Senior Atlassian Consultant (m/f/d)

You are, like us, convinced of Atlassian tools like Jira and Confluence? You have a high team spirit and are a communication talent? Become part of our team and join us in Munich or Leipzig as an Senior Atlassian Consultant (m/f/d) with innovative and cool projects! Help our customers implement Atlassian tools, intranets based on Confluence, workflows in Jira and convince the world of our services as our Atlassian Ambassador! We don't want to sell just anything, we want to find the optimal solution that we would use ourselves.

What you can expect:

  • Depending on where your strengths lie, you can support our customers in the following areas: agile collaboration, ITSM, service management, etc:
  • You recommend the right Atlassian products to our customers and integrate them into existing infrastructures.
  • Analyze the requirements and relevant business processes of our customers and find potentials to further integrate Atlassian tools
  • Create collaborative intranets based on Confluence
  • Create workflows in Jira to digitize business processes
  • Manage projects and coordinate our internal development team to extend the functionality of Atlassian tools, e.g. with apps and macros.

What you bring to the table:

  • You have a degree in (business) informatics, business administration or similar. degree, or a comparable education
  • You have several years of practical experience in working with Atlassian products such as Jira and Confluence
  • You have extensive experience in project implementation with customers in the DACH region.
  • You are hungry to understand and improve the processes and systems of our customers, service and customer orientation is natural to you.
  • You possess a strong sense of quality, demonstrating dedication and a self-driven approach to your work.
  • Your exceptional communication skills and genuine enjoyment of teamwork set you apart from others
  • You're fluent in German and English

This will set you apart from other applicants:

  • You have Atlassian certification or are interested in obtaining it with our support
  • You have several years of hands-on administration experience with Jira, Confluence or other Atlassian tools such as Bitbucket, Bamboo
  • You have already managed projects independently
  • You have several years of project management experience (in the IT environment)

What we can offer you:

  • Permanent employment contract with long-term prospects in a future-oriented and international company, flexible working hours, and remote work options.
  • Possibility to work both full time and part time
  • Flexible working hours and remote work - customize your schedule and work when and where you want
  • Opportunities for further education and certifications (e.g. Atlassian ACP-100, ACP-400, AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, and more).
  • Self-determined work and creative freedom, as well as the budget to try out new things
  • We'll provide the technical equipment you want (MacBook, Linux notebook or Windows PC)
  • Our team! Experience our creative and agile startup flair at numerous team events, after-work events, in our offices in Leipzig and Munich or in our virtual team meetings.
  • If you start feeling cooped up working remotely, remember that our offices are filled with friendly colleagues, delicious coffee, and a variety of refreshing drinks to keep you energized.
  • It is also important to us to always stick together and take care of you as a person. We want to grow together with you as a company and at the same time promote your personal and professional development
Atlassian Intelligence for Jira and Confluence increases your productivity.

Atlassian Intelligence: What can I do with it?

Artificial intelligence is on the rise and is finding its way into all areas of life, including the business world. Jira and Confluence have also been equipped with artificial intelligence. This marks a milestone in the world of project management and collaboration tools. With the introduction of "Atlassian Intelligence (AI)", we are experiencing a new era of efficiency and innovation. In this blog post, we take a detailed look at AI, explain what it is, what it can do, and how it integrates artificial intelligence into your Jira and Confluence workday.

What is Atlassian Intelligence (AI)?

AI is an advanced artificial intelligence based on GPT-3 technology. This technology, developed by OpenAIis known for its ability to generate human-like text. Atlassian has integrated this technology into Jira and Confluence to improve the user experience and increase productivity. AI understands and learns from users' data and interactions to make personalized and contextual suggestions.

What can I do with Atlassian Intelligence (AI)?

AI is not just another tool, but an intelligent partner that supports you in your daily work. Here are some key features:

  1. Automated task creation: AI recognizes patterns in your project data and automatically suggests new tasks or projects.
  2. Intelligent search functions: Search Jira and Confluence with natural language. AI understands your queries and delivers precise results without you having to resort to JQL.
  3. Improved collaboration: AI analyzes the context of discussions and suggests relevant documents or previous conversations.
  4. Personalized recommendations: AI suggests suitable resources and actions based on your interactions and preferences.

Application examples for Atlassian Intelligence

To demonstrate the versatility of AI, let's look at some practical application examples:

  1. Project management: In Jira AI helps to maintain an overview of complex projects by prioritizing tasks and identifying risks at an early stage.
  2. Knowledge management: In Confluence AI can help provide the right knowledge at the right time by suggesting content that matches your current tasks.
  3. Automated reporting: AI can create customized reports based on your specific requirements, saving time and speeding up decision-making.

Advantages of use

The advantages of AI in your day-to-day work are manifold:

  1. Time saving: Automated functions and intelligent suggestions save valuable time.
  2. Higher productivity: AI helps to minimize distractions and you focus on what's really important.
  3. Better decision making: AI-supported analyses help you make more informed decisions.
  4. Promotion of cooperation: AI facilitates teamwork by providing relevant information and context.

How you can integrate Atlassian Intelligence into your company

Integrating AI into your Jira and Confluence environment is straightforward. Here are a few steps to get started:

  1. Training of your team: Ensure that your team has the necessary knowledge to make the best use of AI.
  2. Customization to your needs: Configure AI to adapt it to the specific requirements of your teams.
  3. Data protection and security: Make sure that your data is secure and that the use of AI complies with data protection guidelines.

Introducing AI to Jira and Confluence is more than just a technological advancement; it's a way to transform the way your teams work. It gives you the tools to work smarter, faster and more effectively.

Reducing the cognitive load of manual tasks with Atlassian Intelligence

Cognitive load - the amount of mental effort required in your work environment - can be critical to the efficiency and well-being of your employees. This is where Atlassian Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role by helping to reduce this mental load. Let's look at how AI overcomes this challenge:

Atlassian Intelligence Features

  1. Simplification of decision-making processes: Atlassian Intelligence (AI) provides data-driven insights and suggestions that reduce the need for extensive research and analysis. These clear, precise recommendations make it easier for employees to make quick and informed decisions.
  2. Automation of routine tasks: One of the biggest challenges in any working environment are repetitive and time-consuming tasks. AI automates these processes, allowing employees to focus on more complex and creative tasks. This helps to avoid fatigue and overwork.
  3. Improvement of information management: In today's information overload, finding relevant data quickly can be a challenge. AI improves the way information is organized and retrieved, helping employees work more efficiently and avoid cognitive overload.
  4. Personalized user experience: Every employee has their own way of working. AI learns from each individual's preferences and work patterns and adapts to provide a customized user experience. This reduces the time and effort needed to adapt to new tools or find relevant information.
  5. Promotion of effective cooperation: One challenge in team environments is coordination and communication. AI helps teams work together more effectively by providing relevant information and context at the right time. This reduces misunderstandings and improves overall productivity.

Atlassian Intelligence (AI) is not just a tool to increase productivity; it is a key factor in reducing the cognitive load on your employees. By automating routine tasks, providing personalized recommendations and improving information management, AI allows employees to focus on what's important and be more efficient and satisfied in their work. You can find more information about AI here.

XALT blog post end of Atlassian Server Support

End of Atlassian Server Support - What happens if I don't switch from Atlassian Server to the cloud?

As a long-time user of Atlassian products, you probably remember the good old server days. But now a change is coming that you should not ignore. As of February 15, 2024, Atlassian will end support for all server solutions. So, it's time to take action.

Risks of remaining on Server:

If you stay on servers, you risk security vulnerabilities and inefficient processes. Without regular updates and security patches, self-hosted servers are more susceptible to security breaches. Over time, the efficiency of your servers will decrease. New features and innovations will skip servers, and your team may struggle with outdated tools. Self-powered servers don't provide the flexibility and scalability your business needs for future growth. It's like trying to take an old car on a trip around the world - technically possible, but nowhere near as efficient.

Cloud as the ultimate future:

Data centers may offer a temporary solution, but the cloud offers advanced security measures and flexible collaboration options. It is the future-proof and efficient choice. While security concerns used to be an issue with cloud use, these concerns are no longer appropriate. Modern cloud platforms, such as Atlassian's cloud services or AWS, offer first-class security measures and are consistently state of the art.

In the cloud, we can easily collaborate, see changes in real time and make the workflow seamless. I remember an incident in my old team when I had to find my way back from a cloud environment to a server environment. In the cloud, not only was I able to collaborate seamlessly with my colleagues, but I also had access to a variety of tools and features that increased my productivity. I was also suddenly missing so many apps and essential plugins, such as a proper calendar function, that I really appreciated the cloud.

How do you explain a switch from server to cloud to your management?

You should use clear arguments to convince your management of a cloud solution now. Here are some helpful facts and statements:

  1. Cost-benefit analysis: Server product maintenance is becoming more expensive, while the cloud offers competitive pricing. Cloud platforms offer flexible subscription models that allow companies to precisely control their costs and use resources efficiently.
  2. Future security: The cloud is the future. Switching early puts your company in the best position to respond to future developments. The cloud enables you to react quickly to new requirements and trends without having to worry about procuring and providing new hardware.
  3. Employee satisfaction: The cloud offers flexibility and innovative tools that facilitate teamwork and improve workflow. In the cloud, your employees can work from anywhere and from any device. This allows you to attract and retain talented employees, regardless of their location.

Conclusion: From farewell to a new beginning

A move to the cloud not only marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of something new. It's time to open up to a more efficient, secure and innovative future.

Are you ready for the change? Our consultants are here to help you make a smooth transition. The best way to clarify all your questions is to arrange a personal appointment with one of our cloud migration experts.

You can also find more information on cloud migration in our current Whitepaper ( no e-mail required).

stylish Confluence pages

Create stylish Confluence pages in 5 simple steps

Confluence is one of those tools that can do just about anything. You can provide documentation for your users and projects, publish information and news, and promote collaboration between your teams across departments. But by default, Confluence is sometimes clunky and not necessarily pretty to look at - a real developer tool, after all. But with a few plugins and a little creativity, it's a different story. Ultimately, it's up to you whether you want generic layouts or stylish Confluence pages.

To create great Confluence pages, just like cooking, you need some sort of recipe book, the necessary ingredients, and a little bit of creativity.

1. the basics in Confluence - Spaces and Pages

Right from the first login, Confluence comes with some ingenious features that allow you to create an understandable page structure. The best way to start is to create some spaces to give your Confluence a basic structure. For example, the simplest basic structure you can create is one Space for each Team (e.g. Marketing) or Project (e.g. Iron Man Suite Mk. 5). 

Common Confluence Spaces

  • Teams & departments: e.g. Marketing, Human Resources, Sales, IT, etc.
  • Projects: e.g. Iron Man Suite Mk 5., Captain America Shield Mk 2, etc.
  • Personal Space: Mario's Dope Marketing Space, Philipp's crazy Dev. Space
Confluence templates
Marketing Template and Spaces in Confluence

Once you have created all the relevant Spaces for your business, it is advisable to create additional parent pages in each Space. This way you make sure that you don't end up with a bunch of confusing pages and content and don't know your way around anymore. For example, you can further structure the Marketing Space by adding pages for Content Marketing, Social Media or Homepage and then adding individual content for the respective topics. 

2. templates for your Confluence pages

Surely you have already worked with templates for various tools here and there, which have made your life and your work so much easier. It's the same with Confluence. At Atlassian you can find some free and preconfigured templates that you can add directly to your Confluence instance and create stylish Confluence pages. 

Templates for Confluence Cloud Users

Confluence templates for stylish Confluence pages

If you're already using Confluence Cloud, this is also a breeze. Just click on "Use template" and add it to a page automatically. Then you can edit your pages as usual and access additional plugins and macros.

Templates for Confluence Data Center and Server Users

Confluence page template

Unfortunately, as a server and data center user, it's not that easy. To be able to use templates, you can either create new pages directly from a template or rely on plugins from the Atlassian Market Place fall back. Here you will find a template for pretty much every conceivable purpose.

You can also find all templates directly in Confluence (Cloud). When you create a new page, a bar appears on the right-hand side of the screen where you can choose from a variety of templates for your project.

Create your own templates

If there is no template that meets your requirements, you can easily create your own or adapt an existing one.

How do I create a Confluence template?

  1. Go to the Confluence Space settings, (or to your Confluence settings (if you are an admin))
  2. Search for "Look and fell" and click on "Templates"
  3. Click on the "Create new template" button or select an existing template that you would like to customize
  4. Give your template a name
  5. Add editable content
  6. Save the template
  7. You will then find the template in the right-hand sidebar when you create a new Confluence page.

3. plugins and macros

To make your Confluence pages even more expressive or to customize them for your specific purpose, you can use plugins and the macros that come with them. Plugins can be obtained from the Atlassian Market Place. 

Plugins

There are several free extensions for Confluence that you can install directly on your instance. Additionally, there are also a lot of external plugin providers. 

Refined

The Confluence plugin "Refined" is your secret recipe when it comes to giving your Confluence pages not only structure, but also a touch of style. With Refined, you can transform the standard Confluence interface into a visually appealing and intuitively navigable intranet that both facilitates information intake and strengthens brand awareness.

Structured and stylish Confluence pages with plugins and templates with Refined
Source: Refined

With the ability to customize themes and layouts, you can give each page a unique character - whether it's project dashboards, company wikis or team spaces. Refined allows you to create engaging and user-friendly sites that promote collaboration and increase productivity without in-depth technical knowledge.

Discover how you can turn generic Confluence pages into real eye-catchers with just a few clicks that not only present your content better, but also take the user experience to a new level.

Aura from SeibertMedia

With the "Aura - Content Formatting Macros" provides you with a powerful tool for customizing and structuring your Confluence pages far beyond the standard design. This collection of macros enables you not only to present content in a visually appealing way, but also to significantly improve clarity and user guidance.

Aura - Structured and Stylish Confluence Pages with Plugins and Templates
Source: SeibertMedia

Whether you want to create dynamic tabs for clearly structured navigation, integrate Miro boards or Figma designs directly into your pages, or seamlessly integrate complex content with Google Docs or HTML codes - Aura offers the solution. The diverse design options help you to convey information in a way that is not only accessible but also visually impressive.

By simplifying the integration of this diverse content, Aura allows you to create Confluence pages that are not only informative but also inspiring, encouraging collaboration and engagement within your team.

Advanced Image Gallery from XALT

For example, if you want to add an image gallery or slider to a Confluence page, you can either use the built-in functionality in Confluence, or you can use the 'Advanced Image Galery from XALT'. This makes it incredibly easy and intuitive to edit, adjust and display images in different layouts directly on the page.

Advanced Image Gallery

Macros

Some macros come with Confluence's basic functionality, others are provided by plugins. Macros allow you to customize your pages directly and natively to your liking, and it's a basic feature of Confluence that you'll probably work with almost every day. Some macros are used by clicking on the "little plus" at the top of the screen and adding the function where you want it.

Stylish Confluence pages

4. the most important thing: your creativity

Sometimes your pages are just for internal use and don't necessarily need to be styled creatively. But surely you've been in situations where you need to visually prepare your content. The fancy templates and plugins are of course a great help in creating stylish Confluence pages. But at the end of the day, your own creativity and dedication will go a long way in helping you create great content. 

In marketing and design, people often talk about "Fake it, till you make it". To put it simply, look for inspiration on the Internet and use these insights in your projects. But be careful: Don't copy and paste!

5. structure your pages

To maximize the efficiency and usability of your Confluence pages, a well-thought-out page structure is essential. Here are some best practices to help you organize your pages so that they are not only informative, but also easy to navigate:

Establish a clear hierarchy

Start with a clear idea of how your content should be structured. Create a hierarchy that is logical and corresponds to the way users search for information. This could mean setting up Spaces for different teams or projects and organizing pages and subpages within these Spaces by topic or function.

Use consistent naming conventions

Standardized naming conventions for your pages and spaces make it easier to find information. Decide on a clear and descriptive name that reveals the content of the page or space at first glance.

Use overview pages

Create overview pages that serve as tables of contents for larger areas within your Confluence workspace. These pages can contain links to important subpages and give users a quick overview of available resources.

Apply labels consistently

Confluence allows you to use labels to group pages thematically. Use this function to link similar content and simplify the search within your Confluence environment.

Set up navigation aids

Consider integrating navigation aids such as breadcrumbs, tables of contents or user-defined page navigation elements. These tools help users find their way through your content and keep track of their current position within the structure.

Do you need support integrating Confluence into your company and team? As an Atlassian Gold Solution Partner, we'll be happy to help you find a solution. On our Atlassian Services page you can learn more about our approach and methodology.

The basics in Confluence, starting with the creation of spaces and pages, lay the foundation for clear and efficient use. The use of templates not only simplifies the design, but also optimizes the work process. The integration of plugins and macros, such as Refined, Aura and Advanced Image Gallery, not only gives Confluence pages structure, but also an aesthetic touch.

The user's creativity plays a decisive role in presenting content in an appealing way. A well thought-out page structure, clear hierarchies, consistent naming conventions and the use of navigation aids are essential to maximize efficiency and user-friendliness. Confluence offers a variety of ways to promote collaboration and increase productivity.

Atlassian Highlights 2024

Our Atlassian milestones 2024

The year 2024 holds some significant changes and exciting innovations for Atlassian and its users. Let's take a look at the key points of the Atlassian milestones for 2024 and see how they can impact the way your teams work.

Summary

Atlassian Cloud Evolution: Intelligent solutions for efficient collaboration

Atlassian is responding to the challenges teams face in accelerating their workflows. The manual processes and outdated tools that often hinder innovation are to be revolutionized by the introduction of Atlassian Intelligence in the cloud apps.

Manual processes and outdated tools often hinder innovation and slow down productivity.
Atlassian Intelligence brings advanced AI capabilities to cloud services that accelerate work and increase efficiency.

Atlassian services

Focus on AI: Generative AI capabilities for new perspectives

Traditional tools often can't keep up with the demands of collaboration and productivity. Atlassian relies on generative AI capabilities to make progress here.

Generative AI capabilities enable teams to work smarter and respond flexibly to change. The following video from Atlassian provides a good first insight into what the new Atlassian Intelligence can already afford:

Retiring server products: migration strategies for a smooth future

With the end of support for Atlassian's server products on February 15th, 2024 companies are faced with the challenge of developing clear migration strategies.

The discontinuation of server products leads to uncertainty, security risks and compliance issues. Atlassian and we encourage you to proactively migrate to the cloud to address security and compliance issues and pave the way for future innovation.

In our White paper on cloud migration we will go into the most important points in more detail.

Cost-optimized and secure infrastructure with Container8

Price adjustments for Data Center: Costs and benefits at a glance

Important price adjustments and product changes for Atlassian Data Center will take effect on February 15, 2024. In order to continue to provide you with best-in-class services, Atlassian is moderately adjusting the list prices for certain Data Center products. Prices will increase by an average of 5-15%, depending on user tier. This adjustment represents the first price increase for Atlassian Data Center products in the last three years.

Furthermore, Atlassian is offering an even more attractive pricing option with the introduction of Advantaged Pricing for Jira Software and Confluence. With this update, Advantaged Pricing for Confluence will match the list price for Data Center.

Product% AdjustmentAverage adjustment
 List price adjustment 
Data Center Jira Software500-1,000 users - 5%
1,001-5,000 users - 10%
5,001+ users - 15%
500-1,000 users- 5%
1,001-5,000 users - 10%
5,001+ users - 15%
Data Center Jira Service Management50-1,000 agents - 5%
1,001-5,000 agents - 10%
5,001+ agents - 15%
50-1,000 agents - 5%
1,001-5,000 agents - 10%
5,001+ agents - 15%
Data Center Confluence
500-1,000 users - 5%
1,001-5,000 users - 10%
5,001+ users - 15%
500-1,000 users - 5%
1,001-5,000 users - 10%
5,001+ users- 15%
Advantage price adjustment
Jira Software25%25%
Confluence10-27%21%

Team`24 Las Vegas: The event for Atlassian enthusiasts

A milestone in the Atlassian Roadmap 2024 is the Team Event from April 30 to May 3 in Las Vegas. As a proud Atlassian Gold Partner, Platform Engineering Leader and exhibitor at Team`24 in Las Vegas, we will be presenting the latest developments and strategies. Look forward to a free and personal strategy review at Team`24 by TEAM XALT.

You can also find our playlist of the Team`23 videos from last year on YouTube. Helicopter flight included.

Participation in the Team '24 event offers the opportunity to learn first-hand from Atlassian experts what the future holds.

Conclusion

The Atlassian Roadmap for 2024 not only promises exciting innovations, but also ensures that teams are best prepared for the changing digital landscape. Smart migration to the cloud, utilization of AI capabilities and participation in events such as Team'24 are key components to ensure digital success. As an Atlassian Gold Partner, XALT is therefore not only a provider of tools, but also a guide to efficient, innovative and secure collaboration.

Project Portfolio Management

Guide to Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

Did you know that project portfolio management (PPM) plays an important role in the success of companies? It is a valuable tool for any company that wants to grow and be successful because it helps companies achieve their goals and is no longer just an option for those involved with multiple internal projects, especially those that are very large and complex, but a necessity.

Managing multiple projects can be a daunting task, but with project portfolio management it doesn't have to be! It provides a holistic view that integrates multiple projects into a coherent portfolio and aligns them with strategic objectives. This approach allows decision makers - from CEOs and CIOs to project managers - to see the individual project details and understand how these projects are interconnected and contribute to the overall business goals, making it easier for those responsible for managing the project portfolio to make the right decisions about whether to stop or continue a project, whether to shift resources, etc.

Project portfolio management is critical to business success and enables competitiveness and agility. We will look at its key values and how the integration of technologies such as Jira can increase its efficiency.

Understanding project portfolio management

What is project portfolio management?

Project portfolio management is a strategic approach that enables organizations to manage and evaluate their projects as a cohesive portfolio to ensure they align with overall business objectives. Unlike traditional project management, which focuses on the successful delivery of individual projects, PPM takes a broader perspective. It looks at the entirety of projects as a whole and provides a holistic perspective that is crucial for organizations. This approach helps to manage the complexity and interdependencies of multiple projects, which can have a significant impact on the success of the business.

Project portfolio management with Jira - A dashboard
Project portfolio management with Jira

What does project portfolio management do?

PPM creates clarity and control over the project landscape. It evaluates the alignment of projects with strategic objectives and allocates resources accordingly. This ensures that the most valuable and strategically aligned projects receive the attention and resources they need to be successful.

The most important elements of PPM are

  • Strategic orientation: It ensures that every project in the company is in line with the organization's goals and strategies, thus enabling well-founded decisions on resource allocation.
  • Resource management: It enables a more efficient allocation of resources by treating the projects as a uniform portfolio.
  • Risk management: It involves the identification, assessment and management of risks at portfolio level. This approach helps to mitigate risks that could impact multiple projects and ultimately the organization's strategic goals.
  • Power measurement: PPM involves assessing the performance of the entire project portfolio against strategic objectives and key performance indicators. This assessment is important to make adjustments and ensure that the portfolio is on track to achieve the desired results.
  • Control: Effective project portfolio management requires clear governance structures for transparent decision-making based on strategic objectives.

Managing multiple projects can be difficult for companies. To be successful, project portfolio management is not just about executing projects correctly. It's also about selecting the right projects. PPM provides a structure to evaluate the potential return on investment for each project. This helps those responsible to decide which projects should be prioritized, postponed or cancelled.

Project Portfolio Management

At a glance: Challenges for companies that PPM mitigates

  • Complex project management: It rationalizes the management of several interconnected projects, reduces complexity and improves coordination.
  • Strategic misalignment: It aligns the individual projects with the company's overarching strategic goals and ensures that each project contributes to the overarching goals.
  • Inefficient allocation of resources: It optimizes the allocation of resources across the entire project portfolio and thus prevents over- or under-utilization.
  • Inadequate risk management: It provides a holistic overview of the risks in all projects and thus enables better risk identification, assessment and mitigation.
  • Poor decision making: Improves decision making through comprehensive real-time data and insights into project performance and progress.
  • Inefficient processes: Streamlines workflows and improves operational efficiency through standardized processes and clear communication channels.
  • Budget overrun: Helps with better budget management and control, reducing the likelihood of projects exceeding their financial allocations.

Why even the smallest company needs project portfolio management

Project portfolio management is essential for companies that work on several projects at the same time. It ensures that each project is aligned with the company's overall strategic goals and helps to drive the business forward. PPM provides a comprehensive overview of all projects and helps to prioritize them.

Managing complexity and interdependencies

There are often many projects that overlap and compete for the same resources. Project portfolio management provides a structured approach to managing this complexity by enabling decision makers to recognize the connections and collaborations between different projects. This understanding is crucial to avoid resource conflicts and ensure that each project complements and supports the others, rather than being isolated.

Strategic orientation and prioritization

As companies grow, it becomes more difficult to keep an eye on their goals. Project portfolio management helps to align projects with the company's goals. It prioritizes projects based on their potential impact and alignment with long-term goals. This ensures that resources are allocated to projects with the highest strategic value.

Optimized resource allocation

Large companies must use their resources efficiently in order to be successful. Project portfolio management supports companies in this by allocating resources effectively. Project portfolio management gives you an overview of all current and planned projects so that you can identify and eliminate resource bottlenecks. This ensures that the right resources are available for each project at the right time. By optimizing resource allocation, you can achieve your project goals more efficiently.

Better decision-making

Making informed and agile decisions is critical. PPM provides a data-driven framework for decision-making that offers insights into project performance, risks and benefits. With a clear understanding of these factors, leaders can make quick decisions that adapt to changes in the business environment or shifting strategic priorities.

Risk management and risk mitigation

Major projects can be associated with considerable risks for companies. Project management allows you to identify and assess these risks at a portfolio level. Companies can develop comprehensive risk mitigation strategies to safeguard the entire portfolio by understanding how risks in one project can impact others.

Measuring performance and value

To manage projects effectively, it is important to evaluate their performance against predefined KPIs and strategic objectives and provides tools and metrics to measure this performance and help determine the value of each project to the organization. This evaluation is critical to ensure that projects are aligned with business objectives and to make the necessary adjustments to improve performance.

How to introduce project portfolio management in companies

1. initial assessment and planning

The first step is to assess the existing project management landscape. Identify gaps and align the framework with the organization's strategic goals. Develop a plan that defines the objectives, resource allocation, timeline and milestones.

2. involvement of stakeholders

The involvement of the most important stakeholders is crucial. This group includes executives, project managers and IT staff. Clear communication about the benefits and changes that PPM brings is important to gain the support of the organization.

3. adapting the PPM approach

Adapt the framework to the specific needs and culture of the organization. This customization should take into account scalability for future growth and change.

4. integration with existing systems

Smooth integration with existing systems is essential. This may require technical support to integrate new tools and customize workflows, with a focus on data migration and integrity.

5. piloting

Carry out a pilot phase with selected projects or departments. This step helps to identify potential problems and enables adjustments to be made before a comprehensive rollout.

6. training and support

Provide comprehensive training to ensure that all users are familiar with the new system. Set up a support system that provides continuous support, especially in the initial phase after implementation.

7. monitoring and continuous improvement

Continuously monitor the performance of the PPM system after implementation. Gather feedback to iteratively improve the system and ensure that it effectively meets the needs of the organization.

8. verification and scaling

Review the project portfolio management system regularly based on the defined objectives and key performance indicators. Be prepared to scale and evolve the system as the organization grows and needs change.

By following these steps, large organizations can implement a project portfolio management system that enhances their strategic project management capabilities and aligns with their overall business goals.

Project portfolio management: tools and technologies you can use

Implementing effective project portfolio management in an organization requires the right tools and technologies. These tools enable smoother project management processes and provide key data and insights for informed decision-making. Some categories of tools and specific technologies can significantly enhance capabilities.

Comprehensive project portfolio management software solutions:

Jira

Jira is an all-in-one solution and is characterized by its versatility in the management of agile projects. It enables detailed tracking, planning and reporting, making it ideal for various project management requirements. Other software solutions are Microsoft Project and Primavera from Oracle. These platforms offer robust features such as detailed project planning, resource allocation and budget management.

Collaboration and communication tools:

Platforms such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana or Confluence are essential for effective communication and collaboration within the team. They streamline interactions and ensure that all team members are up to date.

Document management systems:

Efficient document management is the key to effective project management. Systems such as SharePoint and Google Drive enable the secure and accessible storage, sharing and organization of project-related documents.

Advanced analysis and reporting tools:

Tools such as Tableau and Power BI are essential for analyzing project data. They offer advanced analysis and reporting functions and enable those responsible to make data-based strategic decisions.

Risk management software:

Risk management is another important aspect. Special risk management tools help to assess, prioritize and mitigate risks across the entire project portfolio to ensure better control and foresight.

Resource management tools:

Solutions such as Smartsheet and Resource Guru are well suited for managing and allocating resources in projects. They ensure that resources are used optimally and avoid over- or under-utilization.

Agile project management tools:

For those who use agile methods, tools such as Jira and Trello Functions that are specifically tailored to agile project tracking, e.g. sprint planning and scrum boards.

Customized development platforms:

When special requirements need to be met, platforms such as Microsoft PowerApps and Salesforce enable the development of customized PPM applications and thus offer tailor-made solutions.

In summary, selecting the right tools and technologies is critical to successful project portfolio management. These tools should be selected based on the organization's specific needs, size and project management methodologies to ensure that they contribute effectively to the process. Jira, with its comprehensive features, is a versatile all-in-one solution suitable for various project management needs.

Project portfolio management with Jira: A game changer with practical applications

A great way to implement project portfolio management is to Jira. By integrating PPM with Jira, you can benefit from a more dynamic, technology-based solution that delivers unprecedented results.

In a recent case study, existing project portfolio management tools were evaluated and specific requirements for an efficient solution were defined. The result was a comprehensive dashboard in Jira that displays all projects with relevant data, including planned and consumed man-days, percentage progress of each project and linking efforts to individual tasks.

The most important elements of this integration included

  • Implementation of a customized workflow: As part of the integration, new task types were defined for functions such as monthly reporting and project planning with resources in order to streamline the process and increase the efficiency of PPM in Jira.
  • Automations and script improvements: The creation of automations in Jira made it possible for necessary information from projects to be automatically available for portfolio management. Scriptrunner was also used to create scripts to extend certain functions and create simple applications that are not possible with Jira automations, e.g. hiding fields or setting write permissions for a field.
  • Resource planning and approval process: As part of the project, a resource planning process was developed that incorporates Jira Service Management's asset management and Jira's standard features. An asset was created for each functional team within a project so that project managers could assign tasks to these assets and initiate an approval process for the required resources.
  • Test and put into operation: The project lasted around five months, during which an agile approach was chosen. The functions were prioritized and tackled using the Jira Advanced Roadmap. Daily stand-ups ensured that progress was tracked and upcoming tasks were coordinated within a cross-functional team.

Jira transforms enterprise PPM by providing a platform that integrates with existing workflows, provides real-time tracking and improves collaboration. It streamlines and scales processes, aligns them with strategic business goals and drives business success.

Find out more about the case in this current Success Story: Project portfolio management with Jira.

Conclusion

In summary, it can be said that the strategic implementation of project portfolio management for large organizations that want to increase their Project processes streamline and align with overarching business goals. With tools like Jira offering comprehensive solutions, organizations can effectively manage diverse project portfolios, ensuring efficient resource allocation, risk mitigation and improved decision making. Jira can also be used to Processes digitized and automated become. The impact on a company's operational efficiency and strategic agility cannot be overestimated.

By taking a tailored approach and using the right tools and technologies, companies can not only optimize their project results, but also drive sustainable growth and secure a competitive advantage in the dynamic business world. PPM is a key pillar in the architecture of successful project management, as companies are constantly evolving.

Project Portfolio Management
Atlassian Team Playbooks

Maximize team success with Atlassian Team Playbooks

Fostering collaboration, continuous improvement and operational excellence is critical for organizations that want to remain competitive. Atlassian Team Playbooks are a valuable tool that provides resources to address common team challenges and improve project execution. They provide clear guidance on roles and responsibilities, improve communication and promote a proactive learning culture. Discover the benefits of Atlassian Team Playbooks.

Most popular playbooks from Atlassian Team Playbooks

There are more than 50 Atlassian Team Playbooks that organizations can use to increase productivity and communication, accelerate digital transformation and much more. Listing them all here would be a bit much. Therefore, we have decided to provide you with a selection of the nine most popular playbooks.

Retrospective Play - Atlassian Team Playbook

Retrospective Play

Retrospective Play is a gateway to fostering a culture of continuous improvement. By reflecting on past actions and results, teams can gain invaluable insights that lead to better decision-making. Companies that use this method not only strengthen their problem-solving skills, but also create a culture of transparency and accountability. This game is a catalyst for fostering a proactive mindset that thrives on feedback and iterative learning, which is critical for navigating complex and dynamic business landscapes.

Roles & Responsibilities - Atlassian Team Playbook

Roles & Responsibilities Play

The essence of the roles and responsibilities game lies in its ability to bring clarity to team dynamics. It defines exactly who is responsible for what, preventing overlaps and gaps that can negatively impact the project timeline. Companies that use this method benefit from improved team synergy, streamlined workflows and significantly improved project execution. It is a cornerstone for building a well-coordinated team where everyone is focused on the common goals.

Health Monitor Play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

Health Monitor Play

The Health Monitor Play acts as a mirror that reflects the true state of a team's operational health. It enables self-assessment against the attributes of high-performing teams and helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement. For organizations, this game is essential to take the pulse of team performance and ensure that the team is continuously improving. It is a blueprint for driving excellence and achieving operational efficiency.

DACI Play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

DACI Play (Driver, Approver, Contributor, Informed)

The DACI framework is critical for clarifying decision-making roles and responsibilities within a team or project. It identifies individuals as Drivers (D), who drive the decision-making process; Approvers (A), who make the decision; Contributors (C), who provide input; and those who are Informed (I) about the decision. This structured approach ensures that decisions are made efficiently, with clear communication and accountability, allowing the project to run more smoothly.

Icebreaker Activities play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

Icebreaker Activities Play

Icebreaker activities serve to warm up the group, create a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere and encourage interaction, especially at the beginning of meetings or workshops. These activities can range from simple introductions to engaging games or discussions that help to break down barriers, encourage open communication and set a positive tone for the collaboration to come.

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) Play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) Play

The OKRs framework is a goal-setting tool that helps teams define, communicate and track goals and their outcomes. By setting objectives (ambitious and inspiring goals) and key results (specific, measurable actions to achieve the goals), teams can align their efforts, fully commit to the shared goals and transparently monitor progress. This game is fundamental to maintaining focus, alignment and momentum in achieving key results.

Project Kickoff Play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

Project Kickoff Play

The project kickoff is a structured approach to starting a project on the right foot. It aligns the team on the goals, scope, roles and responsibilities of the project and establishes a clear plan of action. By setting expectations, defining success criteria and ensuring everyone is on the same page, this game creates a solid foundation for successful project execution and helps mitigate risks associated with misalignment or misunderstandings.

Sparring Play - Atlassian Team Playbooks

Sparring Play

Sparring sessions provide a platform for teams to present their work, gather constructive feedback and refine ideas in a structured, supportive environment. This practice encourages diverse perspectives, constructive criticism and iterative refinement, helping to improve the quality of work and ensure that the best ideas are put forward and refined together.

Standups Play

Standups Play

Standups are short, regular meetings where team members update each other on their progress, discuss the day's work and identify any obstacles or challenges. This approach promotes transparency, timely problem solving and ensures that the team stays aligned on priorities. It is an important practice to maintain a steady flow of communication and address issues in a timely manner, which contributes to the overall agility and effectiveness of the team.

You can find more Atlassian Team Playbooks on the Atlassian website.

Why should I implement the Atlassian Team Playbooks in my company?

Implementing the Atlassian Team Playbooks can significantly improve your teams' collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills. These playbooks address key issues in team dynamics that can hinder project success if ignored. They promote a culture of openness, continuous improvement and clear communication that is essential for successful project delivery. The structured framework of these playbooks provides actionable insights and plans that clarify the path to resolution and improvement.

These versatile playbooks can be tailored to your organization's individual needs and challenges, making them a valuable business asset. Not only do they improve operational efficiency, but they also create a resilient and adaptable organization. With the support of XALT, these playbooks can be seamlessly integrated into your existing processes and offer significant benefits in achieving your business goals.

How to get started with Atlassian Team Playbooks

Getting started with Atlassian Playbooks can be a smooth process with the right approach and guidance. Below is a suggested strategy broken down into manageable steps to ensure a successful implementation in your organization:

1. sensitization and training:

Understanding the playbooks: Learn about Atlassian Playbooks and their benefits. Use resources, attend workshops or consult experts like those at XALT for deeper insights.

2nd evaluation:

Identify the needs: Evaluate the team's current challenges to determine which Atlassian Team Playbooks would be most beneficial.

Customization: Customize the selected games to the individual needs of your company based on the evaluation.

3. planning:

Implementation plan: Create a plan for the implementation of the selected measures, listing timelines, required resources and teams involved.

Training: Provide training to ensure all stakeholders understand the process and objectives of the playbooks.

4th version:

Executing the moves: Execute the moves according to the plan and encourage open communication and active participation.

Documentation: Document the findings, measures and feedback for later use and analysis.

5. check and improve:

ReviewEvaluate the effectiveness of the actions after implementation in terms of overcoming the challenges and achieving the objectives.

Continuous improvement: Based on the review, make adjustments for future iterations to ensure continuous improvement.

6. support and guidance:

Expert advice: Let Atlassian experts or companies like XALT advise you on successful implementation and overcoming challenges.

7. scaling:

Expand: Expand the implementation to other departments or teams once you have familiarized yourself with the playbooks to achieve a company-wide improvement.

8. measure success:

Metrics: Establish metrics to measure the success and impact of implementing Atlassian Team Playbooks, such as improved communication, shorter project timelines, and improved collaboration.

xalt_webinar_platform engineering

Webinar Platform Engineering: AWS account setup with JSM

In our webinar "Platform Engineering - Build AWS Accounts in Just One Hour with JSM Cloud", our DevOps ambassadors Chris and Ivan, along with Atlassian platform expert Marcin from BSH, introduced the transformative approach of platform engineering and how it is revolutionizing cloud infrastructure management for development teams. In our conversation, we discussed the concept of platform engineering, including how to initiate the process of using platform engineering, what obstacles organizations may encounter and how to overcome them with self-service for developers. We also showed how Jira Service Management can be used as a self-service for developers to create AWS accounts in just one hour.

Understanding platform engineering

"Platform Engineering is a foundation of self-service APIs, tools, services, knowledge and support designed as a compelling internal product," said Ivan Ermilov during the webinar. This concept is at the heart of internal developer platforms (IDPs)aimed at streamlining operations and supporting development teams. By simplifying access to cloud resources, platform engineering promotes a more efficient and autonomous working environment.

Find out more about platform engineering in our article "What is Platform Engineering„.

The decisive advantages

One of the key takeaways from the webinar was the numerous benefits that platform engineering brings. Not only does it speed up the delivery of features, but it also significantly reduces manual tasks for developers. The discussion highlighted how teams gain independence, leading to a more agile and responsive IT infrastructure.

Overcoming traditional challenges

Traditional methods of managing cloud infrastructure often lead to project delays and security compliance issues. Ivan pointed out that "a common scenario I've personally encountered in my career is that deploying infrastructure requires a cascade of approvals. The whole process can take weeks. One specific example we encounter in our customer environment is that AWS account provisioning can take weeks to complete. One reason for this is usually that the infrastructure landscape is simply inefficient and not standardized." By using platform engineering, companies can overcome these hurdles and pave the way for a more streamlined and secure process.

Success story from the field: BSH's journey

Marcin Guz from BSH told the story of the company's transformation and illustrated the transition to automated cloud infrastructure management. The practical aspects of implementing platform engineering principles were highlighted, emphasizing how operational efficiency could be improved.

Technical insights: The self-service model

Ivan and Chris Becker discussed the implementation of a self-service model using Jira Service Management (JSM) and automation pipelines. This approach allows developers to manage cloud resources, including the creation of AWS accounts, in as little as an hour - a marked difference from the days or weeks it used to take.

Live demo: Quick AWS account creation

A highlight was the live demonstration by Chris Becker, who presented the optimized process for setting up AWS accounts. This real-time presentation served as a practical guide for the audience, illustrating the simplicity and efficiency of the self-service model.

A look into the future: The future of platform engineering

The webinar concluded with a look to the future. Ivan spoke about exciting future developments such as multi-cloud strategies and the integration of DevSecOps approaches, giving an indication of the ever-evolving landscape of platform engineering.

Watch our webinar on-demand

Want to learn about the possibilities of platform engineering and developer self-service? Watch our on-demand webinar to learn more about platform engineering, IDPs and developer self-service. In this informative session, you'll gain insights that will help you transform your cloud infrastructure management.

Jira Service Management News Atlassian High Velocity 2023

Jira Service Management News from Atlassian's High Velocity Event 2023

The Atlassian community recently met at the High Velocity event in Sydney. At the event, Atlassian leaders presented groundbreaking new features in Jira Service Management (JSM) and announced new collaborations. JSM customers gave insights into how they use the Atlassian platform in their business, underlining how Atlassian is revolutionizing service management. The overarching motto was: End bad service management.

In this article, we give you an overview of the most exciting news and new features in Jira Service Management.

The most important news & new features at a glance

New cooperation:

  • New cooperation with Airtrack enables comprehensive asset management in JSM

New features:

  • Integration of Compass in JSM combines dev and ops data for full transparency
  • Asset dashboard provides meaningful insights
  • Integration of DevSecOps tools helps to create transparency about security vulnerabilities
  • Integration of CI/CD tools supports seamless collaboration between Dev and Ops
  • Customer support template optimizes support processes
  • Single sign-on for customer accounts creates a seamless user experience
  • Service management templates make teams more autonomous and faster
  • Board View of tickets for optimized overview
  • Dark Mode for eye-friendly working
  • Virtual Agent answers questions with the help of artificial intelligence
  • Agent Co-Pilot creates summaries and optimizes communication

Further news:

  • New upper limit of 20,000 agents per instance on JSM
  • Increase in the upper limits of objects in the asset and configuration database to 3 million
  • Expansion of regional export for data residency: newest region in Canada

Transparency through a "single source of truth"

Integration of Atlassian's Compass and JSM

Compass is one of the latest additions to the Atlassian family. This is a software catalog designed to assist developers in answering queries such as: How do I find a particular micro service? Who owns it? How do I get help if something goes wrong? How do I know if it meets security and compliance requirements?

At the same time, Compass serves as a monitoring tool that supports DevOps teams in monitoring software components and reacting quickly if something gets out of hand.

Atlassian Compass Dashboard
Compass supports development teams, which are often globally distributed and work independently of each other, in creating full visibility of a service and thus facilitating collaboration.

Thanks to the integration in JSM, the IT team, which handles the operational side of a service such as incident and change management, has a full overview of a service and its dependent components. If there is a problem with one of the service components, for example, IT can react and only roll out the change once the problem has been resolved.

Compass integration in Jira Service Management
JSM gives the IT operations team complete visibility of related services, whether all components are intact or whether development is working on a problem.

By combining Compass and JSM, developers and the IT team have a view of the same data source, but with the information that is important for their respective jobs. This solves the major challenge of updating data from traditional CMDBs (Configuration Management Database) and expands the view to the developer perspective.

Comparison of traditional CMDB and modern CMDB with Jira Service Management
Traditional CMDBs do not provide the complete picture that the IT operations team needs. It also implies a significant amount of work required to ensure that it remains current. Modern CMDBs bring Dev and Ops relevant information together in one platform, creating holistic transparency.

Comprehensive Asset Management with Airtrack and new Asset Dashboard

With the announcement that Airtrack is now part of the Atlassian family, JSM users can now operate comprehensive asset management. Airtrack supports companies in merging and analyzing different data sources and ensures that the data is correct, up-to-date and complete. It provides over 30 out-of-the-box connections, enables data reconciliation (e.g., helps identify missing dependencies between services; discovers unmanaged machines) and processes data beyond IT (e.g., managing security, compliance, billing, forecasting, etc.).

The asset data is stored in a new Asset Dashboard in JSM that provides meaningful insights and supports IT teams in their decision-making processes. Various reports can be created in the dashboard.

The extensive asset data is also available in Atlassian Analytics . This means that they can also be combined with data from other Atlassian tools and third-party tools. JSM thus brings development, infrastructure & operations and business teams together on one platform and creates transparency across the entire company.

Atlassian Analytics Dashboard with combined data from different sources
In Atlassian Analytics, additional data can be combined with the asset data: e.g. actual operating costs from the AWS Cloud, budget information from Snowflake in comparison with the assets from the JSM database. This gives you an overview of service, costs and performance in one place.

Breaking down silos for more relaxed collaboration

For Developers and IT Operations

Collaboration between developers and IT teams can be challenging. While developers want to quickly deliver new services and added value, the IT team makes sure that these do not pose any risks to operations. New integration options for developer tools in Jira Service Management are designed to eliminate these friction points and ensure seamless collaboration.

The Integration of DevSecOps-Tools in Jira makes it possible to manage risks better. It makes all security vulnerabilities visible within a sprint. Automation rules can also be created to automatically create tasks in Jira when a security vulnerability is identified. This ensures that all risks are addressed before the service is rolled out.

Through the Integration of common CI/CD tools development teams can create change requests without having to leave the tools they use on a daily basis. The change request is automatically created in JSM and can therefore be accessed directly by the IT team.

Ultimately, the result is an integrated process from development and risk assessment through to the approval and implementation of changes. High-risk services can be fed back to the development team in the CI/CD tool for checking before they are implemented in the production system.

With the new Release Hub in Jira they also have an overview of the status of their services, and automatic notifications inform them when a service has been rolled out.

Integrated process for DevOps with Jira Service Management
Jira Service Management integrates developer tools, creating a seamless system for Dev and Ops.

For Customer Support and Development teams

A new JSM template for customer support provides a convenient overview of all customer-relevant data and processes.

It also includes a feature that supports the seamless escalation process and improves collaboration between development teams and support teams. Support staff can escalate customer issues directly in JSM, and the tickets are created directly as bugs in Jira Software. This also allows developers to quickly see what impact the bug they are working on is having on customers. At the same time, the support team has a central overview of all escalated tickets.

For Customer Support and Customers

For seamless communication and ticket creation, customers can be provided with a single sign-on (SSO) solution. Jira Service Management now enables a connection to a separate SSO provider such as Microsoft Azure AD, Google Cloud Identity, etc.

Quick and easy set-up of various Service Desks

New service management templates for different areas of the company ensure that teams can quickly and easily create their own Service Desk. They contain preconfigured request forms and workflows that can be used directly.

The customization options for the service management templates have also been improved and simplified. Furthermore, users can choose from several best-practice templates or create their own forms.

This allows teams to act more autonomously and quickly without having to involve a system admin for setup and changes.

Jira Service Management templates for different Service Desk set-ups
Fast set-up and simple handling of the service management templates.

Working more progressively with Atlassian's Artificial Intelligence & Co.

New features for a more user-friendly application

Under this motto, JSM now offers a highly-requested function: The view of tickets in a Board View simplifies the overview and offers the usual drag-and-drop options.

New Board View for handling tickets in Jira Service Management
Improved ticket overview and intuitive editing options.

Another new feature is that, for example, night-time users working on support tickets can now also use JSM in Dark Mode for a more eye-friendly experience.

Integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) simplifies daily tasks and increases work efficiency

With the vision of freeing employees from repetitive tasks and scaling Service Desks, the Virtual Agent is now available in JSM. The Virtual Agent is able to ask a logical follow-up question to an employee question in order to play out the answer for the employee as concretely as possible.

Virtual Agent in Jira Service Management
The Virtual Agent quickly provides the right answer with the help of a predefined sequence of follow-up questions.

The unique advantage of the Virtual Agent is that it is designed in such a way that anyone can set it up themselves. This is made possible by an easy-to-use no-code interface in which the employee can determine the path that a request goes through. This means that the agent can be set up within a few hours instead of spending days and weeks.

No-Code-Interface of the Virtual Agent for easy handling
The Virtual Agent can also be installed within a few hours via a no-code interface by
non-technical employees.

The features of the Agent Co-Pilot (powered by Atlassian Intelligence) has been rolled out. This is intended to improve service management quality in particular, which often suffers when different support employees take turns working on a ticket. The challenge for employees is to keep up to date with the latest information each time, which can be very time-consuming.

With just one click, the Agent Co-Pilot provides a short and concise summary of all processes that have already been documented in this ticket and brings the support employee up to speed in the shortest possible time.

The agent also assists with the formulation of messages to make communication as efficient and clear as possible. It reformulates written texts so that they are clear and professional and provide the necessary context for the recipient.

More news about Jira Service Management

Further news at the High Velocity Event was that the upper limits were raised as follows:

  • for agents per JSM instance to 20,000 agents
  • and for objects in the asset and configuration database to 3 million.

Regional export for data residency has also been extended to the Canadian region. The following figure summarizes these updates once again.

Summary of the news in Jira Service Management

Atlassian's future vision for Service Management

Finally, Atlassian's vision for its service management platform was emphasized: No matter how many different technologies, teams, and systems are in use in the service area - Jira Service Management is connected to all systems as a central platform and serves as a control system to coordinate and solve requests, regardless of which system they are solved in.

Artificial intelligence helps to provide quick, clear and consistent answers. It is also connected to all systems, collects the information there and delivers it in a concise summary.

If you would like to watch the keynote and sessions from High Velocity in Sydney, you can find the video recordings here: https://events.atlassian.com/highvelocity/

What is Platform Engineering

What is Platform Engineering

IT teams, developers, department heads and CTOs must ensure that applications and digital products are launched quickly, efficiently and securely and are always available. But often the conditions for this are not given. Compliance and security policies, as well as long and complicated processes, make it difficult for IT teams to achieve these goals. But this doesn't have to be the case and can be solved with the help of a developer self-service or Internal Developer Platform.

Simplified comparison of Platform Engineering vs Internal Developer Platform vs Developer Self-Service.

Platform Engineering vs. Internal Developer Platform vs. Developer Self-Service

What is Platform Engineering?

Platform Engineering is a new trend that aims to modernize enterprise software delivery. Platform engineering implements reusable tools and self-service capabilities with automated infrastructure workflows that improve developer experience and productivity. Initial platform engineering efforts often start with internal developer platforms (IDPs).

Platform Engineering helps make software creation and delivery faster and easier by providing unified tools, workflows, and technical foundations. It's like a well-organized toolkit and workshop for software developers to get their work done more efficiently and without unnecessary obstacles.

Webinar - Platform Engineering: AWS Account Creation with Developer Self-Service (Jira Service Management)

What is Platform Engineering used for?

The ideal development platform for one company may be completely unusable for another. Even within the same company, different development teams may have very different requirements.

The main goal of a technology platform is to increase developer productivity. At the enterprise level, such platforms promote consistency and efficiency. For developers, they provide significant relief in dealing with delivery pipelines and low-level infrastructure.

What is an Internal Developer Platform (IDP)?

Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs), also known as Developer Self-Service Platforms, are systems set up within organizations to accelerate and simplify the software development process. They provide developers with a centralized, standardized, and automated environment in which to write, test, deploy, and manage code.

IDPs provide a set of tools, features, and processes. The goal is to provide developers with a smooth self-service experience that offers the right features to help developers and others produce valuable software with as little effort as possible.

How is Platform Engineering different from Internal Developer Platform?

Platform Engineering is the overarching area that deals with the creation and management of software platforms. Within Platform Engineering, Integrated Development Platforms (IDPs) are developed as specific tools or platforms. These offer developers self-service and automation functions.

What is Developer Self-Service?

Developer Self-Service is a concept that enables developers to create and manage the resources and environments they need themselves, without having to wait for support from operations teams or other departments. This increases efficiency, reduces wait times, and increases productivity through self-service and faster access to resources. This means developers don't have to wait for others to get what they need and can get their work done faster.

How do IDPs help with this?

Think of Internal Developer Platforms (IDPs) as a well-organized supermarket where everything is easy to find. IDPs provide all the tools and services necessary for developers to get their jobs done without much hassle. They are, so to speak, the place where self-service takes place.

The transition to platform engineering

When a company moves from IDPs to Platform Engineering, it's like making the leap from a small local store to a large purchasing center. Platform Engineering offers a broader range of services and greater automation. It helps companies further streamline and scale their development processes.

By moving to Platform Engineering, companies can make their development processes more efficient, improve collaboration, and ultimately bring better products to market faster. The first step with IDPs and Developer Self-Service lays the foundation to achieve this higher level of efficiency and automation.

Challenges that can be solved with platform engineering

Scalability & Standardization

In growing companies, as well as large and established ones, the number of IT projects and teams can grow rapidly. Traditional development practices can make it difficult to scale the development environment and keep everyone homogeneous. As IT projects or applications continue to grow, there are differences in setup and configuration, security and compliance standards, and an overview of which user has access to what.

Platform Engineering enables greater scalability by introducing automation and standardized processes that make it easier to handle a growing number of projects and application developments.

Efficiency and productivity

Delays in developing and building infrastructure can be caused by manual processes and dependencies between teams, increasing the time to market for applications. Platform Engineering helps overcome these challenges by providing self-service capabilities and automation that enable teams to work faster and more independently.

Security & Compliance

Security concerns are central to any development process. Through platform engineering, we standardize and integrate security and compliance standards into the development process and IT infrastructure in advance, enabling consistent security auditing and management.

Consistency and standardization

Different teams and projects might use different tools and practices, which can lead to inconsistencies. Platform engineering promotes standardization by providing a common platform with consistent tools and processes that can be used by everyone.

Innovation and experimentation

The ability to quickly test and iterate on new ideas is critical to a company's ability to innovate. Platform Engineering provides an environment that encourages experimentation and rapid iteration by efficiently providing the necessary infrastructure and tools.

Cost control

Optimizing and automating development processes can reduce operating costs. Platform Engineering provides the tools and practices to use resources efficiently and thus reduce the total cost of development.

Real-world example: IDP and Developer Self-Service with Jira Service Management and AWS

One way to start with platform engineering is for example Jira Service Management as a developer self-service to set up AWS cloud infrastructure in an automated and secure way and to provide templates for developers and cloud engineers in a wiki.

How does it work?

Developer self-service for automatic AWS account creation with Jira service management

Jira Service Management Developer Self-Service

Using Jira Service Management, one of our customers provides a self-service that allows developers to set up an AWS organization account automatically and securely. This works with a simple portal and a service request form where the user has to provide information like name, function, account type, security and technical responsible and approving manager.

The account is then created on AWS in the backend using Python scripts in a build pipeline. During setup, all security and compliance relevant standards are already integrated and the JSM self-service is linked to the company's Active Directory. Due to the deep integration with all relevant systems of the company, it is possible to explicitly track who has access to what. This also facilitates the control of accesses and existing accounts in retrospect.

The result: The time required to create AWS organization accounts is reduced to less than an hour (from several weeks) with the help of JSM, enabling IT teams to publish, test and update their products faster. It also provides visibility into which and how many accounts already exist and for which product, making it easier to control the cost of cloud infrastructure on AWS.

Confluence Cloud as a knowledge database for IT teams

Of course, developer self-service is only a small part of platform engineering. IT teams need concrete tools and apps tailored to their needs.

One of these tools is a knowledgebase where IT teams, from developers to cloud engineers, can find relevant information such as templates that make their work easier and faster.

We have built a knowledge database with Confluence at our customer that provides a wide variety of templates, courses, best practices, and important information about processes. This knowledge database enables all relevant stakeholders to obtain important information and further training at any time.

Webinar - The First Step in Platform Engineering with a Developer Self-Service and JSM

After discussing the challenges and solutions that Platform Engineering brings, it is important to put these concepts into practice and explore them further. A great opportunity to learn more about the practical application of Platform Engineering is an upcoming webinar. This webinar will put a special focus on automating AWS infrastructure creation using Jira Service Management and Developer Self-Service. In addition, ess will feature a live demo with our DevOps experts.

Webinar - Platform Engineering: AWS Account Creation with Developer Self-Service (Jira Service Management)

Conclusion

The journey from Internal Developer Platforms to Platform Engineering is a progressive step that helps organizations optimize their development processes. By leveraging a Developer Self-Service and overcoming software development challenges, Platform Engineering paves the way for more efficient and innovative development practices. With practical resources like the featured webinar, interested parties can dive deeper into this topic. And also gain valuable insights into how to effectively implement Platform Engineering.