A 5 Minute Guide to Asana Jira Integration

Asana and Jira are two of the most popular project management tools on the market, and many teams use them together to manage their workflows. However, integrating the two tools can be a challenge. In this article, we will explore three simplified approaches for integrating Asana and Jira so that you can streamline your team's workflow and improve collaboration. 

There are some teams within an organization that prefer Asana, which is a good tool for product and marketing teams. Software developers and technicians may prefer Jira, coming up with ticketing and automation benefits. Using an Asana-Jira integration, the organization can continue to use both project management software programs, and build a durable CI/CD pipeline.

What is Asana?

Asana is a well-known project management tool that assists teams in staying organized and on track. It is intended to make task tracking, deadline management, and communication with team members easier. Asana allows users to create tasks, assign them to team members, and track their progress. It also has features like calendars, timelines, and status updates to keep teams informed and on track. From simple to-do lists to complex workflows, Asana can be used for a wide range of projects.

What is Jira?

Jira, on the other hand, is a well-known issue tracking and project-management tool that is widely used by software development teams. It enables software development teams to plan, track, and release software. Jira is designed for software development teams, with features like agile boards, sprint planning, and bug tracking. Jira also provides reporting and analytics capabilities to assist teams in measuring performance, identifying bottlenecks, and making data-driven decisions. Jira is an extremely powerful tool for managing all aspects of software development, from requirement gathering to deployment.

Integrating Jira and Asana

Note: Go to the URL that you use to log in to your Jira account. If your URL has this structure: "<your organization name>.atlassian.net", then you're using Jira Cloud, and you’re eligible to use Asana for Jira integration

1. Using Asana for Jira integration 

One of the simplest ways to integrate Asana and Jira is by using Asana for Jira integration. This integration allows you to create Asana tasks directly from Jira issues, and vice versa. To set up the integration, you will need to connect your Asana and Jira accounts and then configure the integration settings. Once the integration is set up, you can create Asana tasks directly from Jira issues, and vice versa. This will allow you to easily track the progress of your team's work and collaborate more effectively. 

Here are the steps:

• Go to https://asana.com/apps and check for ‘Jira Cloud’.

• Through the Asana Apps Directory Navigate to the Asana Apps Directory. 

• Locate the Jira Cloud integration for Asana. Select Install Jira Cloud for Asana. 

• A full-screen installation wizard will prompt you. You will be asked to authorize your Jira account at the second step of the wizard. 

• In the following screen, you will be able to select which projects you wish to integrate Jira with. The Jira integration can now be used in the project where you installed it.

2. Asana Jira Cloud Integration Using Asana Customize Menu

The Customize Menu in Asana allows users to create custom fields, sections and even custom actions. This feature can be used to add a new action that will create a Jira issue from an Asana task. 

Here are the steps:

• Select the Project to which you want to add Asana Jira Cloud Integration. 

• Click the Customize drop-down menu in the upper right corner. 

• Tap on the +Add app button in the bottom right corner. 

• Choose Jira Cloud from the App menu.

• The Installation Wizard will launch in full-screen mode. Log in and configure your Jira account to begin configuring your Jira Cloud Integration.

3. Using a Third-Party Integration Tool 

There are also third-party integration tools available that can help you integrate Asana and Jira. These tools usually offer a more advanced set of features compared to the native integrations offered by Asana and Jira. 

Jira and Asana can be integrated one-way or two-way using third-party software. Certain items in one software, such as Zapier and Automate.io, can trigger reactions in another. A user could, for example, create a card in Jira, and the one-way tool would automatically create the same card in Asana. These one-way tools often support multiple software-to-software connections. In other words, they aren't just interested in Jira Cloud and Asana. For those who want to maximize the integration between the two, these tools have significant limitations.

The options for two-way tools, such as Unito, ensure that Jira and Asana are always connected. These tools aren't limited to one-way trigger-action workflows; it constantly keeps data in sync. When information is added to the Description of a task in Asana, the issue in Jira is automatically updated. When the same task receives an update in Jira, it automatically updates a Custom Field in Asana.

Also, you can check out our article on How to Integrate Jira with GitLab in detail here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, integrating Asana and Jira can be a challenge, but there are several ways to make it simpler. By using Asana for Jira integration, Zapier, Unito, or other third-party integration tools, you can easily streamline your team's workflow and improve collaboration. 

One piece of advice for integrating Asana and Jira is to start small and test it with a small project or a specific team. This will allow you to get a sense of how the integration works and identify any potential issues before implementing it throughout the organization. It is also critical to include your team in the process and solicit their feedback on how the integration can best meet their needs. This will help ensure that the integration is tailored to the specific workflow of your team and that everyone is on board with the changes.

To get maximum efficiency out of Jira and Asana, an engineering analytics tool is the need of the hour. Hatica offers metrics across 13 dashboards, powered by CI/CD tools, Jira, Asana and GitHub. By collating tool activities at one place, Hatica helps teams streamline their workflow, cut through the clutter of unwanted alerts, and improve productivity. Request a demo with Hatica today!