Rippling

Overview

Rippling can automatically create and manage memberships for Slack and Microsoft Teams channels for new hires based on their department, location, role, and other attributes. This functionality is a component of Rippling's broader App Management and IT automation capabilities, which are powered by the platform's unified employee data model. The system uses a feature called 'Supergroups,' which are dynamic, rule-based groups built upon the 'Employee Graph.' These rules can use any combination of employee data stored in the HRIS. For example, an administrator can create a Supergroup for 'All employees in the Engineering department' or a more complex one for 'All remote employees with a start date in the last 30 days.' These Supergroups are the foundation for automating access and communication workflows.

Key Features

When a 'New Hire' event occurs in the HRIS, it can trigger a workflow that leverages these Supergroups to manage channel memberships. For its Slack integration, Rippling can automatically import an organization's existing Slack channels and user groups. An administrator can then link a Supergroup to a specific Slack channel. Once linked, any employee who meets the criteria of the Supergroup is automatically added to the channel, and anyone who no longer meets the criteria is automatically removed. This ensures that channel memberships are always up-to-date. For instance, if an employee moves from the Sales to the Marketing department, Rippling will automatically remove them from sales-specific channels and add them to marketing-specific ones. The system can also be configured to create new public or private channels based on employee attributes.

Similarly, the integration with Microsoft Teams, which is managed as part of the broader Microsoft 365 integration, allows for automated management of group and channel memberships. Using the same Supergroup logic, administrators can ensure that employee access to Teams channels and SharePoint sites dynamically adapts to changes in their role, department, or location. Beyond just managing memberships, Rippling's Workflow Automator can be configured to post automated messages within these channels. This could be used to send a welcome message to a new hire channel, tag their manager, and provide links to important onboarding resources. This level of automation helps streamline the onboarding experience and ensures new employees are connected with the right people and information from their first day.

Technical Specifications

How It Works

These communication platform automations are part of a much larger IT onboarding and offboarding solution. The same 'New Hire' event that adds an employee to a Slack channel can also trigger the assignment of a laptop, the provisioning of accounts in applications like G Suite and Zoom, and even the granting of physical access to an office via integrations with systems like Brivo. This holistic approach ensures that all aspects of IT setup are handled consistently and automatically, driven by the central employee record.

Use Cases

A practical use case would be creating a dedicated channel, such as '#new-hires-q3', for all employees who start in the third quarter. A Supergroup could be defined based on start date, and all new hires would be automatically added to this channel to connect with their cohort. Another example is creating department-specific channels, like '#engineering-updates', where membership is strictly controlled by the department field in the employee's HRIS profile.

Limitations and Requirements

There are, however, several considerations and limitations. The effectiveness of this automation is entirely dependent on the accuracy and maintenance of the employee data within Rippling's HRIS. Inconsistent or outdated information, such as an incorrect department or location, will lead to incorrect channel assignments. The initial setup requires administrative effort to configure the Supergroups, workflow rules, and integrations with Slack and Microsoft Teams. Any changes to an organization's structure or channel naming conventions may necessitate updates to these configurations. While the research confirms the capability, it does not provide granular technical details on the specific API permissions required, such as the exact OAuth scopes for Slack or Microsoft Graph API permissions for Teams. The functionality for automatically archiving or deleting temporary channels, such as a new hire cohort channel after 30 days, is also not explicitly detailed.

Comparison to Alternatives

Summary

In conclusion, Rippling provides a robust and flexible solution for automating the creation and management of Slack and Microsoft Teams channels based on employee attributes. This capability, driven by its Supergroups feature and integrated platform, significantly enhances the IT onboarding process and ensures communication channels remain relevant and secure. However, its successful implementation requires careful administrative setup, accurate HR data, and ongoing maintenance to align with organizational changes.