Workflow vs. Automation: When to Use What in Jira

Workflows or automation - which one should you use in Jira? In this episode of All Things Atlassian, we, Björn Döhler - CO-CEO from re:solution & Dave Wünsch - Partner Manager from Decadis, break down the key differences between Jira workflows and Atlassian automation, including the latest updates to the new workflow editor (2025) and evolving automation capabilities. You’ll learn: • What workflows and automations actually do • The pros and cons of each • When to use workflows to control lifecycle and enforce compliance • When automation is better for cross-project actions, integrations, and notifications • How to combine both for scalable, future-proof processes Whether you’re a Jira admin, power user, or Atlassian partner, this episode gives you practical rules of thumb to make smarter configuration decisions and avoid common pitfalls like hitting automation quotas. Workflows build the skeleton. Automation acts as the nervous system. Learn how to use both effectively.