For many development teams, standard Redmine provides a solid foundation for issue tracking. However, as companies scale and workflows become more sophisticated, the "vanilla" version often hits functional limits. .
Austrian technology company dataCycle found themselves at this exact crossroads. Their technical operations demanded advanced planning tools, while their sales processes required tighter integration with the project environment.
We spoke with Johannes Zlattinger, CTO of dataCycle, to learn how they used RedmineUP plugins to bridge the gap between static project management and dynamic business needs.
Key Takeaways
- The Problem: Vanilla Redmine lacks native CRM and advanced prioritization, leading to data silos between sales and development.
- The Solution: RedmineUP plugins (Agile and CRM) closed the gap without forcing a costly platform migration.
- The Result: A symbiotic relationship between customer management and project execution—where CRM data informs development priorities, and Agile boards visualize progress for sales teams—all within Redmine.
The challenge: the gaps in 'Vanilla' Redmine
While standard Redmine served as a reliable backbone, it lacked two critical dimensions required for modern operations.
Johannes Zlattinger
CTO of dataCycle Before using your plugins, we found standard Redmine quite limited in terms of advanced project planning. The lack of native CRM features made it difficult to manage customer-related data within our project workflows.
For dataCycle, managing client data separately from technical execution was creating friction and inefficiency.
The solution: closing the functional gap
When searching for a solution, dataCycle didn't want to rip and replace their existing setup. They needed tools that felt native to their environment.
The RedmineUP Agile plugin transforms standard Redmine issues into a dynamic, visual workflow. It provides drag-and-drop Scrum and Kanban boards, 11+ Agile charts (like Burndown and Velocity), and sprint planning tools, giving teams the flexibility to manage projects without leaving the Redmine environment.
The RedmineUP CRM plugin transforms Redmine into a centralized customer relationship hub. It allows teams to manage contacts and companies, track all communication history, and visualize sales pipelines—all within the same environment where technical work gets done. This eliminates data silos between sales and development teams.
We tested RedmineUP's plugins first, and since they met our functional requirements and integrated seamlessly, we saw no need to explore further alternatives.
The implementation of the RedmineUP plugin stack immediately addressed the two core gaps:
- Agile Visualization: Bringing flexibility to project planning.
- Native CRM: Centralizing client data within the project ecosystem.
Both the Agile and CRM plugins rank among RedmineUP's most popular and widely adopted solutions.
The transformation: a visual and centralized workflow
Since the implementation, the change in daily operations at dataCycle has been dramatic.
Our workflow has become much more visual and centralized. The team now handles the majority of their planning through Agile task boards, a tool they utilize extensively across the organization.
Simultaneously, the CRM plugin has eliminated data silos.
We have successfully migrated our CRM data and deal management into Redmine.
The favorite feature: sequential prioritization
When asked about the most impactful feature, Johannes points to the granular control offered by the Agile Task Board.
My favorite feature is the Agile Task Board due to the flexibility it brings to our project planning. Specifically, the ability to use sequential prioritization is a game-changer for us. It aligns with our internal workflows much better than traditional categorical priorities (like low, medium, or high), as it allows for a clear, ordered execution of tasks.
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The measurable impact: a foundational enabler
Quantifying the exact ROI of better software can sometimes be difficult, but the qualitative impact is undeniable.
While hard ROI is difficult to calculate, the most significant metric is capability. The plugins enabled a new operational workflow that was technically impossible to execute with standard Redmine, allowing dataCycle to take on more complex technical projects.
What dataCycle still wants from Redmine
Even with a successful setup, dataCycle continues to think about the future. Johannes highlights two specific improvements he would love to see, which reflect a deep understanding of the software's potential:
- Refined task prioritization: The ability to prioritize tasks locally within a project without disrupting the global issue order.
- Expanded pricing fields in deals: To better track financials, Johannes suggests adding fields for recurring revenue.
Our business model often involves at least two distinct prices: an initial setup price and a recurring price. Having dedicated fields would allow for much more accurate financial tracking.
Ready to simplify your Redmine experience?
The story of dataCycle is a classic example of a company outgrowing standard software limitations. By leveraging RedmineUP’s Agile and CRM plugins, they transformed Redmine from a simple issue tracker into a central hub for both project execution and customer management.
A big thank you to Johannes Zlattinger, for sharing his valuable insights! We wish him a stable and robust work.
Are you struggling with the limits of standard Redmine? Explore our plugins today and start your own transformation.
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