Start DeskTime tasks from a Slack reaction
A single reaction can move approved work into active time tracking.
Trigger
Message Reaction Added
Triggered when a reaction is added to a message in Slack. Supports optional filtering by channel and emoji name.
Action
Start Project Task
Tool to start tracking time for a specified project and optional task. use when you need to begin timing work on a project and optionally tag a task.
Why this helps
Approved tasks sit idle because starting the timer is a separate manual step.
- Turns approval into action
- Removes a follow up step
- Creates a visible tracking handoff
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Slackbot and Desktime in Notis once.
- 2Create an automation for approved work.
- 3Tell Notis to start the DeskTime task related to a message when the designated reaction is added.
- 4Pick Message Reaction Added as the trigger.
- 5Choose a report channel and test by reacting to one real task message.
Questions about this workflow
Can the reaction be limited to a specific emoji?
Yes, configure the Slack reaction trigger with the emoji and channel conditions supported by the event.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Slackbot to Desktime. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Slackbot triggers
Desktime actions
Recurring trigger
Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.
Create Project with Optional Task
Tool to create a new project with an optional initial task. use when you need to set up a new desktime project programmatically.
Webhook trigger
Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.
Get Account Details
Tool to retrieve detailed information about the authenticated user's company account. use after confirming the api key is valid to fetch company name, work settings, account timezone, and timestamp.
New Channel Created Trigger
Triggered when a new channel is created in Slack.
Get All Company Employees
Tool to list all employees in the company, including their roles and statuses. use after confirming valid credentials to fetch the organization’s roster.
Channel Message Received
Triggered when a message is posted in a Slack channel (public, private, or multi-party IM). Does NOT match direct messages.
Get Employee Data
Tool to fetch data for all employees within the company. use after verifying the api key is valid.
Direct Message Received
Triggered when a new direct message (DM) is sent to a user in Slack. Catches all DMs across all DM channels.
Get Employee Projects
Tool to retrieve information about projects assigned to employees, including project names, durations, and statuses. use when you need to fetch per-employee project tracking data for a specific date.
Message Reaction Added
Triggered when a reaction is added to a message in Slack. Supports optional filtering by channel and emoji name.
Get Employee Projects and Apps
Tool to retrieve an employee's tracked projects and application usage. use when you need combined project/app time data for a given employee and date (defaults to current user and today). example: "get projects and apps for employee 711867 on 2025-07-28."
Message Reaction Removed
Triggered when a reaction is removed from a message in Slack. Supports optional filtering by channel and emoji name.
Get Projects List
Tool to retrieve all active projects for the company, including related tasks. use when you need projects overview after authentication.
Reaction Added Trigger
DEPRECATED: use `SLACK_MESSAGE_REACTION_ADDED` instead. Triggered when a reaction is added to a message in Slack.
Ping DeskTime API
Tool to check the api's availability and confirm the service is operational. use when you need to verify that the desktime api is reachable and responsive.
Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.
Slackbot and Desktime, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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