The AI Analyst queries your data in BigQuery through Slack. Before you can use it, your data infrastructure must be in place and your Slack user must be authorized for your SourceMedium tenant.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sourcemedium.com/docs/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
How It Works
Your data flows from connected platforms (Shopify, Google Ads, Meta, GA4, etc.) through the SourceMedium pipeline into your BigQuery warehouse. The AI Analyst and your dashboards both query the same underlying data — they’re just different interfaces.Prerequisites
Before installing the AI Analyst, ensure your SourceMedium data pipeline is set up:Connect Your Data Sources
The AI Analyst queries data from your connected platforms. At minimum, you need:
- E-commerce platform (Shopify, Amazon Seller Central)
- Marketing platforms (Google Ads, Meta Ads, etc.)
- Web analytics (GA4)
All Integrations
See the full list of supported integrations.
Verify Data Is Flowing
After connecting integrations, SourceMedium ingests and transforms your data into BigQuery. This typically takes 24–72 hours for initial setup.Your SourceMedium team will notify you when your data is ready. You can also check:
- Your Looker Studio dashboard is populated
- Or ask your SourceMedium team for confirmation
If you’re already using SourceMedium dashboards, your data infrastructure is ready — proceed to Slack installation.
Slack Installation
The AI Analyst is delivered as a Slack app called SourceMedium.In Slack, the bot appears as “SourceMedium” (or “SourceMedium (YourCompany)”). Throughout these docs, we refer to it as the “AI Analyst” to distinguish it from other SourceMedium products.
Install URL
The AI Analyst uses a shared SourceMedium Slack app for production installs:Installing the App
Permissions Requested
When you install the app, Slack shows the permissions being requested:| Category | What It Enables |
|---|---|
| Read messages | See your questions in channels and DMs where the bot is present |
| Send messages | Reply with results, charts, and SQL queries |
| Upload files | Attach CSV exports, SQL files, and chart images |
| Read user info | Identify who asked the question for context |
| Join channels | Accept channel invitations when you add the bot |
The bot only sees messages in channels where it’s explicitly added or in direct messages sent to it. It cannot read messages in other channels.
After Installation
Once installed:- Invite the bot to a channel: Use
/invite @SourceMediumor add it from channel settings - Or use direct messages: Send a DM to the SourceMedium bot for private queries
- Ask a question: Type your question in natural language
Access Control
Who Can Use It
Slack authentication is used, but workspace membership alone is not enough. The AI Analyst checks the user’s Slack email address against your tenant’s configured access policy:- Allowed email domains, such as
yourcompany.com - Exact allowed emails, useful for approved contractors or shared external partners
What Data Is Accessible
The AI Analyst can query all SourceMedium out-of-the-box tables for your tenant:- Orders and revenue data
- Customer information
- Marketing and ad performance
- Email and SMS metrics
- Web analytics events
- Attribution data
Multi-Store Organizations
If your organization has multiple stores connected to SourceMedium, the AI Analyst sets store scope per thread.When more than one
sm_store_id is available, the AI Analyst prompts you to confirm a store before running analysis. Once confirmed, the thread is locked to that store. Start a new thread to switch stores.sm_store_id is the store identifier SourceMedium uses to keep each store’s data separate. See the Glossary.Multi-store thread scoping
Learn how store selection works in DMs and channels.
Troubleshooting
Data Issues
“I’m not seeing recent data”- Check Data Health to verify table freshness
- Data typically refreshes daily; check with your SourceMedium team for your refresh schedule
- The AI Analyst only queries SourceMedium out-of-the-box tables
- Custom tables or views you’ve created in BigQuery are not accessible
Installation Issues
“You don’t have permission to install apps” Ask your Slack workspace admin to either:- Install the app for you
- Grant you app installation permissions
- Make sure the bot is invited to the channel you’re messaging in
- Try sending a direct message to the bot instead
- Check that you’re mentioning the bot correctly (
@SourceMedium)
Getting Help
If you run into issues during setup:- Email: support@sourcemedium.com
- Slack: Message your SourceMedium team in your shared channel
Related Resources
Getting Started Checklist
Full onboarding guide for new SourceMedium customers.
All Integrations
Complete list of supported data sources.