8 items to assess before a Jira Service Management implementation

Whether you’re transitioning from another platform or starting fresh with a service desk solution, optimizing your service delivery processes might involve choosing a Jira Service Management implementation.

Regardless of your organization’s process complexity, certain configurations in JSM are essential for effective service management. Core elements such as request types, workflows, SLAs, and automation are essential to aligning Jira with your operations. 

The key to a successful implementation is mapping and understanding your current processes, even if you plan to evolve them. Knowing where your organization stands today helps create a clear roadmap for where you want to go. This approach ensures a smooth transition for admins and customers, allowing incremental improvements without overwhelming the team. By clearly defining the current state, we can configure Jira to meet immediate needs while laying the groundwork for future growth and process refinement.

Here are some key questions you can answer to help guide your implementation effectively.

Get familiar with your current tools and processes

1. How does your service management process work today?
Whether you’re using a formal platform like Zendesk or Freshdesk, managing requests via email, or relying on Google Forms or spreadsheets, understanding your process is key to configuring the best Jira structure for your needs. 

2. What categories of requests do you handle (IT, HR, finance, etc.)?
Categorizing the requests helps define how tickets are routed and prioritized. This decision also impacts whether to use one consolidated Jira project or separate projects for each department. A single project can streamline management, while multiple projects allow more granular control.

3. How is the structure of your requests?
When users submit tickets, do they provide a free description or are they required to complete a structured form? Having this information mapped allows for a more assertive implementation.

Understand your team structure and permissions

1. How is your team structured?
Identify the roles within your service management team, such as agents, managers, and admins. Are agents divided into specific teams?

2. How escalations are handled?
Do you have defined escalation paths for more complex or high-priority tickets? For instance, does a ticket escalate from a frontline agent to a senior technician or manager if it’s unresolved within a certain timeframe? 

Organize your service catalog

Do you already have a service catalog in place?
If your organization has an existing service catalog, it’s essential to map out the services provided (e.g., IT support, HR requests, or facility management). If you don’t have one, now is a good time to define the services your teams offer. A well-organized service catalog helps structure request types, workflows, and automation, ensuring users can easily find and request the services they need.

Set Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and priorities

What SLAs do you currently use (if any)?
Do you have specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in place for response and resolution times? Many organizations set different SLAs based on ticket priority or request type. 

What are your priority categories?
How do you prioritize tickets? Are they categorized as critical, high, medium, or low? 

Prepare for data migration

What volume of historical data needs to be migrated (tickets, users)?
Determine the amount of historical data, such as old tickets and user information, that needs to be transferred to Jira Service Management. This can include tickets from previous service desk platforms, customer interactions, and agent records. 

What needs to be migrated (custom fields, attachments, etc.)?
Do you need to migrate custom fields, attachments, or other specific data? Identifying key fields such as ticket categories, and attachments can simplify the data migration process.

Settle what needs to be integrated into Jira

What third-party tools do you currently use (Slack, Confluence, monitoring tools)?
Common tools include Slack for team communication, Confluence for documentation, and monitoring tools for tracking system performance. 

What current integrations need to be recreated in Jira Service Management?
Identify which existing integrations (communication, documentation, monitoring) need to be recreated in Jira Service Management to ensure continuity.

Do you need to integrate with an Identity Provider (IdP) for authentication (e.g., Okta, Azure AD)?
If your organization uses an Identity Provider (IdP) for single sign-on or user management you will need to incorporate it to Jira.

Track your assets

Do you track and manage assets? What types of assets need to be included?
If your organization manages assets (e.g., hardware, software, facilities), it’s important to define what types of assets need to be tracked in Jira Service Management. This could include laptops, servers, software licenses, or office equipment.

Incorporate your reports and dashboards

What metrics do you need to track (ticket resolution time, customer satisfaction)?
Understanding which key performance indicators (KPIs) are important for your service management operations helps tailor reports in JSM. Common KPIs include ticket resolution time, first response time, and customer satisfaction scores.

What existing reporting tools do you use?
Are you currently using any reporting tools, and do they need to integrate with Jira? 

While implementing Jira Service Management can be complex, the right approach can make the process much smoother. By understanding your unique needs and addressing each step with care, from workflows to team structures, the transition becomes effortless. With the right partnership and guidance, what may seem challenging at first can turn into a streamlined and efficient implementation.