BI dashboard best practices

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Business intelligence is all about producing informed actions. Thus, the numbers and intelligence data points produced by a BI dashboard should be designed to inform actual decision making, not just reveal pointless trivia.Â
It should present important information clearly so non-technical and senior leaders can interpret and understand findings while tracking live trends. In short, it must be able to help others act in an intelligent, evidence-backed way.Â
Designing a BI dashboard is important work, and can pay off when done well. This article will highlight a number of BI dashboard best practices that any data analyst should adopt to produce an effective and valuable data tool for their organization.Â
- Identify Needs Early
Although exploratory analysis is great, a BI dashboard should be planned in an orderly way. The first step is identifying the purpose of the dash. This step should involve decision makers and management, as well others in the organization, to identify the intended use of the dashboard and the best way to make it happen.Â
- Target Your Decision Makers
The intended audience should shape the information on the dashboard and how it is presented. Too much information will confuse and obscure, whereas too little might lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Take stock of the technical sophistication of the audience and the intended use so that you can tailor the data and visualization to the questions they care about.Â
- Leverage Effective Data Visualization
Data visualization is hardly an afterthought. Good and effective data presentation can help identify and present important trends. Plenty of information is only useful in longitudinal context or in relation to other pieces of data. Rather than try to present such data in tables, opt for charts, map graphics, or even interactive modules. Think about the comparison or argument being made by the data and select the tool best fitting the task.Â





