Microsoft Teams and Tray

Teams connects people, but not the systems they depend on. Tray links Teams with ITSM, HR, CRM, and internal tools so updates, alerts, and requests happen automatically. Messages, approvals, and events in Teams can start workflows that connect to your key systems while staying secure and auditable.

Unlike Microsoft’s built-in automations, Tray connects Teams to all your enterprise systems, not just Microsoft apps.

With Tray, you can build powerful Teams
Automations
 set up
Integrations
 and
Build Agents
that can take action.

Automations

Automations with Teams and Tray

Tray turns chat into action. Messages, mentions, or events in Teams can start workflows that post updates, create tasks, or notify users in connected systems. Each step runs under IT control with retries, sequencing, and access rules, all built visually in Tray’s low-code builder.

Integrations

Integrations with Teams and Tray

Tray connects Teams with your core systems so messages, alerts, and approvals stay linked with real data. Use the Teams connector for built-in actions, or the HTTP connector for any API. Connect Teams with Microsoft 365 tools like SharePoint and Planner, or extend to Slack, Jira, ServiceNow, Workday, and Salesforce to keep every update aligned.

Teams integration capabilities

Integrate Teams with 700+ applications using the Teams connector or any API with Tray’s HTTP connector.

Connect conversations with the systems behind them

  • Send messages: Post updates or notifications in any channel or chat
  • Reply and edit: Manage threaded replies for context
  • Mention users: Tag people or groups to trigger responses

Build

Build agents with Teams and Tray

Agents built in Tray Merlin Agent Builder work inside Teams to help IT, HR, and business users complete tasks and approvals using company data. Every action runs under IT governance with full visibility and control. Agents can also run in Slack or web chat without being rebuilt, using the same secure logic managed in Tray.

Ground agents with relevant knowledge

  • Combine sources: Use Teams context with HR, ITSM, or CRM data
  • Build a data source: Query approved message, user, or channel data
  • Filter scope: Limit access by team, channel, or role
  • Use company knowledge: Ground responses in approved data and link back to the right records

Tray Merlin Agent Builder vs. Microsoft Copilot

Many organizations comparing automation in Microsoft Teams want to know how Tray agents differ from Microsoft Copilot. Both support productivity, but they serve different purposes.

Copilot enhances productivity inside Microsoft 365. Tray’s Merlin Agent Builder governs and orchestrates actions across every system your business depends on.


Merlin Agent Builder

Acts across systems: Create, update, or orchestrate actions across HR, IT, and business tools, not just Microsoft 365

Governed by IT: Each agent runs with scoped permissions and audit logging

Flexible data sources: Use information from any system connected to Tray, including Salesforce, ServiceNow, Okta, and Workday

Deploy anywhere: Run in Teams, Slack, web apps, or via API—one build works across channels

Microsoft Copilot

Limited to Microsoft apps: Works in Teams, Outlook, Word, and Excel but cannot act across external systems

Insight, not action: Summarizes or drafts content but doesn’t modify records

Governance tied to Microsoft: Visibility and control stay within Microsoft 365

Best for content support: Helps with summarizing and search inside Microsoft products

FAQs

Yes. Workflows can send, edit, or reply to messages, trigger actions based on reactions, or collect approvals directly in chat.

What comes standard with Tray

Whether your systems are in the cloud or on-premises, Tray lets you connect to them, automate processes, and deploy agents to take action across your technology stack. Security teams can trust that all connections are managed securely and access is properly governed.

Universal connectivity

  • 700+ prebuilt connectors plus a universal HTTP connector for any REST API.
  • Build custom connectors that behave like native ones.
  • Connect to cloud or on-prem systems.

Learn more about our connectivity options

On-premises connectivity

  • Connect to on-premises systems using Tray, whether they are first-party or third-party.
  • Work around firewalls and SSO providers with flexible connection methods.
  • Support a range of on-premises security protocols to enable secure integration.

Learn more about on-premises connectivity

Authentication management

  • Collect and store sensitive authentications securely with Tray.
  • Encrypt all data at rest to ensure maximum security.
  • Partition authentications into secure workspaces with role-based access control to restrict access.

Learn more about authentication management

Security and governance

  • SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA.
  • Encryption in transit and at rest, detailed audit logs, and least-privilege access via scoped connections and OAuth scopes.

Learn more about security and governance