How to Connect Jira and Trello: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced business world, effective project management is crucial for success. Teams across various industries use different tools to manage their workflows, and Jira and Trello are two of the most popular project management tools available. While Jira is primarily used by software development teams for issue tracking, bug management, and Agile project management, Trello is favored by non-technical teams for its visual task boards and ease of use.

But what if your organization uses both tools? How can you ensure seamless collaboration between teams that rely on Jira and Trello to get their work done? The answer is simple: Connect Jira and Trello.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the benefits of integrating Jira and Trello, the steps to establish the connection, best practices for using both tools together, and how to overcome common challenges during integration.

Why Connect Jira and Trello?

Integrating Jira and Trello brings multiple benefits to teams across an organization. Here are some key reasons why connecting these tools can improve your workflow:

1. Enhanced Collaboration

By connecting Jira and Trello, you can bridge the gap between technical teams and non-technical teams. Developers using Jira can seamlessly share their progress with marketing, sales, and customer support teams who prefer using Trello.

2. Unified Project Management

Integration ensures that all your project-related tasks and issues are visible in both Jira and Trello, creating a single source of truth for your entire organization.

3. Automated Task Synchronization

With the integration, tasks created in Trello can automatically appear in Jira, and vice versa. This eliminates the need for manual updates and reduces the risk of miscommunication.

4. Improved Productivity

Connecting these tools helps teams stay in sync, avoid duplicate efforts, and manage their tasks more efficiently, ultimately improving overall productivity.

5. Better Visibility

Managers can gain a holistic view of the progress across different departments, ensuring that both technical and non-technical teams are aligned on project goals.

6. Support for Hybrid Teams

In many organizations, hybrid teams consist of technical staff who prefer Jira and business teams who prefer Trello. The integration allows both groups to use their preferred tools while staying in sync, reducing friction and boosting collaboration.

Methods to Connect Jira and Trello 

There are several ways to connect Jira and Trello. Depending on your specific use case, you can choose from the following options:

1. Using the Native Atlassian Power-Up

Atlassian, the company behind both Jira and Trello, offers a native Power-Up that allows you to connect Trello boards to Jira projects.

Steps to Set Up the Jira Power-Up in Trello:

1. Open your Trello board where you want to enable the integration.

2. Click on Power-Ups in the top menu.

3. Search for Jira in the Power-Ups directory.

4. Click Add next to the Jira Power-Up.

5. Authorize the Power-Up by logging into your Atlassian account.

6. Once connected, you can link Trello cards to Jira issues and see issue details directly from Trello.

2. Using Third-Party Integration Tools

If you need more customization or want to automate complex workflows, you can use third-party integration tools such as:

• Zapier
• Unito
• Automate.io
• Tray.io

Example: Setting Up Jira-Trello Integration with Zapier

1. Sign up for a Zapier account if you don’t have one.

2. Create a new Zap and select Trello as the trigger app.

3. Choose a trigger event, such as New Card Created.

4. Select Jira as the action app.

5. Choose an action event, such as Create Issue.

6. Map the fields between Trello and Jira.

7. Turn on the Zap to start the automation.

3. Using Jira Automation Rules

If you’re using Jira Cloud, you can leverage Jira Automation Rules to create connections between Jira and Trello.

Example: Creating an Automation Rule

1. Go to the Jira project settings.

2. Click on Automation.

3. Create a new rule and select a trigger (e.g., when a new issue is created).

4. Add an action to send data to Trello using webhooks.

5. Save and activate the rule.

How to Link Trello Cards to Jira Issues 

Once the integration is set up, you can easily link Trello cards to Jira issues. Here’s how to do it using the native Power-Up:

1. Open a Trello card.
2. Click on the Jira button in the card.
3. Select Link Jira Issue.
4. Search for the issue in Jira that you want to link.
5. Click Link to establish the connection.

Now, you’ll be able to see the Jira issue details directly from the Trello card, including its status, assignee, and priority.

Best Practices for Connecting Jira and Trello

To make the most out of the integration between Jira and Trello, follow these best practices:

1. Define Your Use Cases

Before setting up the integration, identify the specific use cases you want to address. For example:

Do you want Trello cards to automatically create Jira issues?

Do you want to synchronize task statuses between the two tools?

2. Keep the Workflows Simple

Avoid overcomplicating the integration with too many rules and automations. Focus on the workflows that provide the most value to your teams.

3. Ensure Data Consistency

Make sure that the fields in Trello and Jira are mapped correctly to avoid discrepancies in task details.

4. Provide Training to Teams

Ensure that both technical and non-technical teams understand how the integration works and how to use it effectively.

5. Leverage Jira Smart Cards in Trello

Use Jira Smart Cards in Trello to display real-time updates on Jira issues. This feature allows team members to view issue details, such as status and assignee, without leaving Trello.

6. Use Trello for Brainstorming and Jira for Execution

Trello is a great tool for brainstorming and capturing ideas. Once ideas are refined, they can be turned into actionable Jira issues through the integration. This workflow keeps creativity and execution aligned.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While connecting Jira and Trello is generally straightforward, you may encounter some challenges during the process. Here are a few common issues and their solutions:

1. Authorization Errors

Problem: Users may face authorization errors when trying to connect Trello to Jira.

Solution: Ensure that users have the necessary permissions in both Jira and Trello. Double-check that the Atlassian account is linked properly.

2. Data Sync Issues

Problem: Data may not sync correctly between Jira and Trello.

Solution: Check the field mappings and ensure that both tools are using the same format for fields such as priority, status, and assignee.

3. Overlapping Workflows

Problem: Teams may create duplicate tasks or issues due to overlapping workflows.

Solution: Clearly define your workflows and ensure that tasks are only created once in either Jira or Trello to avoid duplicates.

Use Cases for Jira-Trello Integration

Here are some practical use cases for connecting Jira and Trello:

1. Marketing and Development Collaboration

Marketing teams can use Trello to plan campaigns and track content creation, while development teams use Jira to manage the technical implementation. Integration ensures that both teams stay aligned on project goals.

2. Customer Support and Bug Tracking

Customer support teams using Trello can link customer feedback or issues to Jira, where the development team can track and resolve bugs.

3. Product Roadmapping

Product managers can use Trello for high-level roadmaps and link them to Jira epics and stories for detailed development tracking.

4. Executive Reporting

Create Trello boards specifically for executive reporting by linking Jira issues to Trello cards that showcase progress, status updates, and completed tasks. This allows leadership to get a high-level overview without diving into the technical details.

Conclusion

Connecting Jira and Trello is a powerful way to enhance collaboration across your organization. Whether you use the native Power-Up, third-party tools like Zapier, or Jira Automation Rules, integrating these tools can help you streamline workflows, improve visibility, and boost productivity.

By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can ensure a seamless connection between Jira and Trello, allowing both technical and non-technical teams to work more efficiently toward shared project goals.

MicroGenesis is a leading Atlassian Platinum Partner with extensive experience in integrating Atlassian tools like Jira and Trello. Our team can help you implement these solutions effectively, ensuring your teams collaborate seamlessly and maximize productivity. Get in touch with us to simplify your project management processes and achieve your business goals.