Different Types of Reporting Dashboard Software

Dashboard type is defined according to the use of the dashboard and the job functions within the company that it complements.

Operational Dashboards

Operational dashboards, in general, give users an idea of what is happening on the operational/implementation level. These software products are agile and have the capacity to match the fast-paced operations of teams like customer service and sales.

In finer detail, operational dashboards monitor the fluctuations of key performance indicators and other mercurial operational figures of a company. They are designed to handle simultaneous user logins to monitor the progress of targets on a daily basis.

Strategic Dashboards

Strategic dashboards are provided for executives and managers within a company. The data monitored by this type of software is less frequently updated than data monitored by operational dashboards. These software programs allow executives to determine the progress of KPIs within the organization from a macro-level perspective.

Analytical Dashboards

Analytical dashboards are used to analyze raw data obtained from operations. This software provides outcome predictions, trend analysis, and other insights. Advanced features such as ad-hoc and drill down querying are included in the software package.

KPI Dashboard Software

KPI measurements are oftentimes included as a feature in some dashboard software. However, KPI-dedicated dashboards allow managers to focus on analyzing the progress of key performance metrics. These software programs are able to determine sales growth, analyze marketing campaign effectiveness, and determine the financial standing of a company.

Website Dashboards

Website dashboards allow website owners and managers to determine the performance of their online marketing strategies. Metrics and visualizations are provided in a website-dedicated dashboard to monitor its web traffic movement. Users are also given the capacity to integrate external sources to the dashboard.

Service widgets such as Google Analytics, Pingdom, GitHub, and Chartbeat can also be integrated into website dashboards. This is in addition to social media monitoring capability features that are provided to the users.

How to Choose Effective Reporting Dashboard Software

Below are some crucial features that you should check for when purchasing your company’s reporting dashboard software:

Easy Customization

Quality dashboard software programs typically allow users to modify the interface for easier data perusal. This cuts clutter and lessens visual stress. In addition, the customization itself should be easier to perform. Check also if the program has a drag-and-drop interface. This allows users to easily pick and move unnecessary elements and data from the dashboard.

Visual Appeal

The software should give users the capacity to choose the color of the data charts and the GUI’s font style. This allows companies to match the style used by the business during presentations (especially useful in sales pitching).

Cloud Integration and Storage

The program should also be capable of being integrated into a cloud. With this feature, users can collaborate with each other online. This also takes into consideration that most of the data inserted into the system come from cloud-based sources. When opting for cloud-based software programs, however, the storage capacity should also be taken into consideration.

Collaboration Schemes

In addition to choosing cloud-based reporting dashboard software, users should also take into consideration all collaboration tools integrated into the system. Current users should have the capacity to leave comments, schedule reports, share key metrics, and notify program members.

Mobile Friendly

The reporting dashboard software should be capable of keeping up with the speed of transactions and mobility of the users involved. Having software that is mobile friendly should also be your primary consideration. Data should readily be presented in a mobile-friendly format.

Data Blending, Extraction, and Filtering

The reporting dashboard software (especially the operational dashboard) should be capable of processing mixed and raw data from multiple sources. However, not all data will be important in the analysis. Thus, it is imperative for the software to perform data filtering before actually converting data into a useful form. The software should also be capable of determining the possible existence of correlations among sets of data.

Drilled-down Data

While it makes sense for reporting dashboard software programs to provide summarized and processed data, the software should also be capable of providing all drilled-down data from them. This drilled down data provides insights into the formulas used and raw data processed to arrive at a particular figure. It ensures users of the accuracy of the data itself and the subsequent data processes performed.

Excel Collaboration

It is highly imperative that reporting dashboard software is capable of obtaining data from MS Excel files. Many small businesses use Excel files when storing their data and figures. In addition, the dashboard should also be capable of exporting data to Excel and able to transform it into PDF file format.

Platform Compatibility

For desktop-based dashboard software, users should choose programs compatible with their computer’s operating systems. This ensures smooth implementation of the program on a company-wide scale. If the available software program is not compatible with the existing OS in use, the program developers should be capable of providing support without additional cost.

High-volume Capability

It is a known fact that the cost of the software depends on the number of users a system can accommodate. The capacity size of each program should be considered, especially when the software solution demands additional costs for each additional user.

Benefits Conferred by Reporting Dashboard Software

• Data visualization provides for the easier analysis of data obtained from the actual operations of a company. This enables users to determine the weak points within the operations. Moreover, project points that leak too much financial resources are identified and rectified.
• Real-time data updating allows managers to perform real-time decision making. By making complex data easier to understand, the managers are given the ability to sort problems as they arrive.
• The transformation of data into a usable form allows every member of the organization to gain insights on their productivity. This gives them an avenue to improve their performance which will subsequently be reflected in the charts.
• Data consolidation features eschew the need to sift through multiple data sources and switch from one analytics application to another, streamlining the process.
• Objective analysis of performance combined with access restriction provides only the concerned organization members an overview of their overall performance.
• Problem areas are easily revealed through ad-hoc reporting and metrics. This gives the user historical and real-time data to engage them in decision-making proactively.
• Data communication across departments provides companies with more reliable and accurate data for further processing. Excel integration ensures that data from a centralized source is exportable to individual Excel files for decentralized analysis.

Common Features of Reporting Dashboard Software