Activity Feed: Tracking and Logging
Note: This article assumes you've read "Creating a Task in Motion" [here]. If you haven't, we recommend starting there for foundational concepts.
TL;DR:
The Activity Feed serves as a real-time log of changes, actions, and updates across tasks and projects, providing transparency and clarity for your team. You can view your task activity logs at the base of the task modal and your project's activity logs at the base of the project modal.
Below is a breakdown of what gets tracked and logged:
For Tasks:
Comments: Any new comments or replies added, including @mentions.
Task Assignee Changes: When a task is assigned to or reassigned to someone else.
Status Changes: Updates like moving a task to "In Progress," "Completed," or "Blocked."
Labels and Custom Fields: Adding, editing, or removing tags, custom fields, or priority labels.
Priority Changes: Adjustments to the task's priority level (e.g., High, Medium, Low).
Start Date or Due Date Changes: Any updates to when the task should start or be completed.
Duration Changes: Edits to the estimated time needed for the task.
Hard Deadlines Added or Removed: Adjustments to tasks with hard, non-negotiable deadlines.
Attachments: Files added, removed, or updated.
Linked Dependencies: If a task is linked as a dependency for another task.
Title or Description Updates: Any edits to the task name or its description.
In short, almost any change you can make to a task is logged here, ensuring complete transparency.
For Projects:
Comments: Any new comments or replies added, including @mentions.
Attachments: Files added, removed, or updated within the project space.
Stage Changes: When tasks move between stages (e.g., "To Do," "In Review," "Done").
Unlike tasks, the project-level Activity Feed focuses primarily on major updates like stage changes and project-level comments or attachments. For more information on projects click [here].
Automations and System Logs:
The Activity Feed also tracks automated or backend updates, whether changes are made directly through Motion’s native features or via our API. This ensures every action (manual or automated) is logged transparently.
The Activity Feed also tracks automated or backend updates, including:
System-triggered changes: Actions like auto-creating tasks from email, Siri, or other integrations.
Status updates: Changes triggered by workflow automation rules (Ex: 'Motion created this task')
Title or description changes: Edits made automatically by system workflows or integrations.
Why Teams Love the Activity Feed
Real-World Impact
Consider these common scenarios where the Activity Feed proves invaluable:
Cross-functional Projects: When marketing, design, and development teams collaborate on a product launch, the Activity Feed ensures everyone stays aligned despite working on different aspects of the project.
Remote Team Management: For distributed teams, it serves as a virtual team room where everyone can stay updated on project progress without constant meetings or check-ins.
Client Communications: Agencies use the Activity Feed to maintain detailed records of project evolution, making it easier to explain decisions and demonstrate progress to clients.
Key Team Benefits
Unprecedented Transparency: No more information silos or "I didn't know about that" moments. Every team member has access to the same real-time information.
Rapid Problem Resolution: When issues arise, teams can quickly trace back through the Activity Feed to identify where things went off track and implement solutions.
Improved Team Dynamics: By making all actions visible and accountable, the Activity Feed naturally promotes more thoughtful and strategic team collaboration.
Knowledge Retention: As team members come and go, the Activity Feed serves as an institutional memory, preserving crucial context and decision histories.
Best Practices for Teams
To maximize the value of your Activity Feed:
Email Notifications: Stay up to date, by utilizing email notifications for status changes on tasks assigned to you. Reviewing the changes in the task's activity log.
Meaningful Updates: Encourage team members to provide context in their comments and changes, making the Activity Feed more valuable as a reference tool.
For more info on best practices for Motion Teams click [here]
The Bottom Line
The Activity Feed isn't just a log - it's a powerful team alignment tool that transforms how modern teams collaborate. By providing unprecedented visibility into team activities and maintaining a clear record of decisions and changes, it helps teams work more efficiently, reduce misunderstandings, and achieve better results together.
Remember: In today's fast-paced work environment, having a single source of truth for team activities isn't just helpful - it's essential for success.
The Activity Feed is a source of truth, ensuring your team stays coordinated, informed, and effective, no matter how complex the project or how distributed the team members may be.
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