An overview of the best business dashboard

Business dashboards are vital to various companies across the world. Learning how to make a business dashboard is important but one should know what a business dashboard actually is, a data management tool used by most of the biggest companies throughout the market. It helps the businesses to learn which of their strategies work and which don’t, which helps these corporations interact better with the targeted audience. The reason behind it is so important for most quick software firms is because it makes managing their data easier for them.

Business dashboards can be used in different ways by different corporations, the definition of a dashboard depends mainly on the part it plays in the company, it serves different purposes for different firms and the users know how to use their dashboard.

How to manage your business dashboard?

Business dashboards manage the data in easy-to-understand and simple ways which makes it so useful and convenient for the firms, the dashboard first visually tracks the key performances indicators which are commonly referred to as KPIs, then analyzes the KPIs and later displays them. KPIs are chosen by the user to line up to corporation’s aims, the user should calculate if the KPIs are meeting the aims of the firm or not, it is very important for KPIs to align the goals of the firm as only then the readings of the KPIs will be effective and helpful for the company, KPIs will help the company learn which of their strategies and plans are helping the company more than the others, this aids the firm in making better strategies similar to the ones that work better and to get rid of the ones that aren’t very effective and so the document will only include the information which can apply to their firm only.

Alongside KPIs are metrics and key data points, these three work together and keep track of the health of the business, section, or a process like KPIs, these are also malleable to reach certain needs of the department and firm. A dashboard connects to your files, attachments, services, and APIs, but it presents this information in the form of bar graphs, line charts, tables, and gauges. This is what makes the metrics just as important as the KPIs in a dashboard.

What do you need to create a good business dashboard?

A good business dashboard will also need decent data visualization, data visualization is very important for a dashboard as it is the only way through which the information can be read and understood after only looking at it once. Bar charts, alongside highlighted features and dates, are the most typical and the most commonly used features used to get the visual patterns that are needed. The structure also holds a really important role in a dashboard; it should be chosen very carefully, and it needs a lot of attention too. Some of the greatest examples of dashboards for data visualization include the Dashboard Builder.

The user is supposed to be able to make decisions and act upon the taken decisions via the information on the business dashboard. Thus, the dashboard must include the data that is needed to help the user in taking the steps it needs to take as it is one of the main purposes of the dashboard. The dashboard is there to make it more effortless for the user to read the performance of their or the business they are working for to compare the data easily and understand it. This is a much more effective way through which you can extract the insights that can be functional and exciting to keep the firm’s direction stable and balanced or make changes if needed by the company.

How important is a real-time data for your business dashboard

A dashboard should be embedded with the business software that can update in real-time as the data keeps changing and evolves quickly so software that is quick is very vital as it can keep the data always updated. The easiest and the most effective way to achieve this aim is to have analytics tools and software that has the ability to gather all the data automatically, it should also be in a format that is simple and easy to use for the person using it and also present it for the user in an automated dashboard. Some firms think of google analytics as a better option and choose to use it as their business dashboard solution.

A dashboard can give you a prestigious view of the data of your firm. But at the same time, it should also be able to let you dig deeper into the information if that is a need of the firm or the user. As sometimes the basic and the main information is not enough and more information is needed to have a better understanding of the statistics. For example, if a graph from the user’s dashboard tracks in real-time sales of the products. The dashboard should also be able to let the user dig deep to find out which of his products are selling better than others, in what places are they selling, and other relevant information that might be needed.

Choose the platform for your dashboard wisely.

In the past 5 years, mobile devices as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones have become necessities instead of luxuries. If you look at the statistics, from 2012, the use of mobile browsers has moved from 8% to 33% as desktop browser use falls from 92% to 66%. And from here it doesn’t go backward, the use of mobile browsers will keep on increasing as it is easily accessible from anywhere and more people are starting to use it. The business should keep this in mind and should make all the applications they make or implement adapt to all the platforms. so in this world where the use of mobile devices keeps dominating other devices, users are able to access their respective dashboards from anywhere they please and are easy at.

Customize the dashboard as per your desire.

When we are talking about dashboards, standard size doesn’t work. The data a dashboard needs to be used for varies from user to user, some users have the same data but they want it to be organized differently. Still, some businesses make fixed and standard dashboards for their users. This makes the user having to waste their time on making different variations of the same dashboard and get aggravated. This can be easily avoided by the firms if they just customizable dashboards, this will save the users a lot of time they will be able to spend on other useful causes as this dashboard will let the user choose how and which of the data he wants to display.

If you’re getting customizable dashboards the users are going to also need the ability to save a view for instant access later. For example, if a user wants a specific dashboard for every day of the week, rather than customizing a dashboard for every day every time, the user can easily just create a saved view for every day and then just access it whenever they want instead of experiencing the hassle of making one every time they need it.

Conclusion:

The main aim of a dashboard is to help the corporation in understanding how it can reach its goals better and these were the main must-haves of a dashboard that are essential for a functioning dashboard that you should know if you’re making your own business dashboard.

Are you ready to try your hand at business dashboard ? Try Business Dashboard free forever!

Kambar, Digital Marketing @DashboardBuilder  

Why KPI Dashboard is so important?

KPI or Key Performance Indicators are as the name suggests, indicators of your performance. These are measurements of your progress towards goals that you set for yourself or your business. They provide an understanding of how for you are from your goal. Since, the KPI dashboards are quite minimal and to the point, the information present is quite exact. This helps business owners make informed decisions in a consumer-friendly way. It also allows them to notice trends and such and make changes accordingly without putting their business in jeopardy.

A KPI dashboard can also give business owners a starting off point which they can utilize to expand upon. For example, a specific decision in their business creating issues for them will be spotted in the KPI dashboard and they can use it to gauge whether or not they need further analysis on it or if they should just scratch the idea in its entirety.

What Makes Good KPI Dashboards?

The following three (03) key factors which help to make a good KPI dashboard.

1. Customization and specification are key when it comes to a KPI dashboard. The information that you need should not only be to the point but also tailored to your business and the point which your business is at.
2. The deadlines should be kept narrow and the areas chosen as indicators should depend on the timeline of the business. However, the deadlines should also be kept quite realistic. It should not be outrageously unattainable just because you want to make it possible.
3. The KPI should also be in line with the goals of your business. A well-rounded and thought-out business is likely to have established strategies in the very beginning of their existence and thus, any further decisions should be made, keeping those strategies in mind. This will also ensure that your KPIs are coherent and interrelated.

Difference between KPI and Dashboard

Logistically speaking, there isn’t a difference between KPI and a dashboard per se, since dashboards consist of KPI. However, to look at it simply KPIs are performance indicators within the dashboard that dictate whether or not a decision is following through like you hoped, or if a certain strategy is playing out according to you. These indicators give the employees a basic run-through of statistics and numbers that can help deduce the kind of changes that are to be made.

When we talk about a dashboard, it is a database comprising of the required information. Combined together, a KPI dashboard is a visual display of the data that can be accessed on a day-to-day basis. Quick access to these critical indicators keeps a business running efficiently and smoothly without hiccups. Almost all businesses rely on these dashboards to keep them up and running.

How to Prepare KPI Dashboard

• Define your performance key indicators. These indicators should be customized and in line with the kind of business that you are running. A reliable definition of aligned KPIs is having targets that are specific and which will directly affect the outcome of your business. It is better to ask for input and then work from there.
• Consultations from stakeholders are a very important part of determining the KPIs that will be perfect for your business. If you invest time and effort talking to stakeholders and taking their requirements into account, you can save time in the long term. You might not have to waste money indulging in the wrong ideas, you’ll improve facets of your business that will bring about positive change in your company as a whole.
• Visually, the first aspect of your KPI dashboard that you should focus on is an effective design. Without an effective design, your dashboard will fall short and will not be able to impress many clients. Creating a prototype is the first step.
• The right dashboard software can reform the way your dashboard plays out in the general market and can most definitely be created through excel. You can change the dynamics later on.
• Creating your data visualizations before firing your dashboard up is a very important step that can not be skipped. Visuals are becoming a necessary part of any and all database because it consolidates the information into one section.

How to create KPI dashboard in Excel using the Dashboard Builder

The Dashboard Builder is advertised as a utility tool that can be used to help maneuver your data according to the needs of your company. You can use the software to create and alter various illustrations and images and incorporate them into the dashboard without being forced to know programming techniques. The software comes with certain features that can make it easier for a layman to learn how to make a KPI dashboard without investing a lot of time and money into the process. Subsequently, it also does not take too long to learn the works of the website.

Step 1: Importing the Data into Excel.

Before you begin organizing your data in the dashboard, you first have to import all the relevant data into Excel. You can choose to copy and paste all your data in Excel or use a software to set up a proper connection and then export. People often opt for a live data connector that will continue transferring your data as it comes into existence. This ensures efficacy and swiftness. You can use this software to connect your apps and make sure that your Excel sheet is updated in real-time.

Step 2: Setting up Your Dashboard File

The next step would be to arrange your data into your dashboard file. It is considered efficient to have two or three tabs opened in your Excel for raw data and the structured data in your dashboard. It saves you the time to go back and forth and look for the data. You can import all of the relevant data into the raw sheet.

Step 3: Import the Excel sheet to the Dashboard Builder.

Once all your raw data has been imported into the Excel sheet, you can proceed to use Dashboard Builder to insert illustrations and other dynamic features into your dashboard by importing all of the data into the Dashboard Builder. This can be done using the import file feature available on Dashboard Builder. Dashboard Builder makes use of its file import capabilities to fetch data from various locations and create a single source of data. The best part is that you need not download the software to be able to use this feature, you can even use it online dashboard for FREE as well.

Step 4: Composition of the Dashboard

Charts are an important element of a decent dashboard. The charts can be composed using the drag and drop tool on Dashboard Builder. Without knowing how to code and program your graphics, you can change their positions and sizes using this tool which has been programmed for your ease. The entire task can be performed on your web interface. This makes creating a dashboard easier for businesses that do not have experience with software development. You can look at the tool as if it was a KPI dashboard generator.

The KPI dashboard builder offers a variety in the types of charts. This includes the basics which are line, bar, pie, 3D, table, and a histogram. Apart from them, there is also donut, bubble, stack, and area which can be used to display data in an intricate and specific fashion. Sankey diagrams are often used by employees to concentrate information related to the contribution of flows. You can also make use of heatmap, choropleth map, and sunburst. You can reclaim the logistics of the chart and alter them according to you and the needs of your business. The KPI dashboard builder will help make your charts dynamic as compared to the options in charts that are available in Excel. You can edit within this KPI tool and insert the data into your dashboard.

Step 5: Analysis of Data

KPI Dashboard Builder will analyze the data and give an output that can allow you to have a better understanding of where changes need to be made. This can initially be done using the Pivot Table in Excel or through the Data Analytics tool in the KPI Dashboard Builder. The KPI Dashboard Builder is programmed to categorize your data efficiently and in a manner that will let you analyze your data using the tool. You can use the Pivot Table to determine which data needs to be analyzed and let the KPI Dashboard Builder takes care of the rest.

Step 6: Make Your Dashboard Responsive and Dynamic

Dashboard Builder is built on JavaScript and D3 which makes it user-friendly. The assimilation of HTML5, CSS, and SVG assists in including visuals on your dashboard making it interactive. Responsive charts are an excellent way to make your dashboard attractive and this can be obtained with the help of Dashboard Builder.

These dashboards are created to be able to adapt and alter themselves in line with the device that you are using whether it be your desktop or your mobile phone which allows you to access your data from anywhere you prefer because of the way KPI Dashboard Builder designs them.

The visualization features available on the KPI Dashboard Builder completely alter the outlook of your dashboard, giving it that extra flair.

Are you ready to try your hand at KPI business dashboard ? Try KPI Dashboard Builder free forever!

George Lewis, Digital Marketing @DashboardBuilder