TPG PSLink® – A Leading Middleware Product for Multi-Directional Data Sharing in the Project Management Environment

Many companies have a major need for integration to enable data sharing between Jira and project management tools like Microsoft PPM or Planisware as well as ERP systems like SAP. The first of these cases is based on detailing the project’s work packages (e.g. Sprints) in Jira. From the organizational perspective, this requires an interface between project managers on the one hand and team leaders, Scrum Masters, development teams and Product Owners on the other.

In the second case, ERP integration mainly consists of entering the amount of actual work performed and charging it accordingly. This is illustrated by the use cases described below. Many others could be envisaged.

For over 25 years, TPG PSLink has been a proven middleware product for the data exchange between different enterprise systems. It also supports a bidirectional integration with Jira. The product’s high configurability ensures that this middleware is implemented very quickly.

YOUR BENEFITS

Benefits of the Integration of Jira with SAP, Microsoft PPM, Planisware etc.

  • All staff work with the system that is best for their role (= high level of acceptance)
  • Up-to-date information facilitates decision-making for team leaders, product owners, project managers, financial controllers and management
  • No need to enter the same data several times
  • Data consistency across all systems involved
  • Basis for meaningful reports
  • Can be adapted to a company’s individual processes

Use Case 1:
Integration of Jira with Microsoft PPM or Planisware

In this scenario, the portfolio and project management activities are carried out in Microsoft Project Server or Project Online. The projects are planned down to the level of work packages (often called Sprints in Jira). Using TPG PSLink, work packages can be transferred to Jira and automatically structured into Versions, Epics and / or Issues.

The head of development, the Scrum Master and the Product Owner are now able to plan in more detail based on the imported structure. They can use all the Jira tools including workflows, Scrum boards and work logs (for time reporting) for detailed planning and progress monitoring.

As part of project management, the project manager must be regularly updated on the progress of all deliverables. To do this, the project manager needs both the progress in terms of completion and the information about the effort recorded up to date. With the appropriate maintenance, both can be delivered to Jira automatically .

For standard projects, it can be useful to use standardized Issues for task planning. These should not be entered anew each time but can ideally be imported. SharePoint is an excellent way to easily maintain a list of Issues per Project Type. With TPG PSLink, this list can be transferred to Jira for new projects at the push of a button.

Customer Feedback

“With the Microsoft PPM solution, we now have full control over resource utilization, and planning our development projects works much better. For instance, the integration via TPG PSLink transfers the actual hours from Jira to PPM. Thus, the remaining work in the project, as estimated by the team members themselves, becomes clearly visible.”

Arjan van Wijk, Sr. Project Manager, SKIDATA GmbH

Use Case 2:
Integration of Jira with SAP

If portfolio and project management is carried out in an ERP system like SAP, the integration scenario will be similar to that described in Use Case 1 above. In other words, the rough planning is carried out in SAP PS or PPM, while Jira is used for detailed planning and the execution of the work packages.

A further important point here is timesheet synchronization. In this process, the work logs are transferred from Jira to SAP CATS or to SAP for cost allocation.

Use Case 3:
Integration of Jira, SAP, SharePoint, PPM System

In most cases, the integration will cover several different systems. It often includes the use of:

  • SAP for budget planning and cost allocation
  • PPM system and SharePoint for portfolio and project management as well as for centralized time tracking
  • Jira for sprint planning, task management, issue tracking, workflow management and status monitoring

    The integration enables the following data sharing processes:

    • SAP <> PPM system / SharePoint: structures, costs, budgets
    • PPM system / SharePoint <> Jira: work packages to Versions / Epics / Issues
    • SAP <> PPM system <> Jira: booking of Jira work logs and Microsoft Project or Planisware reports to SAP CATS or to SAP for cost allocation

    Synchronization of Information from Jira

    Jira Objects         Data Sharing
    Epics
    • Create, Read, Update, Delete
    • All fields
    Issues
    • Create, Read, Update, Delete
    • All fields
    Work Logs
    • Read (update actions are technically possible too)

    Comprehensive Configuration Options and Verification Mechanisms

    TPG PSLink® ensures the consistency of data being shared across the systems involved.

    Compatibility: 

    • Microsoft Project Server 2019
    • Microsoft Project Server 2016
    • Microsoft Project Server 2013 
    • Microsoft Project Online
    • Planisware Enterprise
    • Planisware Orchestra
    • Microsoft SharePoint 2019
    • Microsoft SharePoint 2016
    • Microsoft SharePoint 2013
    • Microsoft SharePoint Online
    • Atlassian Jira 6.2x or later
    • SAP ERP and SAP PPM
    • TPG CoReSuite
    • TPG ProjectPowerPack

    Common questions regarding TPG PSLink middleware

    Find answers here

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