Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (and not the McKinsey kind) you’ll know that Atlassian Jira has grown an impressive footprint in the global project management space. However, as organizations grow and their needs become more complex, many find themselves seeking ways to enhance Jira's functionality. This is where power apps, Revyz and add-ons come into play, offering extended capabilities to supercharge your Jira experience. In this article, we'll explore two key players in this space: the legacy Anova apps (now part of Appfire) and the newer Revyz solution.
Anova, once a prominent name in the Atlassian ecosystem, offered a suite of powerful apps designed to extend Jira's capabilities. These apps, formerly known as Anova apps, were acquired by Appfire in 2021, marking a significant shift in the marketplace. Despite the change in ownership, the core functionality and benefits of these apps remain relevant for Jira users seeking to optimize their workflows.
Power Scripts: This versatile app allowed users to automate routine tasks, create custom fields, and customize Jira's user interface, providing a high degree of flexibility for admins and power users.
Power Utilities for Jira: Aimed at administrators, this app offered tools for automated ticket creation, streamlining daily operations, and enhancing workflow management.
Power Custom Fields for Jira: This app enabled the creation of custom fields to capture specific data points not covered by Jira's standard fields, allowing for more tailored project tracking.
Surveys for Jira: By enabling survey creation and distribution directly from Jira, this app made it easier to gather feedback and insights from team members and stakeholders.
SAFe EPIC to Feature Translator: Designed for teams using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), this app automated the conversion of SAFe EPICs into Jira features, streamlining the implementation of this popular methodology.
Beyond these core apps, Anova (now part of Appfire) developed other solutions to address various aspects of project management:
Anova Metrics: Provided comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities, including velocity tracking, cycle time analysis, and burndown charts.
Anova Portfolio: Offered tools for managing multiple projects and portfolios within Jira, including features for project planning and resource allocation.
Anova Automation: Focused on automating repetitive tasks to save time and reduce errors in Jira workflows.
Anova Forms: Allowed for the creation of custom forms for issue creation, editing, and transitions, improving data collection and user experience.
Anova Reports: Offered flexible reporting tools to track project progress and analyze team performance.
These apps collectively aimed to increase efficiency, improve decision-making through data-driven insights, enhance collaboration, and reduce project risks.
While Anova apps focused on extending Jira's functionality across various domains, Revyz has emerged as a specialized solution targeting a critical aspect of Jira administration: data management, with a particular emphasis on backup, recovery, and configuration management for Atlassian cloud environments.
Automated Backups: Revyz allows for the scheduling of regular backups, minimizing the risk of data loss due to system failures or human error.
Granular Restore: Users can restore specific pages, issues, or attachments as needed, providing flexibility in data recovery scenarios.
Cloud-based Storage: Backups are securely stored in the cloud, ensuring data accessibility and protection.
Seamless Jira Integration: Revyz integrates smoothly with Jira, making it easy for administrators to manage backups and recoveries without leaving the Jira environment.
Sandbox to Production Configuration Copying: One of Revyz's standout features is its ability to seamlessly copy configurations from sandbox to production Jira sites, streamlining the process of testing and implementing changes.
While both Anova apps (now under Appfire) and Revyz aim to enhance the Jira experience, they take different approaches:
Scope: Anova Power apps cover a broader range of functionalities, from automation to reporting. Revyz, on the other hand, specializes in data management and configuration control.
Focus: Anova apps are designed to extend Jira's capabilities in various directions. Revyz concentrates on ensuring data integrity and simplifying configuration management.
User Base: Anova apps cater to a wide range of Jira users, from team members to administrators. Revyz primarily targets Jira administrators and those responsible for maintaining system integrity.
The choice between Anova-style power apps and a specialized solution like Revyz depends on your organization's specific needs:
If you're looking to enhance Jira's functionality across multiple domains (reporting, automation, form creation), Anova-style apps might be the way to go.
If your primary concern is data protection, backup, and configuration management, especially in a cloud environment, Revyz offers a focused solution to these critical needs.
In many cases, a combination of both approaches might be beneficial. You could use Revyz for robust data management and backup, while leveraging specific Anova (Appfire) apps to extend Jira's capabilities in areas like reporting or automation.
As the Atlassian ecosystem continues to evolve, staying informed about these tools and solutions can help you make the most of your Jira implementation, ensuring that it grows and adapts alongside your organization's needs.
As Jira continues to evolve, the availability of power apps and specialized solutions like Revyz provides organizations with the flexibility to tailor their Jira experience to their unique needs. By carefully considering your organization's specific requirements, you can select the right tools to maximize the value of your Jira investment.