provide clear insight into performance. This practice helps in keeping track of essential business parameters and evaluating performance effectively. • TREND ANALYSIS: This helps in identifying patterns and forecasting future performance. By analyzing trends, organizations can make proactive decisions and stay ahead of potential issues. • AUDIENCE-DRIVEN: Dashboards should be designed with the audience or specific use case in mind. Keeping the dashboard focused on the needs of its users helps ensure that it delivers relevant and meaningful insights. • CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Feedback mechanisms should be in place to continuously improve the dashboard. Regular updates and improvements based on user feedback helps keep the dashboard effective and relevant. • EFFICIENT DATA SLICING AND DICING CAPABILITIES: This allows users to break down data into manageable pieces for detailed analysis. This practice enhances the depth of insights that can be derived from the data. CLARIFY YOUR DASHBOARD OBJECTIVES Another key consideration when building a dashboard is understanding the objectives of the dashboard. Whether the goal is real-time insights, comprehensive reporting, or improved decision- making, clarity in objectives guides the design and functionality of the dashboard. GUIDELINES FOR DASHBOARD SUCCESS Follow these final considerations that will contribute to the success of the dashboard: In today’s data-driven world, your level of efficiency in handling and interpreting data can make or break a business. With a plethora of information at your fingertips, it is especially important to employ best practices in your organization’s use of dashboards. • SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE INTEGRATION TOOLS is vital for effective data management. Tools such as ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and API integrations facilitate seamless data flow and integration. • USE DATA WAREHOUSING, which involves storing integrated data from multiple systems, allowing for easier access and analysis. This practice means that data is readily available for analysis and decision-making. • EFFECTIVE DATA MANAGEMENT, including data standardization and quality and performance monitoring, is crucial for maintaining data integrity. Proper data management practices help ensure that the data used in dashboards is accurate and reliable. • EMPLOYING ROBUST DATA INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES is essential. Integrating data from various sources and ensuring it is presented uniformly in dashboards helps in creating a comprehensive view of business metrics. Unlocking data efficiency through best practices for dashboards is indispensable in today’s data-centric world. By following these recommendations, organizations can enhance their data-handling capabilities and derive actionable insights from their dashboards. This not only improves decision-making but also drives business success. When used effectively, dashboards become powerful tools that transform raw data into valuable business intelligence. KATE BROWN is a business intelligence and analytics leader at Wipfli LLP with over 10 years of experience helping manufacturers gain more timely insight into operational performance and surfacing information that team members need to make informed decisions across the organization. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she focuses on educating manufacturers on the business application of a data-centered decision-making framework. Learn more at https://www.wipfli.com. BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE WWW.ARPMINC.COM / 25
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