Federated Search – Happeo

Federated Search

This article explains how Federated Search works in your intranet, including how to enable and authenticate Connectors and manage settings.

Availability: Federated Search (along with all Marketplace Search Connectors, excluding Slack) is included in the Enterprise Package.

What is Federated Search?

Federated Search extends the reach of your intranet, allowing people to find content not only within Happeo but also across external SaaS tools, all from one central search experience. This makes your intranet the single entry point for knowledge, reducing time lost switching between platforms and helping teams focus on work that matters.

Examples of supported tools include:

By pulling these results into one place, your intranet becomes a single source of truth where scattered data can be accessed without disrupting the flow of work.

How it works

When a user begins typing in Happeo’s search bar, predictions appear from all enabled sources, including Federated Search apps. These predictions only show up if:

The Connector is installed in Admin Settings > Apps.
The Connector is enabled in Admin Settings > Search for the entire intranet.
The user has authenticated the app.

If a user selects a prediction, the item will open in a new browser tab, automatically logging them in if authentication has already been completed.

Pressing Enter takes the user to the Search Overview, where results from all sources are shown together. Federated results (e.g. Jira or Slack) appear on the right, and users can filter results further by selecting a specific app tab.

If Search AI is enabled—and the admin has activated it for certain connectors—an AI-powered answer will also be displayed prior to hitting Enter and in the Search Overview at the top. This provides:

A synthesized response alongside individual search results.
Insights pulled from both the intranet and connected tools.

(For users): Authenticate or disable Search Connectors

Authenticate Search Connectors

Before federated predictions appear, users need to authenticate their apps:

Enter a search term in your intranet’s search bar.
Press Enter or scroll down to See all results for “...” to open the Search Overview.
In the tabs on the left, select the app you want to connect.
A message will prompt you to authorize the app—click Authorize and follow the instructions.
Once logged in and authorized, refresh your intranet. The app’s results will now appear in predictions, results, and Search AI generations depending on what your platform admin has enabled.

This process ensures you always see results relevant to you, while sensitive data remains securely gated behind individual permissions.

Disable Search Connectors

Click your avatar in the top-right corner of your intranet.
Go to User Settings > Integrations.
Locate the Search Connector you want to disable and toggle it off.
Confirm the action when prompted.

Where do search results come from?

Results and filters come directly from each app’s search API.

Search Predictions and Search Results may differ slightly because they are retrieved from different API endpoints.
Happeo aligns these results as closely as possible to provide consistency.

(Admins): Install or uninstall a Search Connector

Install a Search Connector

To install and enable a Search Connector for your intranet:

Click your avatar in the top-right corner of Happeo and open Admin Settings.
Navigate to Apps > Marketplace Apps.
Select the app you want to connect and click Add to Happeo.
After installation, click Take me there in the notification or go to Admin Settings > Search to enable the app.
Toggle options for: - Search AI
- Show in search
- Show in predictions

Admins can also manage sharing permissions, controlling who in the organization can view results from each connector. This ensures the right balance between broad discoverability and secure, role-based access.

Uninstall a Search Connector

To uninstall a Search Connector for your intranet:

Go to Admin Settings > Apps.
Select the app you want to uninstall.
Click Uninstall, then confirm with Yes, uninstall.

Create a new Search Connector

If you’d like to build your own Connector, see our dedicated article on creating Search Connectors. Organizations with their own tools often use this option to bring specialized systems into their intranet search.

Data Flow in Search AI

When a user performs a search in Happeo:

The search begins client-side, with requests sent to Happeo’s search and any enabled federated search connectors (e.g. Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive).
At this stage, the data returned by the search connectors remains on the client side.

If Search AI is enabled:

While API calls to Google services are made client-side, the search query and the results from the enabled integrated sources(e.g. Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive) are passed to Happeo’s backend.
The backend sends this information, along with a prompt, to Gemini (Google’s AI model) to generate the AI answer.
Happeo does not store the document content returned in these results. Instead, it keeps only document identifiers to support Happeo features (if enabled), such as suggesting documents to link within Happeo.

This ensures AI-powered search remains accurate and helpful without compromising data security.

Manage Search Connectors

For more detail on organizing, adjusting, or reordering connectors, see our Admin Settings: Search article.

FAQs

Data & security

How does authentication work?

Happeo uses OAuth 2.0.
Users authorize apps directly with the third-party tool, which issues encrypted tokens.
Tokens are securely stored and encrypted using Google’s Key Management Service.
Decryption keys are never accessible to humans. This ensures safe, ongoing access without compromising security.

Pricing & availability

Are all Search Apps free?

No. Some apps require purchase. Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) to install paid apps.

What is the price of a Search App?

Please reach out to your CSM for a quote.

Why would a customer pay for connectors if they can make their own for free?

Pre-built connectors save time and resources by avoiding development, testing, and ongoing maintenance. They are also continuously improved by Happeo, making them a more reliable option for most organizations.

Compatibility & customization

Can Search Apps be made for all tools?

No. A connector can only exist if the third-party tool has a Search API. For example, Google Chat cannot currently be supported.

Can I make my own Search App?

Yes. Happeo provides the required materials, but you will be responsible for development and maintenance. Building a connector typically takes 1–2 months for a senior developer.

Roadmap

What is the Search App roadmap?

Happeo is actively expanding Federated Search. Current focus includes Jira, Confluence, Slack, and more. To check if a specific app is planned, contact your CSM.