Issue tracking has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. When you look at it from a business perspective, issue tracking software is a tool that allows you to manage requests of an unpredictable nature that may occur in the day-to-day running of your business. From a software development angle, an issue tracker is used to manage product defects that are identified internally or reported externally and see to their efficient resolution.
No matter how you define it, the goal of using issue tracking software is to ensure that issues are correctly reported, well documented, and resolved in the most efficient way possible. There are a lot of free and paid solutions that offer this promise. But these issue tracking platforms vary in terms of the features they offer and how efficiently they help resolve the problem. This is why you must choose a solution that is just perfect for your business.
Bug tracking software is designed to simplify the process of reporting, recording, and prioritizing issues. It is also a valuable communication tool that can be used to track an individual’s bandwidth and simplify their work. This optimizes the issue resolution process and boosts the overall efficiency of your product development team.
The following are some of the key benefits of using an issue tracking platform.
An issue tracking platform serves as a centralized database that gives all your issues greater visibility. Everyone can see the status of each defect being addressed and know their status at every point in time. This ensures that nothing is missed and all issues are duly resolved.
Workflows are crucial to resolving issues effectively. When product defects are reported, they need to be assigned to a specialist or team that will manage them and see to their resolution. In some cases, multiple individuals need to work on resolving issues. An issue tracking system makes it easier to manage complex issues and make systemic changes without too much trouble.
The issue tracking process generates data that can be subject to advanced analysis to get valuable insights. An issue tracking platform ensures that the data generated by the bug tracking process is used to identify potential issues and make the product more efficient.
The ultimate goal of bug tracking is to improve processes and deliver better-performing products. Although it is nearly impossible to eliminate all defects, an efficient issue tracking tool will aid defect resolution and reduce the bugs in your software product and ensure a great product experience.
Developing defect-free products is crucial to satisfying your customers and meeting their every need. Using issue tracking software ensures that all user complaints are prioritized based on severity and duly attended to. It also helps in resolving issues as quickly as possible, telling customers that their complaints are seen and that they are important to your business.
So how do you select the right issue tracking solution for you considering the fact that there are several options available? It is impossible to try every bug tracking software out there. However, there are some essential features that the issue tracking solution you’re going for a must at least have.
Looking out for these features will guide the process of choosing the right one for you.
Your issue tracking platform should allow you to open as many tickets as possible and manage them seamlessly. Depending on the nature of your product and the number of issues, you may have to handle hundreds of tickets per day with numerous teams and individuals interacting to resolve them. An issue tracking system should be built to handle a high volume and scale with your business.
Every organization works differently—and every organization uses feature sets that are different from others. Your bug tracking tool should have the basic feature sets that match the specific needs of your organization. It does not need to have all the features that come with an enterprise solution, but it should at least have the core features that meet your most important needs.
Resolving bug issues often involves collaboration between various individuals and teams within your organization. One of the most important things that your issue tracking platform must do is to simplify this as much as possible. Issues can easily become mixed-up or confused if task routing is not efficient. Some bugs may end up under the radar or you may end up with duplicate tasks being managed by multiple people which is a waste of valuable resources.
The default version of your issue tracking solution may not fit your company perfectly. However, with some minor adjustments, you should end up with a tool that is suitable for your specific needs. While some solutions claim to be easy to customize, that might not always be the case. Having an easily customizable solution reduces the burden on the IT team and eliminates the need for external intervention.
In some cases, resolving issues might require integration with other tools with functions that are not traditionally available on the software you use. This is why your bug tracking tool should offer seamless integrations that help to extend its functionality.
Choosing the right issue tracking platform that best suits your business can be quite a challenge. There are so many factors to consider. Hopefully, the tips discussed above are able to help you arrive at the best possible solution for your issue tracking needs.
As a cloud-based issue tracking platform, Kissflow Workflow makes it easy to track bugs throughout their life cycles. This customizable platform helps you create flexible case workflows, investigate root causes, and resolve them quickly and efficiently.
In short, if you’re looking for a powerful tool that makes bug tracking as seamless as possible, Kissflow Workflow is the solution for you. Try it for free.