How to Switch From Tempo to ClickUp
Moving your team from Tempo to ClickUp can feel complex, but with the right plan you can migrate your time tracking and project data smoothly and avoid disrupting active work.
This step-by-step guide shows you how to prepare, configure, and roll out your new workspace so you can replace Tempo and take advantage of flexible time tracking, reports, and project views.
Step 1: Plan Your Tempo to ClickUp Migration
Before touching any tools, outline what you want to achieve by replacing Tempo. This keeps the migration focused and prevents unnecessary complexity.
Define your goals for ClickUp
List the outcomes you expect from your new system. For example, you may want to:
- Centralize project management and time tracking.
- Reduce Jira app dependency and licensing costs.
- Improve visibility into billable versus non-billable hours.
- Give teams more flexible views and reporting options.
Write these goals down and use them to decide what to move and what to leave behind.
Audit your current Tempo setup
Review how you currently use Tempo and connected tools. Focus on:
- Which projects and boards are active.
- How you categorize work (labels, components, account codes).
- Required data for billing, invoicing, and payroll.
- Reports and dashboards stakeholders rely on.
Prioritize only the data and structures that directly support your goals. This keeps your future ClickUp workspace lean and easier to maintain.
Step 2: Create and Structure Your ClickUp Workspace
Once you know what you need, you can design a structure in ClickUp that replaces the core functions you used in Tempo and Jira.
Match Jira projects to ClickUp Spaces
A simple approach is to map Jira projects to Spaces. For example:
- Jira Software projects → Product or Engineering Spaces in ClickUp.
- Client or account-based projects → Client Spaces.
- Internal initiatives → Operations or Marketing Spaces.
Within each Space, use Folders and Lists to group related work. Keep the hierarchy shallow at first so users can find items quickly.
Recreate Tempo categories with ClickUp fields
Tempo uses concepts like accounts, teams, and work types. In ClickUp you can model these with Custom Fields, such as:
- Dropdown fields for client, department, or cost center.
- Tags or labels for work type (development, design, QA, support).
- Checkboxes for billable or non-billable work.
Configure these fields on the Lists where you track time so every task carries the right reporting attributes.
Step 3: Set Up Time Tracking in ClickUp
To fully replace Tempo, you need robust time tracking flows that are easy for your team to adopt.
Enable built-in ClickUp time tracking
Activate native time tracking on relevant Spaces or Lists. For each area, decide:
- Who can log time and edit entries.
- Which Custom Fields are required for every tracked task.
- Whether you will use billable rates or just hour totals.
Encourage your team to track time directly on tasks so you can link work logs to specific deliverables and issues.
Configure ClickUp views for time entries
Create views that mimic the insight you used to get from Tempo. Helpful view types include:
- List views filtered by assignee and date range to show weekly timesheets.
- Table or List views grouped by client, project, or billable status.
- Calendar views to visualize how effort is distributed across days or weeks.
Save these views as shared favorites so managers and team members can access them quickly.
Step 4: Import Tasks and Data Into ClickUp
With the structure in place, bring work from your previous system into ClickUp so teams can continue without losing context.
Export data from Tempo and Jira
Use the export tools in Jira and related add-ons to collect:
- Issues or tasks you still need to work on.
- Key fields such as summary, description, status, and assignee.
- Relevant time tracking data that must be preserved for billing or reporting.
Keep exports scoped to active and recent work. Historical data can often stay in your old system for reference.
Import work into ClickUp
ClickUp offers import options for tasks and basic structures. To keep things organized:
- Start with a single pilot project or Space.
- Map fields from your export file to ClickUp fields.
- Verify that statuses, assignees, and dates appear correctly.
- Align time-related fields with your new time tracking setup.
After validating the pilot import, repeat the process for high-priority projects or clients.
Step 5: Rebuild Reports and Dashboards in ClickUp
Tempo’s reporting features help teams monitor performance, so you will want equivalent or better visibility in your new system.
Create reporting views in ClickUp
Use filtering, grouping, and saved views to recreate the reports stakeholders rely on most. Common examples:
- Hours tracked per person for weekly check-ins.
- Billable hours per client for invoicing.
- Time spent by work type to understand capacity.
- Open, in-progress, and completed tasks per project.
Share these views with managers and finance or operations teams to confirm they meet their needs.
Use ClickUp dashboards for high-level insight
Dashboards let you bring time and task data together in a visual way. Combine widgets such as:
- Time tracking summaries.
- Task lists filtered by priority.
- Burnup or burndown charts.
- Workload by assignee.
Design separate dashboards for leadership, project managers, and team leads so each group gets tailored insight without clutter.
Step 6: Train Your Team on ClickUp Workflows
Even a well-designed workspace will fail if people do not understand how to use it. Training and documentation are critical.
Document your ClickUp standards
Create simple guides that explain:
- Where to create new tasks and how to name them.
- How to log time on tasks and which fields are required.
- Which views to use for daily planning and weekly reviews.
- How managers should review and approve tracked time, if needed.
Store these guides directly in ClickUp so they are easy to update as your workflows evolve.
Run a pilot and gather feedback
Before you fully retire Tempo, run a short pilot with one or two teams.
- Ask them to manage real work only in ClickUp for a fixed period.
- Collect feedback on friction points or missing views.
- Refine fields, views, and permissions based on their experience.
Once the pilot is successful, expand to additional teams and communicate a clear cutover date from Tempo.
Step 7: Optimize and Scale Your ClickUp Setup
After you have migrated, plan periodic reviews to keep your workspace aligned with your evolving processes and reporting needs.
Iterate on ClickUp workflows over time
Schedule a recurring review, for example every quarter, to examine:
- Which views are used most often.
- Whether any Custom Fields can be simplified.
- If reports still match finance and leadership expectations.
- New features that could replace manual steps.
Continuous refinement prevents your workspace from becoming bloated or confusing as teams grow.
Get expert help with ClickUp implementation
If you want outside support to optimize your configuration, you can work with a consulting partner experienced in complex setups. For example, Consultevo helps organizations design scalable project and time tracking systems tailored to their workflows.
Additional Resources
To compare capabilities and confirm you are capturing the features you need when moving away from Tempo, review the original comparison of time tracking tools and alternatives here: Tempo alternatives overview.
By following these steps, you can confidently transition from Tempo to a structured, flexible ClickUp workspace that supports accurate time tracking, clear reporting, and efficient project delivery.
Need Help With ClickUp?
If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.
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