This Monday Micro Course will help you to understand the 4 Critical Limitations With Connecting Boards in Monday.com so that you can build your systems with workarounds to avoid these very serious limitations.
Note; I don’t cover the solution in this video, just what the 4 critical limitations are. Â I will cover the workaround solution I have discovered (that allows you to connect unlimited boards to a single high level board or dashboard and keep all your connected items in sync) in a later video.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Monday’s Key Features
00:59 Understanding Pricing Plan Limitations
01:57 Dashboard Connection Limits
03:33 Connect Boards Column Limits
05:55 Automation Recipe Limitations
12:24 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Understanding the 4 Critical Limitations With Connecting Boards in Monday.com
Monday Work Management and Monday CRM are powerhouses when it comes to managing data, automating workflows, and creating seamless connections. Their flexibility allows you to automate processes and connect different elements to streamline your operations. However, as with any platform, there are limitations that you should be aware of to prevent any future pitfalls. This blog post delves into the four critical limitations you encounter when connecting boards in Monday.com and how to navigate them effectively.
Key Features of Monday Work Management and Monday CRM
Before diving into the limitations, it’s essential to appreciate the two key features that make Monday Work Management and Monday CRM unique:
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Versatility in Managing Data and Workflow Automations
  You can manage nearly any data type and automate workflows effortlessly. This feature saves time and hassle by reducing the amount of clicking and navigating from tab to tab. -
Interconnectivity and Complex Relationships
  The platform’s ability to connect various elements allows you to build complex relationships that organize and display information efficiently. This significantly enhances productivity and adds depth to your automations through complex cross-board capabilities.
“These features allow you to find information easily, spend less time clicking and navigating from tab to tab, or place to place.”
However, it is vital to acknowledge the significant constraints within the system to leverage these features optimally.
Limitation 1: Board Connections Per Dashboard
Understanding the Restriction
The first limitation involves the number of boards you can connect to a single dashboard. When examining the pricing plans on Monday’s site, there’s a restriction you may face regardless of whether you’re using Monday Work Management, CRM, or Dev: a maximum number of boards connected to one dashboard.
The Impact
For instance, if you’re on the Pro Plan, you can only connect 20 boards to a single dashboard. Given dashboards serve as customizable reports displaying data from multiple boards, this restriction can be a significant hurdle.
Imagine having 50 project boards, with each representing a separate initiative within your organization. If you aim to visualize data from all these project boards on one dashboard, the limitation means you can’t achieve this with the standard approach.
Workarounds
Although the video doesn’t dive into solutions, understanding these boundaries is crucial. This limitation demands reconsideration in structuring your dashboards to ensure all necessary data is presented without exceeding the connection limit.
Limitation 2: Connect Boards Column Limit
The second limitation involves the number of boards connecting to a single “Connect Boards” column. The Pro Plan supports up to 20 connections through this method.
Practical Implications
Consider needing a high-level task board that aggregates tasks from 50 individual project boards. The goal is to maintain an overview of each task from all projects. However, the restriction confines you to connecting just 20 project boards per column, making it impossible to link every project using the standard process.
Alternatives
Recognizing this limitation helps you design the structure differently or seek different automation methods that don’t strictly rely on this traditional linking method.
Limitation 3: Item Total Linking Limit
Beyond connecting boards and columns, there is also a constraint on linking items. The platform limits you to connect up to 10,000 total items across linked boards.
Consequences
If each board averages 1,000 tasks and you attempt to link all tasks across 20 projects, you will exceed this limit. As it stands, the ceiling doesn’t impact all users, but for those handling extensive data volume, this restriction can complicate efforts to synthesize multiple data points into a coherent, singular task view.
Addressing the Challenge
Awareness of this limitation is crucial, and thinking creatively or optimizing the workflow structure is essential to prevent data processing issues.
Limitation 4: Mirror Column and Automation Issues
One of the most potent automation capabilities within Monday is the mirror column feature, allowing you to sync information across different boards. Unfortunately, this automation doesn’t work when multiple boards are connected via a single “Connect Boards” column.
Functionality Breakdown
Often, teams use automation recipes to synchronize data statuses across various connected boards. For instance:
“If a project status changes to ‘cancelled,’ this automation can update corresponding task statuses across related boards.”
However, this synchronization won’t function if more than one board links to the Connect Boards column.
Overcoming the Limitation
This obstacle is particular but significant for maintaining integrated data flows and statuses. Exploring alternative sync strategies becomes imperative when leveraging this capacity.
Embrace the Limits to Optimize Your Workflow
Awareness of these constraints enhances your ability to effectively use Monday.com to its full potential. By understanding these limitations, you can devise systems that mitigate issues and ensure a streamlined, interconnected, and high-performing productivity environment.
Final Thoughts
Always keep these known borders in mind while building within Monday.com. Preemptive consideration of these restrictions can prevent future setbacks, allowing you to enjoy seamless workflow management and productivity enhancements over the long term without the threat of running into frustrating barriers.
Remember, while Monday.com offers powerful features, understanding and evolving past inherent limitations is integral to achieving your organization’s vision.