Email to Work Item

The Email to Work Item add-in revolutionizes how engineering teams, project managers, and support organizations handle email-based requests by enabling direct work item creation from Outlook emails with comprehensive project integration and complete context preservation.

🚀 Core Capabilities

• One-Click Work Item Creation - Transform emails into trackable Azure DevOps work items with a single button click
• AI-Powered Email Analysis - Google Gemini AI automatically generates structured summaries and action items from email content
• Complete User Control - Review and edit all AI-generated content before creating work items
• Automatic Content Extraction - Email subject becomes work item title, body becomes description with preserved HTML formatting
• Complete Email Preservation - Original email attached as .EML file maintaining full context, formatting, and thread history
• Smart Organization - Automatic discovery of your Azure DevOps organizations and projects
• Seamless Authentication - Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO) with Nested App Authentication for secure access

🤖 AI Features & Safety Compliance

• ✅ Intelligent Summarization: AI creates structured work item descriptions with summaries and action items
• ✅ User Control: All AI-generated content is clearly labeled and can be reviewed/edited before submission
• ✅ Optional Usage: Skip AI processing and use basic email content if preferred
• ✅ In-App Reporting: Click "⚠️ Report Inappropriate Content" button to flag problematic AI output
• ✅ Privacy Protected: Secure AI processing with user privacy maintained throughout
• ✅ Continuous Monitoring: Reports reviewed to improve AI quality and safety

Who Benefits from This Add-in:

• Development Teams - Convert bug reports and feature requests from emails into trackable work items with complete context
• Project Managers - Streamline intake processes by capturing stakeholder requests directly from email communications
• Support Teams - Transform customer issues into actionable development tasks while maintaining the email audit trail
• Product Owners - Capture stakeholder feedback and convert to well-formatted backlog items with preserved email context
• DevOps Engineers - Maintain complete traceability from customer communication to development work

Key Features & Capabilities:

🔧 Complete Azure DevOps Integration

• Multi-Organization Support - Seamlessly work across multiple Azure DevOps organizations
• Multi-Project Access - Switch between projects within your organization
• Dynamic Work Item Types - Support for Bug, Task, User Story, Feature, and Epic work items
• Team Member Assignment - Assign work items to specific team members during creation
• Area Path Organization - Organize work items within your project's hierarchical area structure
• Iteration Planning - Assign work items to specific sprints or keep in backlog

📋 Advanced Work Item Management

• Auto-Population - Email content automatically fills title and description fields (editable before creation)
• Email Preservation - Original emails attached as .EML files with full formatting, headers, and metadata
• Parent Work Item Linking - Create proper hierarchical relationships (link tasks to user stories, bugs to features)
• HTML Formatting Preserved - Rich text formatting from emails maintained in work item descriptions
• Direct Work Item Links - Instant access to created work items via direct Azure DevOps links

🔐 Enterprise-Ready Security

• Microsoft SSO Authentication - Secure single sign-on using your existing Microsoft 365 credentials
• Nested App Authentication (NAA) - Optimized security model specifically designed for Office add-ins
• Delegated Permissions - Add-in acts on your behalf with your existing Azure DevOps permissions
• No Data Storage - Email content is transmitted directly to Azure DevOps without local storage
• HTTPS Encryption - All API communication uses secure HTTPS connections

⚡ Streamlined User Experience

• One-Click Access - Single button in Outlook ribbon labeled "Create Work Item"
• Contextual Interface - Side panel interface keeps email visible while creating work items
• Smart Defaults - Remembers last used organization and project for faster access
• Real-Time Validation - Form validation ensures all required fields are completed before submission
• Success Confirmation - Immediate confirmation with direct link to created work item
• Keyboard Navigation - Full keyboard support with Tab navigation and shortcuts

Common Use Cases:

Bug Reports: Customer emails about software issues become trackable bugs with complete context, proper assignment, and the original email preserved as evidence.

Feature Requests: Stakeholder suggestions transform into user stories with detailed descriptions, linked to appropriate parent features or epics for better organization.

Support Escalations: Critical customer issues become high-priority tasks with structured problem descriptions, assigned to the right team members, and linked to current sprint iterations.

Project Planning: Meeting follow-ups and action items from emails become organized tasks within sprint iterations with proper team assignments.

Customer Feedback: Email threads with customer suggestions are converted into backlog items with the complete email context preserved for future reference.

Compliance & Audit Trails: Maintain complete traceability from customer communication to delivered work items with preserved email attachments for regulatory compliance.

Technical Requirements:

• Outlook Platform: Outlook Desktop (Windows/Mac) or Outlook Web - Mobile not supported
• Microsoft 365: Business or Enterprise license (personal accounts not supported)
• Azure DevOps: Active organization with Contributor or higher permissions
• Internet Connection: Required for Azure DevOps API communication
• Browser (Web Only): Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari (latest versions)
• Admin Deployment: Must be deployed by Microsoft 365 administrator through Admin Center

Installation & Deployment:

This add-in requires deployment by your organization's Microsoft 365 administrator:

1. Admin Access: Microsoft 365 Admin Center → Settings → Integrated apps
2. Deploy Add-in: Search for "Email to Work Item" and deploy
3. Choose Scope: Deploy to entire organization or specific users/groups
4. Wait for Propagation: Allow 4-24 hours for deployment to complete
5. User Setup: Users sign in with Microsoft work account on first use

📖 Detailed Instructions: See our Quick Start Guide for complete deployment and setup instructions.

What the Add-in Does NOT Do:

• ❌ Does not edit existing work items (view/edit in Azure DevOps web interface)
• ❌ Does not extract individual email attachments (preserved in .EML file only)
• ❌ Does not support custom work item types (standard types only)
• ❌ Does not work on mobile devices (desktop/web only)
• ❌ Does not support on-premises Azure DevOps Server (cloud-only)
• ❌ Does not create work items in bulk (one email at a time)

Privacy & Data Security:

• ✅ Uses Microsoft's secure authentication (SSO with NAA)
• ✅ No email content stored locally by the add-in
• ✅ All communication encrypted via HTTPS
• ✅ Delegated permissions - add-in acts within your existing Azure DevOps access
• ✅ No telemetry or usage analytics collected
• ✅ Session-based authentication expires when Outlook closes
• ✅ Complies with enterprise data privacy and security requireme