Sidekick is a workflow automation tool that integrates Microsoft Teams and HubSpot CRM, streamlining how sales teams manage their activities. By automating communication between these two platforms, it enables real-time updates of HubSpot data directly from MS Teams, and provides visibility of critical contact, company, or deal related data within the MS Teams platform. This bi-directional integration helps sales teams work more efficiently, ensuring smooth collaboration and keeping deals on track.

This guide explains what Sidekick is, the workflows you can create, and some of the practical use cases you can implement to optimize your sales operations.

What Is Sidekick?

Sidekick is a bi-directional integration tool that connects HubSpot with MS Teams, allowing your sales team to automate key workflows and streamline communication. It enables sales reps to update HubSpot data directly from MS Teams without switching between systems.

For example, imagine a deal becoming inactive or a meeting concluding. Sidekick can notify you in MS Teams with action buttons, allowing you to update the HubSpot record instantly. These notifications can be sent to a specific channel, group chat, or even a direct message, with the timing and frequency customized to your needs.

Getting started with Sidekick is quick and easy. You can sign up for a free trial and configure your workflows in just a few steps - no complicated onboarding or technical expertise is required. Once set up, Sidekick transforms MS Teams into your new CRM management tool, enabling your team to manage tasks more efficiently.

Unlike native integrations or one-way tools, Sidekick offers true bi-directional data flow. This means actions triggered in MS Teams are immediately reflected in HubSpot, and any updates in HubSpot can prompt corresponding actions in MS Teams. This eliminates redundant steps and saves your team valuable time, with Sidekick users saving 60 person-hours per month, on average.

What Kind Of Workflows You Can Create On Sidekick

Sidekick enables two main types of workflows:

Event-Based Workflows

Event-based workflows are triggered by a specific event on HubSpot. These events can include changes to a property for a contact, company, or deal, as well as the creation or deletion of objects in HubSpot.

For instance, you can create a workflow that notifies your sales team whenever a new contact is created in HubSpot. This notification can include action buttons that allow the team to qualify the lead or assign it to a representative—all directly within MS Teams, without logging into HubSpot.

Recurring Workflows

Recurring workflows run at regular time-intervals based on the schedule you define, be it daily, weekly, monthly, or any other frequency. When triggered, Sidekick sends a message to MS Teams with a list of objects that meet the criteria you've set on Sidekick.

For example, you might set up a recurring workflow that delivers a weekly report of all new contacts created on HubSpot in the past 7 days that haven’t been worked on yet. The message sent to MS Teams will allow your sales team to update the lead status for each contact in real time, without needing to leave the app.

What Kind Of Use Cases You Can Enable On Sidekick

Here are some examples of how Sidekick can enhance your sales process:

1. Instant Lead Alerts, Qualification, and Assignment

Sidekick can send instant alerts to your team when a new lead enters HubSpot. The alert provides options to assign the lead, qualify it, and update contact details within MS Teams. This quick response capability helps ensure that no lead is missed and allows your team to act quickly, improving conversion rates.

2. Log Meeting Updates from MS Teams to HubSpot

Sidekick simplifies this by messaging the meeting organizer on MS Teams after each meeting. With one click, sales reps can input meeting notes and update the HubSpot record, all from within Teams. This feature can also send meeting notifications on MS Teams before the start of a meeting, appended with relevant properties, notes, or other data that might be helpful for the upcoming meeting.

3. Weekly Activity Recap

Sidekick can automatically generate and send a weekly report summarizing key sales activities. These reports can include details on leads contacted, follow-ups needed, and current deal statuses. The message can also contain buttons to update contact or deal properties directly from MS Teams, helping your team stay organized and preventing leads from slipping through the cracks.

4. Alerts for Inactive Deals

Ensure your team doesn’t overlook stalled deals by setting up alerts for inactive deals. Sidekick can notify your sales reps when a deal's close date has passed or when there’s been no activity for a specified period. You can then take action right from the MS Teams notification—either updating the deal’s status, pushing the close date, or closing it out.

5. Create Celebration Channels

Celebrate your team’s wins by setting up channels in MS Teams specifically for sales milestones. Sidekick can automatically create these channels whenever a deal is closed or a key milestone is reached. Your team can stay updated and motivated by celebrating each success together.

6. Receive Reports in MS Teams

Sidekick delivers real-time reports directly to your MS Teams workspace. Whether it’s a summary of new leads, deals closed, or activity metrics, these reports keep everyone updated on critical information. This eliminates the need to generate reports in HubSpot, making it easier to stay informed and act quickly.

7. Set Up Deal Channels

For high-value deals or deals that require input from multiple team members, Sidekick can automatically create a dedicated MS Teams channel when a new deal is added to HubSpot. These channels include key deal information and can automatically add relevant team members. This feature is especially useful for larger, high-priority deals that require cross-functional collaboration.

8. Closed-Won Alerts

Celebrate every win with real-time notifications. When a deal closes, Sidekick can notify your entire team or a designated channel in MS Teams. This feature helps keep morale high and ensures that all team members stay informed about the latest successes.

9. Intelligent Follow-Ups

Sidekick can help your team stay on top of their follow-ups and ensure that no deal or lead is left behind. For example, Sidekick can notify reps of deals that are missing critical information, like a close date or next step, and prompt them to update the information from within MS Teams. This keeps your CRM data accurate and up-to-date, improving forecasting and ensuring that no opportunities are lost due to outdated data.

Conclusion

Sidekick’s bi-directional integration between MS Teams and HubSpot makes it an essential tool for modern sales teams. By automating workflows, delivering real-time alerts, and simplifying CRM updates, Sidekick empowers your team to focus on what matters - building relationships and closing deals.

If you need help setting up Sidekick or have any questions about the workflows and use cases mentioned here, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.