Your first roadmap is not a commitment or a final plan.
It’s simply a way to see how the backlog you just created starts to take shape over time.
Follow the next steps:
Your first roadmap doesn’t need to be perfect
In Craft, a roadmap is not a static document or a presentation you need to maintain manually.
It’s a live view of your real backlog items — such as Epics or Features — and it updates automatically as your plans change. When you adjust items, dates, or priorities, your roadmap reflects those changes instantly.
For now, the goal is not to design the perfect roadmap.
The goal is simply to see your backlog come to life visually.
Start with the default Swimlanes roadmap
When a Workspace is created, Craft automatically includes default roadmap views.
You don’t need to create anything from scratch.
Start with the default Swimlanes roadmap.
This is the fastest and simplest way to:
Understand sequencing
Have early planning conversations
Avoid worrying about exact dates
It’s ideal for first roadmaps.
What you’ll see in the default roadmap
By default, the Swimlanes roadmap shows:
Work grouped by quarter across the horizontal axis
Items organized by product in swimlanes
Higher-level items such as Epics or Features
This setup is commonly used for:
Now / Next / Later conversations
Quarterly planning
Early roadmap discussions
💡 Tip: You don’t need dates to get value here. Sequencing alone is enough at this stage.
How your backlog becomes a roadmap
You don’t need to recreate items for your roadmap.
Your roadmap is built directly from the backlog you already created:
Epics or Features appear automatically
Adding a timeframe or quarter places items on the roadmap
Changing an item updates the roadmap instantly
This means:
One source of truth
No duplicate work
No manual syncing
Your roadmap always reflects the current state of your planning.
Make one or two small adjustments (optional)
If you’d like, you can make light adjustments - but keep this minimal.
For example, you might:
Change how items are grouped
Adjust the timeframe (quarters vs months)
Show Epics instead of Features
💡 Tip: If you find yourself fine-tuning too much, pause. You’ve already done enough to get value.
What comes next?
Now that you’ve seen how your backlog turns into a roadmap, you can:
Share a clear picture of what’s happening now and next
Start having planning conversations with your team or stakeholders
Explore more advanced planning tools when you’re ready
Need more guidance? 🙋 Our LIVE support team (at the bottom right corner of your screen) replies to ANY question!