Time Tracking - How to automate ?

[JiraLearner]

Hi Everyone,

Is it possible to automate time tracking with JIRA without using a 3rd party tool ?

I know if you enable time tracking system field, then user has an option to LOG Work. But i am trying to create a report where it will show original estimate ( Manual input), with the actual time Spent (Maybe based on ticket status ? or start / end date)

Make fields Mandatory ? Any 3rd party tool that is free and able to calculate the information ?

We are using JIRA PLANS and Structure by Tempo on reporting

Thanks

[Gizem Gökçe _OBSS_ · Accepted solution]

Hello @JiraLearner ,

Many teams struggle when users forget to log their work, so it is wise to use a reporting system that tracks how long issues remain assigned to individuals or measures the time spent on each status. This method will help you forecast effort and productivity.

To track the time spent on each status and each assignee, I suggest using a third-party app. Timepiece - Time in Status for Jira ,the oldest and leading "Time in Status" app in Atlassian Marketplace, developed by my team at OBSS, offers several report types that will meet your needs. Our app is available for both Jira Cloud and Data Center.

Timepiece allows you to see how much time each issue spent on each status or assignee. By adding original estimates or story point estimates to your reports, you can easily compare actual results with the estimated ones. .

Status Duration report which shows how much time each issue spent on each status. 

Assignee Duration report which shows how much time each assignee spent on each issue. 

If you want a combination of these two you can use Assignee Duration per Status or Status Duration per Assignee reports.

The app calculates its reports using already existing Jira issue histories so when you install the app, you don't need to add anything to your issue workflows and you can get reports on your past issues as well.

Visit Timepiece - Time in Status for Jira to experience the full range of features. If you wish, you can also schedule a live demo. We will provide a comprehensive overview of the application and address any inquiries you may have.

Hope it helps,

Gizem

[JiraLearner]

@Gizem Gökçe _OBSS_  Do you know if this can be integrated with Structure by tempo ?

[Gizem Gökçe _OBSS_]

@JiraLearner to answer this, can you clarify your expectation a bit? Do you want to extract data from Timepiece and put it into Structure by Tempo? Or do you want to create reports on Timepiece using the data from Structure by Tempo? If you could give some details about your exact need, it will be easier for me to guide you.

[JiraLearner]

Extract data from Timepiece and put into Structure by Tempo

[Gizem Gökçe _OBSS_]

@JiraLearner Yes, Timepiece has a REST API, so you can pull data from it and use this data within other tools. While we don’t have in-depth knowledge of Structure by Tempo’s specific setup, you might find useful guidance on the process in Tempo's support page here. Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!

[Vitalii_Bobak_SaaSJet · Accepted solution]

 Hi @JiraLearner  😊

To automate time tracking in Jira without using third-party tools, there are some native options, though they may have limitations.

1. Built-In Time Tracking ⏱️

Jira provides basic time-tracking capabilities via the time tracking system field. Users can manually log work to track the original estimate and time spent. However, generating reports that automatically calculate time spent based on status changes (e.g., moving from “In Progress” to “Done”) isn’t possible natively. 

For more details, refer to Jira's documentation on configuring time tracking: Atlassian

And if you will be open to exploring third-party tools, Time in Status can fill these gaps for you! 💼

• Automated Time Tracking Based on Status

  Time in Status captures the time each issue spends in specific statuses, so you can view the time from start to finish without manual input. It can automatically calculate cycle time, lead time, and other custom metrics, helping you build reports on actual time spent compared to the original estimate.

• Detailed Reports & Data Exports 📈

  You can easily export these reports, making it easy to share and analyze time-tracking data across teams or in other reporting tools.

 

Add-on developed by my team.
Hope this helps! 😄

[JiraLearner]

@Vitalii_Bobak_SaaSJet  do you know if this can be integrated with JIRA STRUCTURE by tempo ?

[Vitalii_Bobak_SaaSJet]

@JiraLearner 

Absolutely, but it depends on what you're aiming to accomplish.

I'm here to assist in any way I can. Could you share a bit more about your goal?

For example, are you trying to transfer data from Time in Status to Structure by Tempo, or is there another outcome you're hoping for?

Thank you so much!

[Gracjan Wesołowski _HeroCoders_]

Hi @JiraLearner 

If you would change your mind and would like to use a third-party app, I can recommend our Clockwork Automated Time Tracking & Timesheets Pro or a Free app that has an automatic time-tracking feature. When automated timers are enabled, Clockwork will log the time for an assignee when an issue is in an active status.

It also considers users working hours to make sure that the logged time is accurate.

Automatic timers ensure that all work is logged without users having to take any actions.

It might fit well in your case. If you have any questions, let me know.

Cheers!

Gracjan

[Doreen Undiri]

Hi @JiraLearner 

I believe you can automate some aspects of time tracking in Jira without using a 3rd-party tool, though it’s somewhat limited.

If you enable the Time Tracking system field, users can log work and enter the Original Estimate manually.

For tracking actual time spent, you can set up automation rules to capture timestamps when an issue moves between statuses (like In Progress and Done) using fields for start and end dates; although, this won’t fully replace detailed time logging.

Making time tracking fields mandatory isn’t natively supported, but you can enforce some requirements using workflow validators.

I hope this was helpful 

---

Dd

[Madhu_RVS]

Hi @JiraLearner 

Another option could be to use a mktplace app. If you would be interested in the same, you can try out our app 

Time in Status Reports 

The below report will suffice the requirement. Also with this app you will be able to track time time in status for multiple issues with multiple filter and grouping options. So if your team does not enter time spent values, this app will track issues time against each status workflow.

More details here.

Disclaimer : I work for the vendor who built this app