Donut allows you to run sophisticated intros with more targeted options, rather than just making random intros. You can use Donut's "Within-group" function to launch regional or team introductions, topic or interest-based meetups, and more.
Read on to learn more about how it works and find answers to FAQs below.
How It Works:
Login at app.donut.ai with your Slack credentials
Click "All Channels" in the left sidebar menu
Locate your channel, and hit the settings gear icon. If you would like to create a new channel, you can select the "+Create a Donut Channel" button instead.
Under "Program Basics" select the type of Intro you'd like to use, in this case, "Within-group" should be selected.
Choose if you would like to add your groups Manually or Automatically with HRIS. Learn more about connecting your HRIS to leverage automated Categories and Groups.
Some common category examples include department, mentors & mentees, location, or interest groups. Once your groups are defined, Donut will either message folks to learn which group they should be in (If you've selected our Manual option) or will be able to put folks in groups based on your HRIS data. Donut will introduce people with users who are a part of the same group, helping to create more strategic introductions.
Example: You could create a channel with your whole organization, but have each person select their region (AMEA, APAC, Americas) so that they only get matched with others in the same area. Or you could create a channel called #hobbies and have each person select one favorite from a few common hobbies like gardening, reading, or painting so that they get matched with others who select the same interest. Once you define your groups, every new user who joins the Intro channel will be prompted to select a group via buttons right in Slack, and Donut will intro them with users who select the same group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose the intro group size with the Cross-groups option?
Yes. The size of your intro groups can be set using the Group Size setting:
Can I assign groups for my Slack team members?
Yes. However, this option is available on our Premium Plan only. For anyone on our Standard Plan, users will be asked to identify with a group when the channel is activated. If they choose not to select an option, they will not receive an Intro that round. (If using the Automated HRIS option, users will have groups assigned based on your HRIS data).
For those on our Premium plans, you'll take the following steps:
Login at app.donut.ai with your Slack credentials
Click "All Channels" in the left sidebar menu
Locate your channel, and hit the reporting icon📊
Select the "Members" tab which will bring up all channel members. (You can select the "Edit" links next to their group to make changes.
What group options are available with the HRIS Integration?
You will be able to select Categories based on Locations, Departments, and Employment status associated with your HRIS system. The names and options will vary by the specific HRIS tool that you utilize.
ℹ️ Intros is not currently compatible with HRIS integrations using Okta or Active Directory.
What happens if someone is missing HRIS data for that category, but are in the Slack channel?
No worries at all! If Donut is unable to locate which group someone is a part of, we will still send them a message asking them to self-select into a group! Your channel admin may also edit their group selection in your Program Hub.
Can I view what group my Slack team members have chosen?
Yes. To view the team your channel members have chosen, click on the "Members" button (the smiley icon) of your intro channel, or head to the "Program Hub" if you're already in your channel settings.
Once in the Members Tab, you can see the groups everyone has chosen.
Please note: on our Standard Plan the groups are view-only, and on our Premium Plan you can edit on a team member's behalf.
What happens if someone does not join a group?
If teammates do not select a group or are assigned a group, they will not be introduced and will be left out of future intros until they select a group. Because Donut matches people based on their group choice, it cannot include them if they do not select a group.
💡Donut will send a friendly reminder to pick a group 1 business day before folks are introduced.
Can we change the group names after creating them?
Only if you are using the Manual Group feature, you can make changes anytime to the group names. If you are utilizing the HRIS option, you won't be able to make changes to those group names. If you find that you would like to add, remove or change groups created with HRIS, it's best to choose the Manual option instead.
When you make changes to the groups, any new member that joins your Intro channel will be presented with the new group options. Existing group members will remain part of the same group, even if the group name has been changed.
Can someone be part of multiple groups?
Each member can only opt into one group for the channel. If you find that you are wanting to utilize multiple group selections, we recommend setting up multiple channels and utilizing this feature within each channel. For example, maybe you want folks in CX and Engineering to meet folks with similar interests. You could create a separate CX and Engineering channel while utilizing interest groups within each channel.
How do teammates change their selected group?
Teammates can open the Donut app home menu in Slack to view their personal Donut settings.
If a channel is using cross-group or within-group intros, there will be a drop-down indicating which group they've chosen. They can change the selection by clicking on the drop-down field.
How do I reset the groups and have everyone re-select?
Should you wish to have everyone re-select their groups, the best option is to hit the trash can icon on the group names and start over with fresh groups. This will trigger the DM to be sent to all channel members again so that they can select the appropriate group.
Want to get started now? Log in to the dashboard and set up categories before your next Intro round to try it out.