Unified Excellence in Streamlining Engineering Workflows Across Acquired Divisions with Codebeamer

No Controlled Sync Trigger Mechanism

Teams needed selective synchronisation; not every Codebeamer Epic should flow into ADO. The absence of a configurable sync-trigger field (such as “ADO Sync”) meant all-or-nothing integration, which was unacceptable for the company’s phased delivery model.

Risk of Unwanted Data Modification

Fields like Start Date, Target Date, and Efforts were to be managed in ADO and synced back. Without proper field-level governance, engineers risked overwriting authoritative ADO data from Codebeamer, or vice versa, causing inconsistency.

Test Entity Sync with Hierarchy

Test Suites in ADO needed to map to Test Sets in Codebeamer while preserving the hierarchy. Test Runs and Test Results also had to synchronise as Test Runs in Codebeamer, adding another layer of multi-directional complexity.

Link Update Detection Limitations

Neither Codebeamer nor ADO updates an entity’s “last modified” timestamp when only links or references change. This made it impossible to detect and propagate link updates (e.g., “Tests” relationships) without additional custom automation.

The OIM Solution

Execution Ready ADO Pipeline

A custom ADO Sync flag in Codebeamer ensures Epics only flow into Azure DevOps when they hit “Ready to Develop” state, keeping the execution pipeline clean and intentional.

No Disruption to Ongoing Work 

Bi-directional sync for Epics and Stories, unidirectional for Features and Test entities, this was structured exactly around how the company’s teams author and own work, with no duplication or rework.

Hierarchy & Parent-links Intact

Feature’s parent in ADO translated to a “Satisfies” link in Codebeamer. The same logic applied to User Stories, ensuring architectural traceability is never lost during sync.

Full Test Visibility in Codebeamer

Test Cases created in ADO were synced to Codebeamer as Software Tests. Test Suites mapped to Test Sets (with hierarchy preserved). Delivering end-to-end test traceability across both platforms.

Clear Data Ownership Across Systems

OlM ensured that Start Date, Target Date, and Efforts are governed exclusively in ADO and synced back to Codebeamer. Without any conflicting edits or overwriting.

All Link Changes Preserved

When links are added or removed in ADO, a custom rule would trigger OIM to pick up the change, so relationship updates always propagate across both systems.

 

Integration Architecture

Integration Execution

Discovery (Ecosystem audit)

• Full Infrastructure audit
• Mapping of instances
• Custom field requirements defined
• Entity hierarchy documented

Strategy (Tailored Design)

• Sync direction per entity type defined
• ADO Sync trigger logic architected
• Entity model mapping finalised
• Bi-directional sync mapping

Implementation (OIM Deployment)

• OIM deployed on SPKAA-managed Ubuntu + Windows infrastructure
• CB -ADO connectors configured and validated
• Custom ADO rules deployed
• Test & Production instances configured in parallel

Validation (Compliance check)

• Sync verified across all entities
• Hierarchy preservation confirmed
• Test entity sync and link propagation validated
• Stakeholder sign-off obtained

 

Integration Scope

Codebeamer

• Role in Integration: Central Hub
• Sync Type: Bi-directional (Epics, User Stories)
• Change Traceability: End-to-End
• Deployment Type: On-Premises + Cloud
• Connected Entity Types: Requirements, Test cases, Epics, Features, Test runs

Integration Summary

• Total Tools Integrated: 2
• OIM Hosting:  SPKAA-managed Ubuntu + Windows
• Database: PostgreSQL 16.2

Engagement Outcomes

• 2 tools connected via digital thread
• 0 Manual compliance consolidation effort
• 100% change traceability across all systems
• 0 ​​disruption to ongoing workflows

Before integration

• Both tools operating as isolated silos
• Manual effort to keep work item hierarchies aligned 
• Test entity lifecycle managed separately
• Risk of unintended field overwrites between tools

After integration

• Unified digital thread across Codebeamer and Azure Devops
• Only approved Epics move into Azure DevOps for development
• Epic – Feature → Story hierarchy preserved across systems
• Link and traceability updates sync automatically

OIM Capabilities Leveraged

Bi-directional sync

• Both uni-directional and bi-directional integration between Codebeamer and Azure Devops
• Ensures any change in any tool is reflected across both tools in real-time

Hierarchy preservation

• Parent-child relationships translated across both systems
• Maintains Epic – Feature – Story traceability

Test entity lifecycle sync

• Test Cases, Test Sets, and Test Runs synced from ADO to Codebeamer
• Provides automated and full visibility of test execution in Codebeamer

Source-of-truth governance

• Each system owns specific data domains such as scheduling or requirements
• Prevents conflicting updates and maintains trusted data

Continuous synchronization

• Changes propagate automatically once items enter the digital thread
• Keeps both platforms consistently aligned

Rollable relationship updates

• Cross-entity links and traceability relationships stay synchronized
• Empowered leadership with real-time traceable insights into development activities and cross-functional progress

Engagement Benefits

Controlled, Intelligent Synchronisation

The ADO Sync flag ensures only approved Epics move from Codebeamer into Azure DevOps. Teams can refine requirements in Codebeamer before development begins, preventing incomplete work from entering the dev backlog.

End-to-end Traceability

Every work item, from Epic to Test Result, remains connected across Codebeamer and Azure DevOps. Parent relationships and traceability links such as Satisfies and Verifies are preserved automatically across both platforms.

Preserved Field-level Data Integrity

Scheduling fields such as Start Date, Target Date, and Effort are governed in Azure DevOps and synced back to Codebeamer. Field restrictions ensure each system remains the authoritative source for its data.

Unified Test Lifecycle Visibility

Test Cases created in Azure DevOps, organized into Test Suites, and executed through Test Runs are fully visible in Codebeamer. This provides quality and compliance teams a complete view of test coverage and results.

Reliable Link & Traceability Propagation

A custom Modified Date automation ensures link updates in Azure Devops trigger synchronization. This allows test relationships and traceability links to propagate reliably across both systems 

Zero Workflow Disruption at Scale

Teams continue working in their preferred tools. Codebeamer manages requirements and compliance, while Azure DevOps supports development execution. OlM synchronizes both environments without changing existing workflows.

 

Quote box: “By leveraging the joint capabilities of OpsHub and SPK and Associates, our company transformed two independent ALM platforms into a single, coherent digital thread. We now operate with full visibility across the entire delivery lifecycle without changing our native workflows.”

-Business leader for a global energy storage solution

 

Integration Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation

• Full environment audit of CB v2.2.0.1 and ADO cloud instances
• Tailored digital thread integration strategy designed

Phase 2: Live integration

• Bi-directional sync active across both tools
• ADO Sync flag trigger validated end-to-end
• OIM deployed and configured for both tools
• Link propagation confirmed in production
• Hierarchy preserved across both systems
• Cross-functional silos fully eliminated

Phase 3: Optimization

• Authentication upgrade from Basic to SAML 2.0 for production
• Expanded field-level sync rules and additional custom fields
• Additional entity types and deeper reporting integration