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A Successful Transition to Backlog at ITmedia

ITmedia, a public web media company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is renowned for its expertise in technology, business, and IT-related information. With popular media platforms like "ITmedia NEWS" and "@IT" in the BtoB space, and "ITmedia PC USER" and "ねとらぼ" for BtoC, the company has established a significant foothold in the industry.

For over 20 years, ITmedia relied on a legacy task management tool. While it had served the company well, increasing difficulty in tracking deadlines, responsibilities, and progress became apparent. With notifications limited to emails, many tasks went unnoticed, leading to delays in responses. To address these concerns, ITmedia conducted a survey among users of the existing tool, identifying key pain points.

As a result, the company began evaluating multiple task management solutions, ultimately opting for Backlog, developed by Nulab. Key factors influencing this decision included the cost-effectiveness of maintaining the same pricing for additional users and the potential for a smoother transition with minimized learning curves. An initial trial phase was launched, starting with routine tasks before expanding to more complex projects across various departments. By April 2025, ITmedia formally transitioned to using Backlog.

Implementing Backlog within ITmedia

Gradual Trials to Enhance Adoption

In the initial stages of implementing Backlog, ITmedia focused on small-scale trials involving routine tasks. Feedback from staff was continually gathered through post-trial surveys, ensuring that the platform was meeting their needs. To ease any apprehensions about the new tool, the company developed comprehensive manuals and FAQs tailored for different departments.

Streamlining Processes with Templates

Previously, employees often needed to communicate back and forth regarding missing information in requests. Transitioning to Backlog allowed ITmedia to create standardized templates for common tasks, such as constructing new pages or improving existing ones. These templates clearly defined necessary elements such as material availability and timelines, significantly reducing the need for follow-up communication.

Revolutionized Notification System

By integrating Backlog’s API with Google Sheets, ITmedia developed an automated notification system. This method alerts teams to tasks lacking designated responsible parties or those overdue, provided through the company’s chat tool. This proactive approach to task management resulted in the elimination of 133 lingering tasks that had not been updated for over a year.

Feedback from ITmedia Staff

Hamada, an associate from the Media and Technology Headquarters' Product Development Group, shared insights on their current usage of Backlog. "We utilize the Backlog AI Assistant for our weekly task reviews. It helps filter tasks that lack start or due dates and presents them with suggested dates. This function has proven immensely effective, allowing us to bulk-set deadlines based on recommendations."

Since the official adoption of Backlog, interest in the platform has grown across departments, with requests emerging from areas initially outside the focus. Originally intended for managing requests from business units to headquarters, Backlog’s versatility led to discussions about incorporating it for internal task management in engineering departments.

About Backlog

Backlog is a collaborative project and task management tool designed for teams. It supports task management and information sharing through features like issue tracking, Gantt charts, and documentation, enabling teams to manage progress and role distribution effectively.
https://backlog.com/ja

About Nulab Inc.

Nulab is a tech company headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan. Founded by Masanori Hashimoto, the company's mission is to enhance productivity and collaboration through innovative software solutions. For more information:
Corporate Website: https://nulab.com
Careers: https://careers.nulab.com