Engineering teams work across increasingly disconnected toolchains. Requirements may be defined in one tool, while development, testing, and project management occur in others. Keeping track of the development project becomes a significant challenge, especially when data is duplicated, out of sync, or hard to trace. Traditional integration methods, such as data synchronization, attempt to address this but often add layers of complexity and maintenance overhead.
This is where Linked Data, supported by the OSLC (Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration) standard, offers a compelling alternative. Instead of copying or replicating data, it links artifacts directly across tools, preserving ownership, context, and accuracy. In this article, we will explore how Linked Data transforms system and software development by enabling traceability, real-time collaboration, and streamlined engineering processes—supported by practical and concrete case studies.
The Role of Linked Data and OSLC within the Engineering Toolchains
Linked Data is an integration approach enabling tools to reference engineering data directly from its original repository. This method prevents data duplication and ensures that teams always access the most up-to-date information. OSLC (Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration) is a set of interoperability specifications that define how tools expose, access, and connect artifacts such as requirements, models, or test cases. It enables consistent and secure connections across different systems in the engineering lifecycle.
OSLC’s key principles include:
- Standardization: Uses RDF vocabularies and HTTP methods.
- Interoperability: Works across domains and vendors.
- Traceability: Links artifacts from requirements to test cases.
- Global Configurations: Enables cross-tool version management.
With these foundations in place, we can now explore how Linked Data and OSLC address real-world integration challenges and optimize engineering workflow across the development lifecycle.
➡️ Find more about our OSLC & Linked Data solutions
Cross-Tool Traceability Without Duplication
Linked data allows for development artifacts (requirements, models, tests, and code) to be connected across heterogeneous tools, without creating copies or replicating information.
It creates a live view of the engineering lifecycle, where data remains in its source systems but is contextually linked to related artifacts. Development teams can trace the impact of a requirement change through design, verification, and deployment in full confidence. For instance, a requirement in IBM DOORS Next can be linked to development tasks and bugs in Atlassian Jira without moving or copying the requirement itself. This creates a live and traceable view of the engineering lifecycle
Linked Data ensures that:
- Each artifact remains owned by its original tool.
- Data stays accurate and updated.
- Teams can trace relationships across tools in real time.
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🔎 Case Study n°1 - DOORS Next + Jira Integration: Cross-tool traceability In a project using IBM DOORS Next for requirements and Jira Software for development, early issues tend to appear due to a lack of visibility between the two environments. By integrating these tools, relying on Linked Data’s approach, real-time and bidirectional links are created. Each Jira issue could reference the corresponding DOORS requirement. Quality Assurance engineers can trace test cases back to both the requirements and the implementation. This improved communication, simplified compliance, and enabled quicker issue resolution. |
Real-Time Data Sharing Across Tools
Data inconsistencies occur when stakeholders access different versions of the same information. Linked Data eliminates this issue. It enables direct and immediate access to information. If a change is made to an artifact in one given tool, it will be visible and immediately accessible from another tool. It simplifies the sharing of accurate, real-time data between tools that are usually separate from each other without switching contexts.
This approach:
- Reduces delays and errors.
- Improves decision-making.
- Supports cost and timeline adherence.
🔎 Case Study n°2 - DOORS Next + Jira Integration - Tracking Requirement ChangesIn the case of a change to a requirement, at some point in the process, the requirement in question will have to be modified, or new requirements will be introduced. A developer working in Jira can view the latest changes in any requirements from IBM DOORS Next directly within their Jira interface, without the need to leave Jira and switch from one tool to another. The updated links will allow team members involved to be aware immediately of the requirement's new version. |
Simplifying Change Management in Regulated Environments
Industries like Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Healthcare, and so on, require stringent tests and quality assurance. But teams often use disconnected tools. When changes occur, manual tracking via spreadsheets or meetings introduces risks. Linked Data simplifies this by creating live links between artifacts. A change in a design tool is reflected in related test cases, preventing errors. It ensures that when changes are made in one system (e.g., a design update), they are reflected in related systems (e.g., test cases), preventing inconsistencies that could lead to quality defects.
Linked Data allows:
- Seamless cross-domain alignment
- Real-time synchronization
- Improved decision-making and risk mitigation
🔎 Case Study n°3 - DOORS Next + XrayA team using Xray for test management and DOORS Next for requirements struggled to manage change impacts. By creating links between IBM DOORS Next and Xray, teams can benefit from bidirectional traceability between the project's requirements and test cases. Now, when a requirement is modified in DOORS Next, developers and quality assurance teams can view live data from both tools without data duplication. Now, when a requirement changes, the associated test cases in Xray update automatically. This reduces inconsistencies, improves Quality Assurance processes, and saves time. |
Unifying ALM and PLM Environments
Software and hardware lifecycles are often managed separately. ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) tools rarely integrate smoothly. This leads to communication gaps and delays.
Linked Data bridges ALM and PLM. It provides a unifying framework that connects ALM and PLM tools, leading to a holistic approach to projects. Communication and collaboration between teams will not only be (re)- established but also reinforced with fully shared objectives, challenges, and understanding.
Linked Data ensures that:
- Software and product teams operate on a shared, consistent view of data,
- Changes are consistently propagated across domains
- Collaboration is reinforced through integrated, up-to-date information
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🔎 Case Study n°4 - IBM ELM + PTC Windchill In a project, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) tools are used for software development, and PTC Windchill for product development. With an integration that leverages linked data, teams are able to create direct relationships between a requirement in IBM DOORS Next, a model element in IBM Rhapsody, and a part in PTC Windchill. It makes it easy for product teams in PTC Windchill to identify and refer to the requirements originating from this part. Linked data integrations allow information to seamlessly flow from the software development environment to hardware, and both the requirements and product teams have access to the most recent and accurate artifacts, leaving no room for doubt. In the same way, you can directly link a DOORS requirement to a related model element representing a software module within IBM Rhapsody. This integration strengthens traceability, impact analysis, and cross-team collaboration, unifying the development process. |
Conclusion
Linked Data, as implemented through OSLC, connects the dots across tools, teams, and lifecycles. It avoids data duplication, enables real-time traceability, and simplifies change management. For systems and software engineers dealing with complexity, it offers a way to maintain accuracy and alignment without sacrificing autonomy.
Whether the goal is audit-ready traceability, faster impact analysis, or seamless ALM-PLM integration, Linked Data provides the structure to support it.
How SodiusWillert Supports These Use Cases
The case studies and challenges outlined in this article, whether it's linking requirements with development tasks, or test cases, ensuring traceability in regulated environments, or bridging ALM and PLM systems, are precisely what SodiusWillert’s solutions are built to address.
Our OSLC Connectors enable Linked Data-based integrations for widely used engineering tools. By using OSLC standards, our connectors allow engineering teams to link data across tools like DOORS Next, Jira, Xray, Confluence, Polarion, and Windchill, without copying or duplicating information.
This ensures real-time visibility, simplifies audits, reduces errors, and supports faster, more informed decisions across the development lifecycle.
➡️ OSLC Connect for Jira
➡️ OSLC Connect for Confluence
➡️ OSLC Connect for PTC Windchill
FAQ: Linked Data in Engineering Toolchains
1) What engineering challenges does Linked Data address?
Linked Data helps solve issues like toolchain silos, inconsistent data, and a lack of traceability. It enables accurate, live connections between tools without duplicating data.
2) How does Linked Data support real-time collaboration?
Changes made in one tool are instantly visible in others. This keeps all teams aligned, reduces rework, and speeds up decision-making.
3) Why is Linked Data suitable for regulated industries?
It ensures traceability between requirements, tests, and designs—making audit preparation easier and helping meet compliance requirements.
4) Does Linked Data support ALM-PLM integration?
Yes. It enables tools from both application and product lifecycle domains to connect, providing a unified view and supporting better collaboration and delivery quality.
5) What’s the benefit of linking data instead of synchronizing it?
Linking keeps the data in its original location, reducing maintenance, avoiding version conflicts, and preserving access control and ownership.
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