As a billing service provider, we are used to looking at a lot of figures every day. However, it is also important for the company's success to interpret these figures correctly. To support our customers in this, we offer data visualization for better evaluation of their figures and data.
We have been using Tableau software for this data visualization for many years. We use the BI tool to create professional reports for our customers so that they can optimize their products and analyze the purchasing behavior of their own customers or obtain a regional evaluation of payment behavior. These visualizations and evaluations provide a wealth of information for business intelligence. But our customers' marketing departments also benefit from the countless possibilities offered by these reports. Here are 5 tips and tricks for the perfect dashboard.
1. know the target group
It is important to know who is going to read the report when it is created. Is it the financial analyst who has the time and inclination to delve into the figures or is it the salesperson who just wants to take a quick look at the figures? The analyst needs a lot of detailed information and evaluation options, while the salesperson just wants to check the sales figures. You should also know what specialist knowledge your target group has. Are additional explanations or tool tips perhaps necessary so that the viewer understands the dashboard?
2. pay attention to the display size
Are your dashboard users mainly on the move with smartphones or tablets? Then it is also advisable to adapt the dashboard to these display sizes. Extensive tables with detailed information require the viewer to scroll and zoom a lot. This is unlikely to make the viewer happy. In this case, concentrate on the essentials and try to summarize the data.
3. speed is important
If you just want to take a look at the latest figures, you don't want to spend ages staring at an hourglass or loading bars. It is therefore important to keep the dashboard lean and only visualize relevant data that is always needed. Extracts from the database are often much faster than live data, which may not always be necessary.
4. promote interactivity
Offer interactive options so that your users can compile the dashboard according to their preferences. Filters, sort orders and the most important views can be used and combined individually. Your users will have more fun and will probably use your dashboard more.
5. use tooltips
Tooltips are an excellent way of providing your users with more information at a glance. When the user moves their mouse over a field, additional or aggregated information can be displayed in a small pop-up. Invest some time in designing these tooltips. Your users will thank you for it.
