Aha! Roadmaps | Now, Next, Later roadmap

Stakeholders need to see your plans before you can generate true alignment. But sometimes you may not have the details set — or your roadmap deliverables may depend on proprietary information that is better kept private. In either situation, the now, next, later roadmap communicates your plans in three broad columns of delivery time frames, so you can focus on your product strategy without discussing hard dates.

The now, next, later roadmap is also available as a whiteboard template. Use sticky notes to create a quick roadmap, then convert your whiteboard objects to actual records on your roadmap.

Click any of the following links to skip ahead:

• Configure your roadmap

• Customize your roadmap

• Share your roadmap

Configure your roadmap

Navigate to Roadmaps Now, Next, Later to create your first roadmap. The page will generate a roadmap of features by quarter by default; click Edit data in the center or top left of the page to load the report builder and get started.

• Select record type: You can build the now, next, later, roadmap around three record types: features, epics, and initiatives. Choose one, then click Next.

• Define columns: The roadmap will organize your records into three columns based on the date field and time frame that you choose in this step.

  • Date field: Choose the date field that the roadmap will use to sort your records.

  • Time frame: Choose the time frame for each of the columns. Time frames can be fixed (week, month, quarter), rolling (e.g. 60 days, 90 days), or custom (dates that you define for each column). If you choose Rolling or Custom time frames, customize them for each column.

  • Column names: By default, the three columns will be named "Now," "Next," and "Later," but you can customize them if you would like to. Later, you can add explanatory descriptions to the columns. After you have finished defining the roadmap's columns, click Next.

• Add filters: Add or adjust filters. By default, the roadmap will look at records in your current workspace that are not yet complete. Click Save to create your roadmap.

Your roadmap will load with all applicable records in the appropriate columns. Take a moment to review the data — click any record to open it — then move on to customization.

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Customize your roadmap

Your roadmap needs the right amount of information — organized intuitively — to be able to communicate a summary of your plans. Use these options to customize your now, next, later roadmap for your audience.

From the top filter bar:

• Edit data: Return to the report builder and reconfigure the roadmap.

• Gear dropdown ⚙️: Adjust the information shown on the columns. Show or hide column Descriptions and the Dates you configured with your Time frame selection.

• Group records by: Within each column, group records by Workspace. Roadmaps based on features can also group records by Initiative or Epic.

• Filters: Hover over the filters bar and click the Add filters + icon to add basic filters quickly, or click the Edit filters icon to add advanced filters to your roadmap.

In the columns:

• Name: Click to customize the name of any column.

• Description: If you have chosen to show a column description, add one here. Use the description to explain the time frame or highlight important elements for your audience.

• More options:

  • Click the More options dropdown to Sort the records in the columns Alphabetically, by their Created date, by their Product value score, or by the Date field you selected during the roadmap configuration.

  • If you want to change the roadmap configuration, you can also click Edit column to return to that step in the roadmap builder.

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Share your roadmap

With your now, next, later roadmap completed, share it with your stakeholders. If you do this live, open records to answer questions and adjust data.

After your stakeholder alignment meeting, select one of the export options under the Share button on the top-right of the screen.

• To export your roadmap to a whiteboard, click the Export button and add your roadmap as an image.

• To fold your roadmap into a presentation, select Add to presentation. In your presentation, you can select the roadmap's update frequency.

• To invite people outside of your Aha! Roadmaps account to view your roadmap, select Share as webpage.

• To schedule recurring email delivery of your roadmap, select Schedule email delivery.

• For a static version of your roadmap, Export as PNG image or PDF document.

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