How to group projects by client (besides project category)?

Question

Hello,

We are using company-managed projects in Jira Software.

We already use project categories to group our projects by product (e.g., Product A, Product B, Product C). However, we often have multiple projects for the same client, sometimes even two simultaneous projects under the same product.

Our goal is to find a simple way to group projects by client, regardless of the product.

The reason is:
We use Tempo Timesheets, and each team member logs time on Jira issues. At the end of the month, we want to report the total time logged per client — but since a client can have multiple projects (across different products), we currently have no clean way to group by client.

The only workaround we found is to create manual Jira filters like “All Client A projects”, but of course this isn’t dynamic:

* If a new project starts for Client A, we need to manually update the filter

* And since we have many clients and new projects regularly, it quickly becomes a mess to maintain.

Currently, project category is the only grouping option we see at the project level.
Is there any better way — native or via marketplace apps — to associate multiple projects with a client, so we can use that info in filters, dashboards, and Tempo?

Thanks a lot!

Dmitry Astapkovich _Colined_ · Answer

Hi @Florent Plomb ,

Sorry for a side question but do you really need a newly created separate project every time? Would it be possible to work in Epic or work items of higher level?

Mary from Planyway · Answer

Hi @Florent Plomb

I can show you the way to set it up in the visual manner through roadmap.
If you consider third-party apps, you can test Planyway for Jira, which is a roadmap, time tracking and capacity planning all in one.

You can connect multiple projects to a single roadmap either in the Portfolio view grouped by Jira projects (or group by teams, users, epics or components). It will simplify the planning part. Then, there is also built-in time tracking and reporting fully synced with Jira so that you can make reports for clients across multiple project. Received data can be exported to Excel as well.

In case it seems helpful, we're happy to jump on a call to set the right scenario for your Jira settings:)

Mit Tolia · Answer

Hello @Florent Plomb

Out of the box, you can only have one Project Category per project — so you can't use both product and client categories natively. Even there is no ability to have a “Client” field or metadata tag at the project level.

In order for you to group Jira projects by client, regardless of the product or project category, in a way that is: Dynamic (auto-updated when new projects are added), Usable in JQL filters, Tempo reports, and dashboards and Easy to maintain (avoiding manual filter updates), you are looking at potentially the below options

Option 1: Custom Field Workaround (Issue-Level)

Add a custom field like Client Name (single-select or label-type).

Add this to all issue screens.

Use automation to populate the field based on project (e.g., "If issue is created in Project X, set Client = Client A").

Then you can run JQL like: "Client Name" = "Client A"

Caveat - This does require ensuring that you are updating the automation rules every time a new Jira project gets created though

* Option 2: Explore & leverage marketplace apps like Projectrak (formerly Profields) * You would need to do your own due diligence, though and validate; to determine if apps like these provide the required RoI and the business problem you are trying to solve, but it seems that apps like this (& there could be many more similar to this on Atlassian marketplace - https://marketplace.atlassian.com/) allows for creation of project level fields like "client" & also provides JQL extensions to query the project level metadata

Hope this is helpful & gives you some options to play with