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Business Dashboard Tips

Some useful tips.
  • How do I chose the right visualization widget?
    • It is not because your tool allows you to add fancy indicators that you should use them. Decide on the ones that are easy to read.
    • It is important to decide on the right colors for your indicators. Make sure you have enough contrast between each color.
  • Do I need to put all my KPI in my dashboard?
    • Too many indicators will weaken the impact of your dashboard. Keep it straight to the point and focus on a few key aspects of your business.
    • Categorize your KPI by creating dashboards for each of your business departments / business units.
  • Do you want any more tips?
    • Pay attention to your audience, your dashboard may be a tool that you will share with colleagues, clients, banks etc. Make sure all the KPI are relevant and easy to understand.
    • Don’t hesitate to review and adjust your KPI once in a while to follow the evolution of your company. A business is a living entity, as your dashboard should be!
Create S.M.A.R.T. indicators.
  • Specific
    • The goal you set must be specific rather than general: “Increase sales of item X by 10%” is better than just “increase sales”, also specify your target-market for your KPI.
  • Measurable
    • Give concrete criteria for measuring progress toward your goals: Set “Our event must gather 10 000 people” rather than “as many as possible”.
  • Attainable
    • Do net set unattainable goals, keep them reasonable and in line with your overall business objectives.
  • Relevant
    • Your KPI should be relevant to other objectives in your company. If your development team is planning to release a product, you want KPI for your sales team to be in relation with the new product.
  • Time-Bound
    • Set a target date to achieve each goal, keep a clear deadline, avoid “soon” or “asap” as much as possible.