1.25 days per month.

Sources:
• Employee Handbook (Page 12)
• Benefits Summary (Page 3)

Tips for Better Results

Be Specific

/ask What is the return window for electronics?

Better than:

/ask Tell me about returns

Use Document Terminology

If your documents use specific terms (like "PTO" instead of "vacation"), use those in your query.

One Question at a Time

Break complex questions into separate queries for clearer answers.

Which Collection Gets Searched?

Channel Mappings

If an admin has mapped your channel to a specific collection, that collection is searched.

Default Collection

Otherwise, the workspace's default collection is used.

No Collection Configured

If neither exists, you'll see:

"No knowledge base configured for this workspace."

Ask an admin to set up collection mappings in IntelliRepo.

Common Responses

Successful Answer

The bot found relevant content and generated an answer with sources.

"I couldn't find information about that"

The topic may not be in your configured collection. Try:

Rephrasing your question
Asking in a channel mapped to a different collection
Checking if the relevant document exists

"No knowledge base configured"

No default collection or channel mapping exists. Ask an admin to configure this in Settings > Integrations.

Error Messages

If you see an error, try again in a moment. If it persists, contact your IntelliRepo admin.

Usage Limits

Slack queries count toward your organization's monthly query limit:

Plan	Queries/Month
Solo	500
Pro	2,000
Team	10,000
Enterprise	75,000

When the limit is reached, queries will return an error until the next billing cycle (or you can upgrade for overage allowance).

Best Practices for Teams

Educate Your Team

Share these example queries to help people get started:

"What is the expense policy?"
"How do I set up VPN access?"
"What are the code review guidelines?"

Set Up Channel Mappings

Map relevant channels to appropriate collections:

#engineering → Engineering Docs
#sales → Sales Playbook
#all-company → Company Policies

Monitor Usage

Admins can check query usage in IntelliRepo under Settings > Usage.

Comparison: Methods

Method	Visibility	Bot Invite Needed	Best For
`/ask`	Private (can share)	No	Personal lookups
@mention	Public (threaded)	Yes	Team discussions
DM	Private	No	Sensitive questions

Need Help?

If Slack commands aren't working, check the Slack Setup Guide or contact support.

Slack Setup Guide Organization Setup