Asana’s platform is consistently ranked as a top tool for product management, but to get the most out of Asana, most of our customers use Asana together with a number of other software tools.
As a flexible platform, Asana can be built for engineering or marketing teams, operations teams, agencies, and more. Each of these types of users manage Asana slightly differently, and are able to use Asana with their existing team or organization’s software stack.
At Velocity, we focus on Asana reporting, and many of our customers use Asana with other productivity tools, Slack, or function specific tools for marketing, design, etc.
In addition to integrations, the most effective Asana users take advantage of the Asana community’s resources and expertise.
We know that all the different forums, consultants, and integrations can sometimes be overwhelming, so we put together some resources to help you navigate the Asana ecosystem to help you get the most out of your investment in Asana.
Let us know what you think – and if we missed any of your favorite tools!
#1: Time Tracking
One of the most common questions we get is on time tracking:
- What are the best time tracking tools?
- What are the differences between common time tracking tools?
- Which one is right for my company?
In fact, this question is so common that we dedicated an entire article to it!
In short, Harvest is the only product that is embedded directly into Asana, but other 3rd party time tracking tools are very easy to use alongside Asana: TMetric, Everhour, Tick, Hubstaff, TrackingTime and more!
With each of these time tracking tools, users can track the amount of time they spend on specific Asana tasks – from within the Asana platform. From there, detailed timesheets can be created for important functions like project budgeting, client billing, invoicing, payroll, and more!
# 2: Other 3rd Party Apps
App integrations are a great way to fit Asana seamlessly into your existing workflows and everyday tools.
There’s a growing list of apps including those from Asana’s Strategic Partners like Microsoft, Adobe, and Google.
There are also a number of apps that serve a very specific purpose.
Velocity, for example, focuses on improving your team’s productivity by tracking actionable Asana metrics in dashboards and reports. (You can read here to learn more about how Velocity can be helpful for you and your team.)
An increasingly popular app across the productivity world is Zapier. Zapier + Asana allows users to connect into Zapier’s ecosystem of integrations – this means 100’s of integrations and endless possibilities!
Connecting to Zapier is easy and allows your company to create unique integrations that connect to the systems that already exist within your internal organization.
Read here for more information about Zapier + Asana.
Google’s collection of apps is also notable as most organizations use at least one of Google’s products.
In total, there are seven Google apps that can be used with Asana. Here’s the entire list of available Google apps.
While Google’s apps are relevant for a broad range of customers, some of our favorite tools are integrations into function-specific products.
For example, Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud integrations with Asana are helpful for Design teams to more efficiently collaborate and share progress.
We also love the Mailchimp and Zendesk integrations!
Whether it’s an integration with Gmail, or a tool that’s built just for your function – most Asana integrations are easy to set up and simple to use.
#3: Consultants
We hear from many customers that managing a complex Asana deployment can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially when you are just getting started with Asana.
Some of the questions we often hear:
- “How do I build the right systems and processes for my organization to get the most out of Asana?”
- “When should I use projects/tasks/subtasks/etc.? What are the best practices?”
- “How do I make sure that my entire team uses Asana regularly?”
Asana Consultants are a great way to be able to make sure your Asana is set up to be the most effective and your team is using best practices.
First, it’s important to understand the different types of Partners, the services they offer, and whether they fit with your company’s needs and budget.
- “Solutions Partners” (also known as “Value added Resellers”) are typically larger organizations that market and sell Asana in addition to other services they offer
- “Services Providers” are consulting firms or agencies that focus on offering services to Asana customers. This could include onboarding, training, best practices, etc.
- “Resellers” are authorized to sell the Asana product. They typically will take a commission based on how many Asana licenses they sell.
- “Asana Certified Pros” are independent consultants “who help multiple organizations and companies discover and learn how to use Asana.”
Each of these types of partners has different strengths, incentives, and offers different types of value.
When looking at consultants, make sure they match with your organizations needs whether it be training, implementation, onboarding, best practices, etc.
We wanted to share a few of our recommended consultants*:
- Paul Minors: Paul has a very helpful YouTube channel with a ton of great videos breaking down everything you need to know in Asana, productivity, and more.
- Todd Cavanaugh: Has been working with Asana since 2013 and is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Todd offers a number of services including a well regarded Asana Masterclass. These online courses and training workshops are a great way for your team to get trained thoroughly for Asana, without the cost of a 1 on 1 workshop.
Find the full list of an Asana Certified Prod here.
*Note: We do not receive any payment or commission for these products – we just think they are good!
#4: Templates
Templates are an effective way to leverage the best practices of those that have used Asana for similar purposes in the past.
No matter your team or function, you’ll be able to plan and manage your projects with Asana templates. From marketing, to sales, engineering, and HR, there are Asana templates for a wide range of roles that can give your team a head start and to save time.
Templana is another great resource for templates. Created and curated by Bastien Siebman, another highly regarded Asana expert, Templana has hundreds of Asana templates to choose from.
For example, if you are about to launch a website and want to create a project and tasks in Asana to stay organized through launch, this pre-built Templana template called “Ultimate Website Launch Checklist” has 76 Asana tasks already built into the template to get you started.
Although the template of your choice may not match your exact needs, it’s a good starting point when beginning a new project in Asana.
#5: Online Communities
Lastly, online communities are a great way to learn new information about Asana and connect with other Asana customers.
The online Asana Community Forum is an online community where Asana teams interact directly with customers. Moderated by Asana, this forum is used for Asana to announce new products and receive feedback. It’s also a place where customers can share tips and tricks, and learn best practices.
This Asana LinkedIn group is a place for Asana users and Experts to join together and exchange tips and tricks.
It’s a newer group, but with almost 200 members, you’ll be able to discuss your questions with Asana world experts and receive any help you need.
Moderators of the group include Asana Ambassadors, Asana Solution Partners, Asana Forum Leader, and former Asana Certified Pros.
As you can see, the Asana ecosystem provides endless opportunities to expand upon the core Asana product.
From using an Asana template, to joining an online community, there are many ways to enhance your knowledge and get the most out of your investment in Asana!
As always, if you have any questions – we’re here to help: [email protected]