Author: Ramona Daub

1. Automated Data Integration: Efficient and Seamless

The Assets Data Manager currently supports over 30 connectors for automated data integration, with more on the way. This seamless connection to databases, CSV files, and other data sources allows organizations to ensure that their data is always up to date. The ability to set up scheduled imports minimizes manual steps and reduces sources of error. 

Previously, importing data required the use of third-party applications or integration solutions at additional cost. Now, connectors eliminate this challenge.

The following connectors are currently available:

2. Data cleansing and normalization: always up-to-date

One of the core elements of Data Manager is the ability to merge, cleanse, and normalize data from multiple sources. Duplicates are removed and inconsistencies are reconciled to create a single, trustworthy “golden data set” that businesses can rely on. 

This process makes it easier for you and your organization to make confident decisions and ensure that information is accurate and up-to-date.

3. Comparative data analysis: improve data quality and security

Atlassian Data Manager’s cross-comparison data analysis allows you to merge and compare data from multiple sources to identify inconsistencies such as duplicate or outdated entries. This enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities in their IT assets early. This feature not only helps close security gaps, but also improves data quality.

In addition, Data Manager offers a new reporting feature that allows you to create dashboards based on real-time data. This enables organizations to quickly visualize current information and make informed decisions.

4. Jira Assets integration: all asset data at a glance

The Data Manager integrates seamlessly with Jira Service Management Assets to link asset data with configuration data. 

This gives teams a comprehensive view of their IT landscape and makes it easier to manage assets across departments, from IT to compliance to finance.

5. Improve auditing and compliance: easily meet standards

With complete visibility into all assets and their changes, Assets Data Manager makes it easier to comply with regulations such as GDPR. It not only supports your organization in meeting compliance standards, but also ensures a smooth audit process. 

This function helps improve risk management and prevent costly compliance violations.

Data Manager as part of Jira Service Management

Specifically, the Data Manager is an extension for Atlassian Assets, which is a native asset and configuration management tool that is part of JSM in the Premium and Enterprise licensing. 

So if you are using Jira Service Management in the cloud and on either of these licensing plans, you can use the Data Manager at no additional licensing cost! The tool is integrated as an opt-in feature in Assets and can be activated there via the general configuration screen.

Why we think Data Manager is essential

Atlassian’s Data Manager enables organizations to streamline IT processes by providing complete and up-to-date data. By automating data import and cleansing, the administrative burden is significantly reduced and businesses can focus on improving service quality. 

As Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner, we have been able to test the Data Manager extensively as part of an early access program.

Our conclusion:

The Data Manager can merge and cleanse data while providing powerful analytics. This combination of capabilities will quickly make it an indispensable tool for data-driven business decisions.

The challenge of siloed systems and inefficient processes

Many departments within an organization have their own tools, systems and processes that are often not connected. For example, IT might use a ticketing system, while HR relies on its own software solution for employee onboarding processes. These isolated silos make it difficult to keep track of requests, prioritize them efficiently and collaborate across departments. In addition, the manual effort involved increases the risk of error and ties up valuable resources.

In addition, there is often a lack of visibility: it is unclear which teams are working at what capacity or where bottlenecks are occurring. This not only leads to delays, but also to poor service quality and employee dissatisfaction. Without consistent, automated processes, the potential for optimization and standardization often remains untapped.

The road to centralized service management

Implementing an ESM solution isn’t just about the right technology, it’s also about tailored advice and support.

Our experts have many years of experience and have successfully implemented projects in a wide range of industries. Together with our customers, we develop an ESM that is designed to meet their specific needs. We understand the challenges of the market and offer sound, practical solutions.

Step by step to your ESM solution:

1. Together with you, we conduct a problem and requirements analysis.
2. We define technical solution approaches, process design and implementation.
3. We roll-out your solution iteratively and in close and transparent collaboration with you.

With HiQ you get everything from a single source: from problem analysis to implementation and optimization – we are your reliable partner in every project phase on the way to an efficient Enterprise Service Management for your company.

By working closely together, we ensure that the solution is not only technically robust, but also seamlessly integrates with existing applications. 

Plus: We are an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner. This means that our customers benefit from the exclusive advantages and extensive expertise we offer through our close partnership with Atlassian.

Faster market launch with just in time software updates

Launching an unfinished product on the market? Doesn’t sound very smart at first, but it can actually be a clever strategy! 

In an ideal world, the hardware and software of a device are always ready at the same time and products can be launched directly onto the market without expensive intermediate storage or waiting times. Is this the case in your company? Then congratulations, you have established highly optimized processes. 

If not, I still have good news: The software does not have to be finalized at the same time as the hardware: While the finished device is already packaged and on its way to the customer, developers can still finalize the last lines of code or the QA department can use additional time to thoroughly test all software functions. 

All that matters is that the product receives a wireless firmware update when it is first switched on to provide all the required functions. 

This allows you to start production and delivery of your product early, saving valuable time and costs. Missing features can be added at market launch (or at a later stage). It is important that the FOTA system is able to orchestrate and process all updates smoothly so that the launch day is a complete success.

Reducing risks: Bugs, security, compliance

In addition to the fundamental reduction in time to market through F-OTA updates, it is crucial to recognize potential complications at an early stage and react accordingly in order to avoid unnecessary delays and stay ahead of the competition. 

Such complications can arise as a result of changed framework conditions, for example new security standards that are not met. Or serious problems discovered by the QA department, like a feature not working properly or even spyware in purchased hardware.

If a company does not have a FOTA system, software problems can be updated manually by hand and plug – provided that the devices are not on the market or with the customer. However, if this is no longer possible, you hopefully have a competent marketing team to cushion a recall – or a really well-functioning FOTA system. 

Such a FOTA system must not only be highly scalable in order to update a very large number of devices simultaneously (and later be scalable down again to save costs). It should also offer various rollout strategies and backup plans in order to carry out all updates efficiently and risk-free in an urgent situation. This ensures that bug fixes, security and compliance updates are applied quickly and without unnecessary costs.

Conclusion

Whether it’s a product launch, solving problems during use or updating devices that have already been delivered: Updates over the air are an effective way to shorten the time to market of your product in various phases. 

For this, it is crucial to have a robust FOTA system. A good firmware-over-the- air-system must be scalable, customizable and reliable. This allows you to meet the dynamic requirements of today’s markets.

Problem: Resource consumption due to repetitive classification work

As soon as the relevant emails are received by the responsible persons, they are usually processed and classified manually before they can be handled in ticket systems such as Jira from Atlassian. This process ties up valuable personnel resources that could be used more efficiently, for example for strategic work.

An understanding of the context is required to categorize the issues and fill the fields in the ticket system appropriately. Until now, there were no technical options for automating these workflows. Thanks to the further development of artificial intelligence (AI), these use cases can now be looked at in a new light.

Solution: Automation with Jira Automation in conjunction with LLMs

Large Language Models (LLMs) are a special type of AI that are trained to understand, process and generate human language. The ability to recognize patterns and relationships in a context that makes these models so exciting for the scenario described: With the integration of LLMs in Jira Automation, recurring tasks can not only be automated, but also made more intelligent.

One exciting use case is the processing of incoming security updates. Thanks to the power of LLMs, the context of these updates is automatically recognized and relevant custom fields in Jira are filled accordingly.

Imagine the IT security team regularly receives security-critical information about the systems used in the company. Until now, the workflow for processing these messages in Jira tickets has been as follows: The messages arrive in Jira via interfaces / the connection of an email inbox, the messages are then classified by a 1st-level team and the information is finally transferred manually to the corresponding fields within Jira.

By using an LLM in conjunction with Jira Automation, it is possible to automatically recognize which systems are affected and check whether they are available in the company. In addition, prioritizations can be made and important information such as the affected group can be derived from the context. Automated assignment to the relevant teams is also possible.

This solution significantly reduces manual effort and ensures that no relevant information is overlooked.