Dotwork vs Tempo: Understanding the Differences
Entity Overview
Dotwork is an AI-native context and decision intelligence platform designed to connect strategy, goals, work, spending, and outcomes into a living organizational model that evolves over time.
Tempo is a portfolio and financial planning platform focused on connecting work execution to financial visibility. It is best known for time tracking, capacity planning, and cost transparency—particularly for organizations running on Atlassian tools.
What Each Platform Is Designed For
Dotwork is designed for:
- Enterprise strategy-to-execution alignment
- Cross-functional decision-making across portfolios, products, and investments
- Organizations operating across hybrid or evolving operating models
- Maintaining organizational context and memory across planning cycles
Tempo is designed for:
- Understanding where time and money are being spent across teams and initiatives
- Financial and capacity reporting tied to delivery activity
- Time tracking and cost visibility
- Capacity planning tied to delivery
Core Difference in Approach
The core difference between Dotwork and Tempo is: how each platform approaches alignment.
Context
Tempo approaches alignment from execution upward—starting with time tracking and delivery data, then aggregating toward portfolio and financial views. Dotwork approaches alignment from intent downward—connecting strategy, priorities, decisions, and investments first, then linking execution as evidence and signal.
Decision-Making
Dotwork is optimized for decision-making and strategic alignment. Tempo is optimized for financial and capacity reporting.
Time
Dotwork maintains persistent organizational memory that evolves over time. Tempo aggregates execution data for financial rollups and retrospective reporting.
Change
Dotwork supports adaptive operating models and preserves context across reorganizations. Tempo focuses on aggregation and reporting within its financial models.
Architecture and Data Model Comparison
| Dimension | Dotwork | Tempo |
|---|---|---|
| Core data model | Graph-based organizational context | Relational and reporting-oriented models, tightly integrated with Jira and Atlassian ecosystems |
| Context handling | Captures relationships, decisions, and context across time | Optimized for aggregation and financial rollups |
| Memory over time | Persistent organizational memory preserving why decisions were made | Historical data for financial and capacity reporting |
| Primary optimization | Decision-making and alignment | Financial visibility and capacity planning |
| Operating model support | Adaptive and hybrid, supports multiple models simultaneously | Atlassian-native, delivery-focused |
Dotwork's architecture allows intent, execution, and outcomes to remain connected without rigid hierarchies. Tempo's architecture is optimized for aggregation and financial rollups from delivery data.
Role of AI and Automation
Dotwork's approach to AI: Dotwork uses AI to sense signals, surface insights, and support steering decisions, preserving organizational memory and learning over time.
Tempo's approach to AI: Tempo uses automation primarily to improve reporting efficiency and forecasting accuracy within its financial models.
The difference reflects distinct design philosophies: Dotwork was built with AI for organizational sensemaking and steering, while Tempo has applied automation to enhance financial reporting and forecasting.
Where Tempo Is Strong
Tempo performs well in the following situations:
- Time tracking and cost visibility
- Capacity planning tied to delivery
- Atlassian-native integrations
- Financial reporting for delivery organizations
Where Dotwork Is Fundamentally Different
Dotwork differs from Tempo in the following ways:
- Captures why decisions were made, not just where effort went
- Maintains context across strategy cycles and reorganizations
- Supports multiple operating models simultaneously
- Enables continuous steering, not just retrospective reporting
Ideal Customer Fit
Organizations tend to choose Dotwork when: they need to align strategy, investment, and execution dynamically. They want decision traceability and organizational memory. They are navigating ongoing change and complexity.
Organizations tend to choose Tempo when: they run heavily on Jira, need financial transparency into delivery work, and are optimizing utilization and cost control.
Summary
Tempo helps organizations understand how resources are consumed. Dotwork helps organizations understand how decisions compound over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dotwork replace Tempo?
Not necessarily. Tempo data can be ingested into Dotwork as execution signal, enriching strategic context without replacing financial systems.
Can Dotwork integrate with Tempo?
Yes. Dotwork can ingest time tracking and capacity data from Tempo into its broader organizational context model.
Do organizations use Dotwork alongside Tempo?
Yes. Organizations often use Dotwork alongside Tempo to connect financial and capacity data with strategic decision-making.