10 tips for building effective BI dashboards

Are you one of the many people who feel overwhelmed by the amount of data you have to deal with every day? Do you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of numbers and that there’s no way to get your head above water?

You’re not alone. In fact, according to studies, most organizations are struggling to make sense of the vast quantities of data they’ve collected. The good news is that there are ways to overcome this challenge—it just takes a little effort.

BI dashboards exist to help you make informed decisions. But all too often, dashboards are cluttered and don’t provide the information that people need. Here are 10 tips for designing effective BI dashboards.

But before we begin, let’s take a look at what a dashboard is.

What is a BI dashboard?

A business intelligence (BI) dashboard is a visual display of information that is easy to understand. Dashboards are used to give an overview of key metrics and help business leaders make quick, informed decisions.

In other words, it’s a way to see all of the essential data related to your business in one place. And it’s not just for businesses—dashboards can also be used for personal use cases (such as fitness or budgeting).

BI dashboards offer businesses of all sizes a way to make better, more informed decisions. And while they can be complex and overwhelming, they don’t have to be.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at 10 tips for designing effective BI dashboards.

1. Keep it simple

The first step to creating an effective dashboard is to keep it simple.

2. Only include the most important information

3. Use visuals to your advantage

4. Make use of dashboard sharing capabilities

5. Utilize data filters

6. Set up alerts

7. Create multiple dashboards

8. Allow for customization

9. Keep it up-to-date

10. Make use of dashboard templates

What to avoid

When designing your dashboard, there are a few things you should avoid.

Don’t make it too complicated. Keep your dashboard simple and easy to understand. Avoid adding too many features or using complex data visualizations.

Don’t use too much data. Only include the data that’s absolutely necessary. Too much data can be overwhelming and make it challenging to find the information you’re looking for.

Don’t forget about mobile. Make sure your dashboard is responsive so that it can be viewed on mobile devices. Mobile users should be able to access all of the same features and functionality as desktop users.

How to get started with BI dashboards

Now that you know the 10 tips for designing effective BI dashboards, it’s time to put them into practice. Keep in mind that dashboard design is an iterative process. You may not get it perfect on the first try. But with each iteration, you’ll get closer and closer to creating a dashboard that meets all of your needs.