Jira Workflows vs Automation – Which One Should You Use? (2026)

Jira Workflows vs Automation — Which one should you actually use? In this episode of All Things Atlassian, Björn Döhler (CO-CEO, re:solution) and Dave Wünsch (Partner Manager, Decadis) break down the key differences, when to use each, and how to combine both for scalable, future-proof Jira 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.In this episode, you'll learn:- What Jira workflows and Atlassian automation actually do- The pros and cons of each approach- When workflows are best for lifecycle control and compliance- When automation wins for cross-project actions, integrations, and notifications- How to combine workflows and automation together- What's new in the Jira workflow editor- How to avoid hitting Atlassian automation execution quotasChapters:00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:49 Episode Topic Overview02:25 What Is a Jira Workflow03:17 New Workflow Editor Updates06:48 What Is Jira Automation07:46 Automation Features and Limits11:16 Workflow Pros and Cons16:36 Automation Pros and Cons24:08 When to Use Which30:23 Who Can Edit What32:50 Final TakeawaysAbout All Things Atlassian:A podcast by re:solution and friends, covering everything Jira, Confluence, and the Atlassian ecosystem — from admin tips to partner insights.This episode is sponsored by User Manager & License Optimizer for Jira & Confluence by re:solution - centralized user management, automated license cleanup, and up to 30% cost savings across your Atlassian Cloud. Try it free: https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/1211109/user-management-and-license-optimizer-for-jira-confluence#Jira #JiraWorkflow #JiraAutomation #Atlassian #JiraAdmin #JiraTutorial #AtlassianAutomation #ProjectManagement