Jira has been at it for over a decade. From defining or customizing management workflows to mapping projects into the basic three statuses, to-do, in progress, and done. Jira has been an excellent tool for collaborative teams with its tracking capability, scheduling and versioning for each project iteration. In spite of this all, the fear for embracing Jira automation or a certain ignorance still exists. In contrast, Jira automation in project management makes life easier by omitting tedious and repetitive aspects. Furthermore, freeing up time for work that can’t be automated like innovation and creativity.

Reasons for Jira automation

Firstly, the core purpose of Jira automation should be solving a problem and reducing error. This is done typically through offloading manual work done by a human to an algorithm or script. Specifically, reducing time-consuming, repetitive, and routine work thus improving efficiency. Furthermore, maximizing the repeatability and predictability of results in a project. In retrospect, helping teams work smarter and faster so as to achieve project goals and objectives. Jira automaton tools should be easy to adapt into your system without the need for custom scripts.

Jira automation tools

A couple of Jira automation tools exist to automate processes and save precious time. Consequently, the power of automation can help you grow your teams, projects, and outputs without doubling headcount. These Jira add-ons should ideally support numerous project operations throughout the entire lifecycle. Not make them more complicated. Additionally, they should be customizable to the demands within the scope of any workflow. Such as creating sprints inside projects, as well as creating stories for further utilization by a project team. 

Automation for Jira add-on

Generally, as an honorable mention, we picked out ‘automation for Jira’ as our example showcase for Jira automation. This automation tool allows you assign job tickets or send status updates, so you can focus on more valuable tasks. Generally, configuring powerful automation rules, you don’t need to learn Jira API or write custom scripts when using it. Furthermore, automation for Jira allows synchronization of subtasks with parent issues, comments on resolved issues and configuration of subtasks. Similarly, automatic assignment of issues to users and automatic response to established errors. Additionally, automatic reopening of cases of a certain notification or comment and SMS notification for high-priority issues.

Jira automation features

Generally, this automation typically connects systems together like Slack and Trello. Consequently, sometimes project members spend more time searching for, and aggregating, information than actually working. Automation should enable integration of multiple tools into your Jira workflow. For instance, slack users can use Jira to manage workflows. Furthermore, attaching assets to the relevant tasks and projects, thanks to a native integration within Jira. Additionally, this automation can optimize processes so all approvers are notified they need to review something. Hence, streamlining feedback. 

Unique Cases

Will this automation eventually allow that developers don’t have to move cards in sprint? Basically, cards automatically moving when a sprint or task is completed? Yes, firstly, there are plugins that do exactly that. These connect into your source control and allow commit messages written in the correct format to move across automatically.  Though automation shouldn’t make us lazy as having the team move cards is very important. Furthermore, it forces us to think “is this work actually done?” Remember, Jira is a helper, a tool for us to understand and execute the work better.

The future

Generally, Atlassian only incorporates something if it’s going being used by 50% of the JIRA user base, thus, anything smaller than that is typically left for partners. For example, if you’re searching for is something that automates level-of-effort predictions, then you could check out the marketplace. Atlassian has a robust 3rd party Add-On catalog which enables vendors build plugins for all kinds of automation and implementations. Since Atlassian will not likely invest R&D dollars to develop more automation tools, the safest bet is its marketplace.

Conclusion

Generally, Jira automation should help with work consistency and minimize errors at scale. This can enable project efforts focus on strategic decision making and innovation. Furthermore, Jira automation should seamlessly tie your most loved tools together, minimizing the stop and go productivity. Additionally, make feedback and approvals very cohesive and clear so projects are always moving efficiently.