3 Ways to Enhance Jira Automation with ActivityTimeline 🔧
Nobody wants to do routine work that doesn’t require creativity. Jira automation gets things done so you can do what’s important. Whether you want to automatically assign tasks to issues with certain criteria, like components, the team's workload, or creating reports, the right automation rules will help you save time, avoid mistakes, and increase overall efficiency.
When you have automation of Jira and project timeline tools such as ActivityTimeline, you can do even more. In this article, we’ll share some of the best tips to maximize your automation using ActivityTimeline.
What is Jira Automation and Why Should We Care?
Jira automation is a system created to make work easier by implementing automation in certain areas to minimize the need to repeat certain tasks. Its no-code builder makes it easier to create automation rules based on Jira events, such as when an issue is created, transitioned, or there is a status change, among others. This makes it usable by non-technical teams.
Atlassian has created a Jira automation template library of everyday use cases to get your team set up and save you hundreds of work hours every month.
Automating Jira: How Does It Work?
Setting up automation rules in Jira is a lot like playing with building blocks. You can combine different components to create the automation rules you need and define the exact workflows that will be most helpful for your team.
Rules are based on three elements: triggers, conditions, and actions, and they can enable processes and eliminate repetitive work, for example, to make everything work better. Meanwhile, it’s essential to know basic Jira automation concepts and techniques to create your first automation rule. We’ve gathered the guide to get started smoothly if your team hasn’t implemented it yet.
Now, let’s focus on how ActivityTimeline extends its capabilities specifically. Below are the three most common cases it can help in.
How to Increase Efficiency of Jira Automation with ActivityTimeline
Dealing with tasks in Jira can become a real challenge when there are deadlines, dependencies, and changes in task status involved. This is where ActivityTimeline comes in with its state of the art automated scheduling capabilities that help save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent doing the work manually.
#1. Auto-Estimate and Schedule Tasks Based on Start/End Dates
There is often a question of how much time a particular task will require to complete. Fortunately, ActivityTimeline can estimate the task duration independently, if you provide the Start and End Dates for it in Jira.
How It Works:
This is where ActivityTimeline comes into play: once you have assigned the Start and End Dates, this will determine how much time is available for the task while taking into consideration issues such as the weekend, holidays, and even leaves. ActivityTimeline then automatically assigns the task to the team member and approves it on the team member’s timeline while distributing the workload across the number of days available.
Why It’s Useful:
- No need to guess or schedule time within limited time frames since ActivityTimeline does it on your behalf.
- You can be sure the team will complete the task within the given timeframe.
- It also minimizes overload since work is well spread across the number of days available.
#2. Auto-Schedule Linked Blocked Tasks to Avoid Delays
Another great thing about ActivityTimeline is that it can manage tasks that are dependent on other tasks. This means you won’t overlook a task that can’t be done before another one is ready.
How It Works:
ActivityTimeline knows when tasks depend on each other in Jira, for instance, when Task A has to be completed for Task B to begin; it will factor this in when scheduling. Task A will be planned first, then Task B will be planned after the completion of Task A, so you can see the order of the tasks on the timeline.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how issue dependency works in ActivityTimeline.
Why It’s Useful:
- Never forget tasks that are dependent on other tasks being completed. The system ensures that everything is well coordinated and that things are done in the right order.
- You can see dependencies directly in the timeline, which will help you overview the project and identify moments when something is blocking it.
#3. Jira Automation-Driven Auto-Scheduler
Have you ever wanted a task to automatically schedule itself when you change its state? Jira automation and ActivityTimeline, working together, can make that possible.
How It Works:
Suppose the status of a task is changed from To Do to In Progress. Jira automation can set the Start Date for the task to the current date and the End Date to the date dependent on the average time it takes to complete a task. ActivityTimeline then uses these new dates and assigns the task on the timeline, fitting it into the person’s time slot.
Why It’s Useful:
There are no manual changes to make—everything is done on autopilot. As a result, the timeline is always up-to-date with the most recent changes in the tasks. It keeps you on your toes and on track without having to monitor everything closely all the time.
Bottom Line
Jira automation simplifies workflows by automating repetitive tasks, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work and improving overall productivity. ActivityTimeline can further enhance Jira automation. Whether it’s calculating time estimates, handling task dependencies, or using Jira automation to auto-schedule tasks, ActivityTimeline makes sure nothing slips through the cracks.
By following these tips, you can create effective rules that help your team work smarter and manage projects more efficiently.