Overview

Handover automations run automatically when on-call duty passes from one person to another. They handle tasks that teams typically manage with custom scripts, such as notifying other systems about who’s on-call, updating internal chat channels, or triggering downstream workflows.

Each automation is configured at the team level and scoped to one or more schedules.

Note: For a low-code approach to automating actions across a broader range of on-call events, see Workflow Automation.

Prerequisites

• You must have Write permission on the On-Call Team to create, edit, or delete automations.
• Slack actions: The Datadog Slack app must be installed in your workspace.
• Microsoft Teams actions: The Datadog Teams app must be configured for your tenant.
• Slack: Update user group: The Slack app requires additional usergroups:read and usergroups:write permissions. The UI displays a warning with a link to enable these if they are missing.
• Datadog: Run Workflow: A Datadog Workflow must already exist before you can configure this action.

Set up a handover automation

1. Navigate to On-Call > Teams and open a specific team.
2. Scroll to the Handover Automation section.
3. Click Add an Automation (or Add if automations already exist).
4. Select an action type (see Available actions).
5. Click Next.
6. Complete the configuration form. Select one or more schedules scoped to the team, then fill in any action-specific fields.
7. Click Add Automation to save.

Edit or delete an automation

• To edit: click the pencil icon on an existing automation, modify the fields, and click Update Automation.
• To delete: click the pencil icon, then click Delete in the modal footer.

Available actions

Handover automations support actions across Datadog, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.

Datadog

Run workflow

Triggers a Datadog Workflow Automation when a shift changes. The workflow receives handover context including schedule information, the previous and incoming responders, and a timestamp.

For example, you can use this action to:

• Federate permissions: Assign the current on-call responder an IAM role that permits scaling up or down.
• On-call compensation: Send shift data directly to your HR system or payroll tool.

Slack

Send message

Posts a handover summary to a Slack channel showing who is handing off to whom for each selected schedule. You can also include an AI-generated shift summary.

Update channel topic

Updates a Slack channel topic when a shift changes. Use numbered variables ({{1}}, {{2}}, and so on) in a customizable template to reference responders in schedule order. For example, On-call: {{1}} (backup: {{2}}) resolves to the primary and secondary on-call responders when the shift changes.

Channel topics have a character limit. The UI validates the template before saving.

Send a direct message

Sends a direct message to the incoming on-call responder when their shift begins.

Update user group

Updates the members of a Slack user group to match the current on-call responders for the selected schedules.

Note: This action requires usergroups:read and usergroups:write permissions on the Datadog Slack app. If these permissions are missing, the UI displays a warning with a link to enable them.

Microsoft Teams

Send message

Posts a handover summary to a Microsoft Teams channel showing who is handing off to whom for each selected schedule. You can also include an AI-generated shift summary.

Update channel description

Updates a Microsoft Teams channel description when a shift changes. Use numbered variables ({{1}}, {{2}}, and so on) in a customizable template to reference responders in schedule order. For example, On-call: {{1}} (backup: {{2}}) resolves to the primary and secondary on-call responders when the shift changes.

Send a direct message

Sends a direct message to the incoming on-call responder when their shift begins.

Troubleshooting

Not receiving Slack @ mentions

Your Slack and Datadog accounts may not be linked. To connect them, run any Datadog Slack command such as /dd page.

Slack user group action is unavailable or shows a warning

The Datadog Slack app is missing the usergroups:read and usergroups:write permissions. Follow the link in the warning banner to update the app permissions in your Slack workspace.

Automation is not triggering

• Confirm the automation is scoped to the correct schedule.
• Confirm the schedule has an active shift change (the automation triggers only on shift_change events).
• Confirm that your Slack or Microsoft Teams integration is correctly configured in Datadog.

Further reading

Additional helpful documentation, links, and articles:

Datadog On-CallDOCUMENTATION On-Call SchedulesDOCUMENTATION Workflow AutomationDOCUMENTATION Slack IntegrationDOCUMENTATION Microsoft Teams IntegrationDOCUMENTATION