How to build a dashboard from scratch in 5 steps in 2023
Seo desc.: This post shows you how to build your dream dashboard from scratch with tools like
Power BI and Google Data Studio in 5 steps.
No matter what area of business you work in, there’s no doubt that a dashboard can help you to
achieve better results and make faster decisions. If you want your dashboard to be an asset for your
business, in this post we’ll show you how to build it from scratch with tools like Power BI (read more
about this here) and Google Data Studio (or here).
What is a dashboard and why is it important for you?
A dashboard is a display of information in a visual format, usually used for much more than one
person to view at once. When done well, dashboards can show critical information quickly and
clearly so that you can easily answer questions about your business as it unfolds.
Your dashboard is the window into your business. It gives you the big picture and allows for quick
action on what’s most important to you.
A dashboard is important for you because it visually represents all the critical information you need
to see, giving you a real-time view of your organization's performance. A good dashboard can help to
improve productivity, increase revenues and reduce costs.
Build your dashboard in 5 easy steps
If you have identified a need for dashboards, start with this guide to walk you through the process of
building it in 5 steps. The goal is not just to deliver the right data or create eye-catching visuals but
also to influence behavior and inspire action.
How to build a Dashboard like this?
1. Define your goal and audience for the Dashboard
Before getting into dashboard building, it is important to define your audience and how you can
provide them what they are looking for. Customizing your dashboard based on the user type will
make it more personal and more effective for you. A sales person, for example, will want precise
data about his or her territory with several drill-downs and the ability to cut and slice across multiple
dimensions. An executive, on the other hand, may prefer to examine only the most critical Key
Performance Indicators (KPI) in order to identify current requirements and pain areas.
Consider which platform will host your dashboard. A significant amount of usage happens via mobile
devices and tablets. Consider who your consumers are and what their preferences are.
2. Gather your ideas for the Business Intelligence data
Creating a great dashboard starts with having a clear understanding what you want to achieve with
it. Do you want to use it to track your company's KPIs? Drive strategic decision-making? Or monitor
customer behavior? Once you know what your dashboard's purpose is, you can begin to gather the
data and visualizations you need to make it happen. There are a few things keep in mind as you
gather your ideas for your dashboard. First, consider how you want to present your data. Do you
want to use charts, graphs, or maps? Second, think about how you want to organize your data. Do
you want to group it by region, by time periods, or by product? And finally, don't forget to include
any filters or interactivity that will make your dashboard more user-friendly.
3. Select the best dashboard software
After you collected your ideas, it is time to find the right dashboard builder tool. There are many
different tools available for building dashboards. When choosing a dashboard tool, there are several
factors you should consider, such as cost, features, ease of use, and support. One of the most
significant criteria for choosing the finest dashboard software is its report delivery features. It is not
enough to just construct dashboards and infographics and notify your staff about them. Take into
consideration that most of them will not log into your dashboard software to view your dashboards.
On the other hand, it is also important to make your dashboard accessible for most devices.
4. Start building your dashboard
It's time to construct the visual representation in line with your approved wireframe once you have
the underlying data table available. The data table to connect to and the charts you need to develop
are both available at this point, giving you everything you need to begin the project.
If your business has established style manuals, maintain them at all costs. Make sure the things you
create fit to the branding guidelines. If there are no established guidelines, create one for your team
so that you can define its identity. Consider your dashboards' major and secondary colors as well as
the typeface, icons, and logo you would employ. It helps with branding and usability when additional
goods are introduced to your team's arsenal. Users would be more tolerant of new items if they
were more accustomed to the layout and colors.
Most of the dashboards have to be updated frequently, make sure the entire process is automated.
5. Test it and get ready for launching
Before sharing the dashboard with your users and stakeholders, it is essential to do the required
quality checks after the development is complete.
During data testing, ensure that every statistic displayed on your dashboard is correct and matches
the figures in your database. You may use your database to run queries to validate these figures. If
you utilized features such as hierarchy, actions, filters, navigation buttons, and so on, you must test
these features before pushing the reports to the server.
You now have everything you need to launch your product, and it's time to let potential users know
about it. Following the launch, you must ensure that the dashboard does not come to a stop.
The best dashboard tools
A dashboard-building tool with an intuitive interface enables you to access priceless data in a matter
of minutes without having to write a single line of code. Over time, having this sort of access to up-
to-date and pertinent business insights will enable everyone in your organization to use data in their
decision-making, boosting output and fostering corporate expansion. Here are some suggestions for
powerful dashboard tools:
Power BI
Power BI is a set of software services, applications, and connections that work together to transform
different data sources into logical, visually engaging, and interactive insights. Your data might be in
the form of an Excel spreadsheet or a combination of hybrid cloud-based and on-premises data
warehouses. Power BI makes it simple to connect to your data sources, visualize and find what's
essential, and share it with everyone or whatever you choose.
Google Data Studio
Google Data Studio is a free dashboard creation tool that allows you to create visually appealing,
customizable, interactive, and responsive dashboards. Panels may be built from templates, the most
diversified graphs, maps, and tables can be used, your brand identity can be applied, and other
resources can be used — all in a user-friendly manner so that anybody can make and understand the
reports.
Celonis EMS
Celonis has software called "Execution Management System." In practice, this implies that digital
processes are captured and mapped automatically. The Celonis EMS enables you to operate your
whole organization on data and insight rather than just understanding your operations. We have a
detailed blog post about Celonis if you want to get to know the tool more.
Databox
For marketers, CEOs, analysts, and other decision-makers, Databox is a cloud-based business
analytics platform that offers a single interface for viewing numerous key performance indicators
(KPIs) and producing reports. It offers mobile apps for iOS and Android smartphones and is
appropriate for small to large enterprises.
Tableau
Tableau assists individuals in transforming data into useful insights. Simple access to data in any
format, located anywhere. Ad hoc assessments should be carried out quickly to uncover untapped
prospects. Interactive dashboards with cutting-edge visual analytics may be created using drag and
drop. Make an effect on your business by sharing your efforts with everyone. The usage of Tableau
to see and comprehend data is widespread, from large multinational corporations to early-stage
startups and small companies.
Final thoughts to build your Dashboard
Whether you need to visualize supply chain metrics or present comprehensive financial data to the
appropriate stakeholders we have guided you through the steps on how to develop a dashboard
from a concept into a business-boosting reality.
You'll be able to construct dashboards that help you obtain more thorough access to your most vital
data and increase internal communications and efforts by adhering to these crucial dashboard
design principles and aspects and drawing inspiration from our useful examples. Gaining assistance
from cutting-edge online BI solutions would guarantee a significant increase in productivity, all
shown in stunning dashboards and enabling even non-technical individuals to manage massive
amounts of data.
To help you make the best decision for your business, we've compiled a list of the top dashboard
tools available. Each of these tools has its benefits and drawbacks, so be sure to read through our
descriptions carefully. And if you still can't decide which tool is right for you, feel free to contact
Makeitfuture for more information.
