The Ultimate Manual To Box Integrations

Box is a software tool that simplifies file and folder sharing and data storage in the cloud while maintaining a high level of security. With these tools, the Box app allows collaboration across the entire organization.

To make Box even more useful, consider deploying integrations. These allow it to work seamlessly with other apps and software the organization is already using.

What Are Box Integrations Anyway?

Box integrations allow users to use Box’s features without having to exit the app they’re currently using. With the integration, the app accesses Box directly from within the app, saving time. Those using Box can access features in the integrated app without having to leave Box, too.

Box offers integrations for more than 1,500 apps. Having such a wide range of features available means that a Box integration should be available for most apps an organization is using.

Some of the top integrations available for Box include:

Office 365
Google Workspace
Salesforce
Okta
Workplace by Facebook
Adobe
Slack
Zoom
ServiceNow
Zendesk
DocuSign
RingCentral

Box allows users to search through all of its apps and integrations through the Box Applications page. Search by platform, function, or keyword.

How Box Integrations Work

Box integrations allow Box to work seamlessly within other apps. This open architecture between Box and the other app makes both apps more useful for the end-user.

Box’s developers offer the Box Platform software to simplify building an integration between Box and other apps. Box Platform is a content PaaS (platform as a service) piece of software.

Through Box Platform, app developers can create integrations between Box and their own software. Additionally, large businesses or organizations can build custom apps that streamline the user experience and take advantage of Box. Organizations don’t have to build the features found in Box from scratch, allowing them to focus on the features in the custom app.

Box Pricing

To make use of integrations with Box, organizations need to subscribe to Box. Box does offer a 14-day free trial, but it does not offer a completely free tier. The four paid tiers for businesses are:

Starter: The Starter level costs $5 to $7 per month per user and includes integrations with Office 365 and Google Workspace built into Box. It includes up to 100 GB of storage.
Business: The Business tier costs $15 to $20 per month per user. In addition to the built-in integrations in the Starter tier, users can sign up for one additional enterprise app integration. It offers unlimited storage, as do the upper-level tiers.
Business Plan: The Business Plan costs $25 to $33 per month per user. It includes the built-in integrations in the Starter tier, and subscribers can sign up for up to three additional enterprise app integrations.
Enterprise: The Enterprise tier costs $35 to $47 per month per user. For these users, an unlimited number of enterprise app integrations are available.

In addition to the cost of the Box subscription, users may have to pay an extra fee for some integrations or may need a subscription to the other app that’s part of the integration.

Example #1: Integrating Box With Slack

The Slack integration is one of the most popular Box integrations. Slack is a communication and messaging app where users can participate in chat rooms devoted to a particular topic or limited to certain members. This integration allows Slack users to pull content from Box and display it directly in the Slack interface. Box users can integrate both their files and folders with Slack.

The integration makes the Box file or folder appear as though it is a natural part of Slack, simplifying the process of sharing content.

Using the Slack Integration in Box

With the Slack integration for Box, users have three primary usage options.

Viewing Box Content: Users can interact with their Box content and Box files from within the Slack app.
Importing Box Content: Users can select and import their files and content from Box within Slack, displaying them seamlessly within the Slack interface. Other users in Slack can open these files too.
Share Links: While working within Box, users can send a file link to Slack and display it in Slack.

Controlling Box Content From Within Slack

With a Box file visible in the Slack interface, Slack users can see a thumbnail preview of the file within the Slack channel. Box users can allow Slack users to collaborate on the file from within Slack as well.

When the Box user updates the file’s content inside Box, the integration automatically updates it within Slack as well.

Searching for Box Integrated Files From Within Slack

Slack users can search for Box content shared in Slack by making use of slash commands. Those who use Slack regularly often use slash commands, which involve typing a forward slash in the Slack interface, followed by the command.

Some of the slash commands Slack users can deploy to search for Box files include:

Box Favorites: From within Slack, users can mark any of the integrated files from Box as favorites. Later, they can use this command to see all of their marked favorites.
Box Recents: Slack users who want to see a list of the integrated Box files they accessed most recently should use this command.
Box Search: Add a search term after this command to see any Box files integrated into Slack that meet the search criteria.

Controlling Slack Content From Within Box

Users who are working in the Box interface can access aspects of Slack without having to leave Box.

From inside the Box file review screen, users can send links to content and data stored in Box with the Slack interface. During the process of sharing this link, Box users can select the exact channel in Slack where they want to post the link.

The integration gives the Box account owner extensive control over how the Slack user will be able to use the file. The Box user can set permissions for the file in Slack, such as allowing Slack users to only view the file or to have full editing privileges.

During the uploading of the link, the Box user can add a text description of the file that the Slack user will be able to read.

Example #2: Integrating Box With Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing and communications app that allows anywhere from two to several hundred users to participate at one time. When using the Box and Zoom integration, Box users can join a Zoom video conference without leaving the Box interface. This is convenient for Box users who want to share or collaborate on a document stored in Box during the Zoom call.

From within the Box interface, preview the file to share during the Zoom call. Users will see icons for some of the active Box integrations along the right of the preview screen. Click on the Zoom icon to either join a meeting already on the schedule or set up a new Zoom meeting.

When setting up a new, impromptu meeting, the Box user can use the integration with Zoom to invite users to join the meeting. The Box user doesn’t have to switch over to the Zoom interface to send the invites. Box will even suggest people to invite to the meeting based on the list of other users who have collaborated on the Box file in the recent past.

Additionally, Box users can use the Zoom integration to see any upcoming meetings on the Zoom calendar without leaving Box.

Example #3: Integrating Box With DocuSign

For those Box users who frequently need to obtain signatures on the documents they’re storing in Box, the Box and DocuSign integration is a popular choice. DocuSign is software that allows invitees to review and electronically sign digital documents, including legally binding documents.

The integration between Box and DocuSign simplifies obtaining e-signatures. Box users can access all of the features of DocuSign without having to leave the Box interface. They can specify the areas of the document that need an e-signature and specify the document’s recipients directly using the integration.

Users can take advantage of the strong security measures in Box for protecting these important documents while still obtaining digital signatures quickly through DocuSign.

Using the Box and DocuSign Integration

After installing the DocuSign app inside Box, Box users can simply right-click on a file inside the Box to send it using DocuSign. Box users can send multiple files to the same person or send one file to multiple people.

After selecting the parameters for the document in Box, the integration will open the DocuSign interface. From here, the Box user can pick specific areas of the document for signing. The Box user can select the recipients of the documents as well. If multiple people need to sign the documents in a particular order, the Box user can specify this through the integration.

The Box user can select the Box folder into which the signed documents should go after the final person signs them.

Example #4: Integrating Box With Google Workspace

When integrating Box with Google Workspace, Box users can use Google’s productivity and collaboration tools to work on documents. Box users can do this while remaining inside the Box interface. Google Workspace includes tools like Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and other Google apps.

Using the Box and Google Workspace Integration

Some of the most common ways to take advantage of the integration between Box and Google Workspace include:

Create Documents: From within the Box interface, access the Google document tools to create a document. When saving that document, the copy will automatically go into the Box folder system.
Open and Edit Documents: Use the Box interface to open a document stored inside a Box folder and created using the integrated Google Workspace tools. Make editing changes using the Google tools while the document remains saved within the Box folder.
Collaborate on Documents: The Box user can take advantage of the integration to invite others to collaborate on the Google documents without leaving the Box interface.
Access Comments: Google users can leave comments in the Google documents stored inside Box, and the integration allows the Box user to see the comments.

Maintaining Security Measures

For those who subscribe to the Enterprise tier in Box, the integration only works with a paid tier of Google Workspace. Box Enterprise users cannot connect to the free version of Google Workspace. This ensures the highest level of security and protection for Box files for the Box Enterprise user.

When working on a Google document stored in Box through the integration, the Box user will be able to access all of Box’s security features and user permission levels. When using the integration, the Box user doesn’t have to adhere to security limitations in Google Workspace.

Example #5: Integrating Box With Office 365

With the Box and Office 365 integration installed, Box users can create, edit, and save files using the Office 365 apps without leaving the Box interface. Office 365 is a set of document creation tools and collaboration tools from Microsoft, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.

With the integration installed, Box users can perform the following functions using Office 365:

Manage Documents: Box users can open, edit, and save any Office 365 files stored within Box folders without exiting the Box interface.
Collaborate on Documents: Teams can work together in the Office interface to edit and collaborate on Office files in real-time. They then can save their changes to a Box folder.
Use Box’s Security Measures: By using the integration to save Office 365 documents inside Box, Office 365 users access Box’s high-level security options. Administrators can maintain the security measures they’re already using in Box and apply them to all Office 365 documents through the integration.

With all documents stored inside Box, organizations have no concerns about where their Office 365 users are storing documents. Everything goes into the Box cloud storage for easy accessibility.

How to Get Started With Installing Box Integrations

When an organization is ready to make use of Box integrations, use these steps.

1. Log in to your Box Account

First, enter the login information for your Box account.

If you don’t yet have a Box account, sign up for a subscription first. Only registered Box users will have the ability to make use of integrations.

2. Find an Integration to Add to Box

After logging in to the Box account, open the Box integrations web page, which lists all of the potential integrations and apps available for Box. Any apps already in use at the organization are available by clicking the My Applications link in the upper right corner of the page.

Some of the most popular integrations for Box will appear in the center of the page. Click on any of those links to start working with that app.

Otherwise, use the links on the right side of the page to find a particular app, sorted by platform or category, or search the app marketplace.

To search the entire library of integrations for Box, type a search word for the desired app in the text search box at the top left corner of the page and hit Enter. Within the search results list, find the desired integration and click on it.

Add the Integration

On the page for the integration, users will see a description of the integration. Read through its features to make sure they fit the needs of the organization.

Near the upper left corner of the integration page, click on the Add button to make the integration between the app and Box. Installers may have to verify the selection by clicking an OK button.

After completing the installation of the app, Box will display a window with information about the installation.

Start Using the Integration

The next time users open the selected app, they can begin accessing files and making connections directly with Box from the app.

In the pictured example, users are bringing files from Box directly into Slack. They uploaded a “Corporate Pitch” PowerPoint presentation into Slack from Box. This allows the entire Slack team to see the document without having to leave Slack.

Be aware that some integrations may offer only limited features for those using a free or basic version of the software.