Jira and the Rise of Spreadsheet-Like Interfaces

Atlassian’s Jira is a remarkably robust tool for issue tracking and project management; however, its user interface isn't always considered the most intuitive. Conversely, spreadsheets have become a widely accepted standard for managing diverse aspects of business operations.

Consequently, it’s unsurprising that several tools have emerged to provide a spreadsheet-like perspective on Jira projects or to integrate it with platforms like Google Sheets.

Introducing JXL Spreadsheets for Jira

The newest addition to this landscape is JXL Spreadsheets for Jira (specifically, Jira Cloud). This tool was created by Daniel Franz and Hannes Obweger, both former employees of Atlassian.

Reflecting a current trend, Atlassian Ventures invested in JXL earlier in the year.

The Founders’ Backgrounds

Prior to joining Atlassian, Franz developed the Good News news reader. Obweger previously established Radiant Minds Software, the company behind Portfolio for Jira, which was later acquired by Atlassian.

Image Credits: JXL

The Core Problem JXL Addresses

“Jira’s success stems from its capabilities,” Franz explained. “Its versatility and high degree of customization are key. I’ve observed users accomplishing a vast range of tasks with it.

Interacting with customers at Atlassian revealed the incredible ways they utilize Jira for tracking. However, it’s rare to hear someone describe Jira as particularly pleasant or easy to use.”

Jira’s Opinionated Approach and Data Silos

Franz pointed out that Jira, by design, imposes a specific methodology on its users. This often leads to users exporting issue data to generate reports and visualizations.

However, any modifications made to this exported data are not automatically reflected back within Jira, creating a data synchronization issue. Spreadsheets, despite their simplicity, offer significant flexibility, a quality even Atlassian acknowledges.

Atlassian’s Own Moves Towards Spreadsheet Views

The new Jira Work Management, currently in beta, incorporates a spreadsheet-like view. Similarly, Trello recently adopted this approach with a major update released earlier this year.

Image Credits: JXL

JXL’s Beta Usage and Customer Base

During its three-month beta period, the JXL team observed users constructing a variety of solutions, including cross-project portfolio management, sprint planning tools, backlog maintenance systems, timesheets, and inventory management solutions.

Franz also noted that JXL has already secured several large clients, including one with a 7,000-user license.

Pricing Structure

JXL’s pricing is competitive, beginning at $1 per team for up to 10 users. Larger teams are charged on a per-user/month basis, with costs decreasing to $0.45/user/month for licenses exceeding 5,000 seats.

A free trial is also available.

Technical Implementation and Data Security

The company’s pricing model is enabled by a streamlined backend architecture. Customer data is not stored on JXL’s servers.

Instead, it operates directly through Jira’s APIs, ensuring real-time synchronization of changes between the two platforms.

Availability and Future Development

JXL is now accessible in the Atlassian Marketplace, and the team is actively expanding its workforce to further develop the product and utilize its recent funding.