Creating Intuitive Dashboards for B2B Users

📌 Build Dashboards as Products (Why it’s the only way to drive adoption) Most companies sill treat dashboards like a project. They assign someone to build it. It gets delivered. And then… nothing. No one uses it. No one maintains it. No one even knows if it’s useful. That’s what we call the project mindset: → Fixed scope → One-time delivery → No iteration But here’s the truth: Dashboards should be treated like a Product, no different than a SaaS product. Think about how great products are built: ☑ They solve a specific user problem ☑ They go through multiple iterations ☑ They rely on feedback for improvement ☑ They focus on usability and adoption So why not apply the same principles to your BI dashboards? This is how you can adopt the product mindset: 1️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 Ask yourself the following questions: → Who are your users? → What decisions do they need to make? → What data do they need to make those decisions faster? 2️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Just because it’s published doesn’t mean it’s useful. Set up onboarding sessions, document key features, and integrate it into daily workflows. 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 What’s working? What’s confusing? But most importantly: What’s missing? Use this to create your v2, v3, and beyond. 4️⃣ 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐈𝐭 This is a critical aspect. Every product needs a product owner. Your dashboard needs someone responsible to keep it relevant, accurate, and usable. When you shift from a project mindset to a product mindset, everything changes. This mindset shift is key to making real business impact and getting ROI from your data infrastructure. Remember: Your dashboard isn’t just a deliverable. It’s a product people should love to use. #BusinessIntelligence #DataAnalytics

I've launched a lot of dashboards. Many of them flopped. It's caused me to become a bit of a snob about making them. Here's the framework I follow: – Accuracy Can users trust the numbers? If not, congratulations, you’ve built a very pretty fiction generator. – Freshness If the data is older than the meeting you're presenting it in, it’s already losing the argument. – Governance and security Basic question: will this accidentally expose payroll? If the answer is “maybe,” the answer is “no.” – Latency If it loads slower than airport WiFi with a Boingo paywall, users will bail and ask someone to “just send the numbers” instead. – Seamless access If the login flow requires more steps than filing taxes, adoption is dead on arrival. – Discoverability Can people actually find what they came for, or is it an escape room with filters? – Flexibility Does it handle breakdowns, filters, and definitions without collapsing like a folding chair at a cookout? – User experience and adoption If it feels clunky, people will go right back to their rogue spreadsheets and pretend they never saw it. – Actionability Insights should drive decisions, not quietly live out their days in a forgotten tab. – Visualization quality Clear, intuitive, useful. If it looks like clip art, users won’t trust it. – Exportability People will export no matter how much you beg them not to, so it might as well work. – Interoperability It should play nicely with other tools, not behave like a jealous app that refuses to integrate. A dashboard shouldn't just be a bunch of charts. If it flops on any of these, it’s not ready for sunlight. But that's ok, keep refining if you are chasing a real business need. If you aren't chasing a business need though, lol. what are you doing. get a spreadsheet or something. What did I miss in my list? -- I'm 🏴☠️ Bill Yost and the most loving thing a data analyst can say is "that doesn't exactly sound like you need a dashboard"

✈️ Most dashboards are designed like airplane cockpits…when what you really need is a Control Tower. Too many BI dashboards try to show everything at once: KPIs, segments, raw data — all mashed together. It overwhelms users and kills decision speed. Instead, think about your dashboards as a Control Tower. The top of the tower offers a clear, panoramic view. You’re scanning for major movements and disruptions. When needed, you can zoom in with instrumentation or speak directly to pilots, but that's not your default. By managing your information hierarchy in layers, you can start simple and progressively reveal complexity. Here’s how it works: 📊 L1: The Tower View – high-level KPIs, trends, and alerts. What’s happening? 🔍 L2: Segment View – explore segments and categories. Where is it happening? 🧾 L3: Transaction View – detailed records and raw data. Why is it happening? Each level is built for a specific cognitive mode. Mixing them forces your brain to multitask and that’s where insight gets lost. 🧠 Rule of thumb: Dashboards should optimize for low cognitive load at entry. Users should never have to reconcile different zoom levels simultaneously. Control Tower dashboards allow users to scan, zoom, and act without overwhelming them. By designing dashboards to reflect human cognitive modes and information hierarchy, you create tools that are not just insightful but usable. #dataviz #dashboards #BI #uxdesign #analytics #productivity

From 5 Pages of a Dashboard to 1: Simplifying Insights Without Losing Depth Most dashboards tell a story in pages. Mine tells it in one. When I designed this one-page dynamic Power BI dashboard, the goal was simple: Make data interaction intuitive, fast, and insightful. So instead of switching between five different pages for Sales, Profit, Profit Margin, Discounts, and Quantity, I created a single, fully interactive dashboard. Here is how it works: - Each KPI card isn't just a number. It's a button. - When you click on a metric, the entire dashboard transforms to show detailed visuals and information related to that specific metric. No page reloads. No clutter. Just pure insights in one glance. What it took to build it: - Used the Button Slicer for the KPIs. - Used the New Card visual to add YoY Metrics. - Created a Field parameter with all the KPI metrics. - DAX measures to keep metrics accurate and flexible. - A clean, consistent color theme to enhance readability. - A focus on user experience, not just on data visualization. The result? - A dashboard that saves time, reduces complexity, and keeps decision-makers focused on what truly matters, the story behind the data. 👉🏽 Check the short clip attached to see the functionality. If you have ever designed dashboards, you know how challenging it is to make simplicity powerful. P.S. Have you tried turning a multiple-page dashboard into a single dynamic view before? I would love to hear how you approached it.

6 take-aways to sharpen your UX thinking for AI-driven Enterprise Dashboards : ① Make confidence a first-class output. Display data quality scores or completeness percentages next to results, so leaders can gauge risk before acting. ② Surface the “why” with the “what.” Pair every metric with an inline explanation of the key filters, joins, or assumptions the model used. Users gain context without hunting for it. ③ Let users poke holes fast. One-click drill-downs (e.g., “see calculation steps”) invite scrutiny and build trust without derailing flow. ④ Cache visual states for iteration. Allow users to bookmark a specific query + visualization. That speeds decision cycles. ⑤ Use smart autocomplete as a thinking aid. Guide users with predictive query suggestions that reflect their data model and past behavior. Done well, this shortens learning curves and nudges users toward better questions. ⑥ Design for the gray area. Flag partial answers—when data gaps prevent a definitive result, rather than forcing a yes/no or number. Transparency beats false precision. Build these mechanics in from day one; retrofitting trust and traceability is expensive and rarely done well.

Want to create impactful dashboards? Here’s what you need to keep in mind!  1. 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: Start with a clear objective. What questions should your dashboard answer? Align it with your business stakeholder's goals to ensure relevance and impact.       2. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Tailor your dashboard to the needs of your end-users. Are they executives looking for high-level insights or operational managers needing detailed data?       3. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Avoid overloading them. Focus on key metrics and visualizations that provide the most value. Simplicity will increase their clarity and usability.       4. 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀: Use the appropriate chart types for your data like bar charts for comparisons, and line charts for trends. The right visuals make your data intuitive and engaging.       5. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆: Group related KPIs next to each other. Be aware of if they need to show a development over time or just the latest status. Always include indicators for what is a good or problematic value. Be transparent about units. Colors help, but don't go too crazy on them.       6. 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆: Double-check your data sources and calculations. Inaccurate data undermines trust and can lead to poor decisions. Validate everything you use.       7. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: Make your dashboard interactive. Allow users to drill down into details, filter data, and explore different views. Interactivity enhances user engagement and insight discovery.       8. 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲: Gather feedback from your users and iterate. Continuous improvement ensures your dashboard remains relevant and useful over time.       9. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: A great dashboard doesn’t just present data but it tells a compelling story that enables action.      10. 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱: Check if the dashboard should be created at all. Building it might not be the best course of action if it's only needed for a single time. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll create dashboards that not only look great but also deliver real business value. How do you balance simplicity and detail in your dashboards? ---------------- ♻️ Share if you find this post useful ➕ Follow for more daily insights on how to grow your career in the data field #dataanalytics #datascience #dashboards #datavisualization #careergrowth

Dashboard Design Secrets Revealed: How I Helped Fintech Startups Explode 10x Remember that sinking feeling of staring at a dashboard, clueless about what's next? Been there. As a product designer with 5 years under my belt, I've seen countless SMB dashboards that are beautiful...but useless. But what if I told you there's a framework used by industry giants like PayPal and Klarna to turn data into decisions? Introducing the "Focus, Flow, Clarity" Dashboard Framework: → Focus: Laser in on 1-3 key metrics that matter most to your business. No more information overload! → Flow: Guide users through a visual narrative, making insights instantly clear. Think data story, not data dump. → Clarity: Use intuitive design elements and actionable CTAs to turn insights into action. No more guesswork! This framework isn't just theory. I've used it to: → Boost conversion rates by 25% for a payments startup. → Reduce churn by 18% for a crypto exchange. → Help a wealth management app secure $5M in funding. So, how can you apply this framework to your SMB SaaS product? → Identify your 3 north star metrics. What are the 3 things that absolutely must move the needle for your business? → Map your user journey. What are the key steps users take to achieve their goals? Design your dashboard to support that journey. → Clarity is king. Use clean visuals, concise labels, and actionable CTAs to make every pixel count. P.S. Want to see the framework in action? Check out my portfolio (link in bio) for real-world examples! Ready to ditch the dashboard data dump and unlock actionable insights? Let's chat! #dashboards #saasdesign #fintech #web3 #conversionrateoptimization

Day 1 of #BusinessIntelligence Ever wondered why some dashboards make an impact while others confuse users? Here are 5 essential principles that I always follow when building dashboards: • Know Your Audience: Understand the decisions they need to make. • Prioritize KPIs: Focus on the most critical metrics. • Simplicity is Key: Clutter can distract, so aim for clarity. • Consistent Design: Maintain a consistent format, color scheme, and chart types. • Iterate and Improve: Gather feedback and continually refine your dashboard. I’ve applied these principles to a recent project where simplifying a complex dashboard led to higher user engagement and clearer insights. By understanding user needs and removing non-essential data, I turned it into an actionable tool. What’s the one principle you never skip when building dashboards? #BusinessIntelligence #DashboardDesign #DataVisualization #PowerBI #Tableau #DataAnalysis

Wondering how to elevate your data presentation to be more engaging and insightful? Let's dive into how you can transform your dashboards 👇 Creating great dashboards isn't just about compiling data; it's the art of conveying complex information in an understandable and visually appealing way. The goal is to provide users with clear, interactive, and user-friendly insights that lead to actionable decisions and uncover hidden trends. An efficient dashboard does more than present data; it tells a story and guides users through a seamless online data analysis journey. The key is to prioritize relevant data and be user-centric while aligning with your core business objectives. Let's explore the principles that underpin an efficient dashboard design: 💡 Know Your Audience Tailoring your dashboard to the specific needs of its users is vital. Understand their context, whether they're viewing it on the go or in a detailed presentation. Simplify complex charts to ensure the data analysis is effortless and value-adding. 💡 Define Clear Goals Align your dashboard design with the specific objectives it aims to fulfill. Be selective with the data you include; irrelevant data can cloud your message. 💡 Select Appropriate KPIs Choose KPIs that directly contribute to your business objectives. These will form the backbone of your dashboard, providing focused insights into your business performance. 💡 Narrative Data Presentation Your dashboard should tell a story. Organize your data in a way that leads the user through a logical narrative, making the information easily digestible and actionable. 💡 Provide Context Contextualize your data for clarity. Include comparison values and benchmarks to give users a frame of reference. This helps in understanding whether the numbers are favorable or require attention. A great dashboard is more than just a collection of charts and numbers; it's a strategic tool that guides decision-making. If you're looking to transform your business’s data analytics, connect with me for expert advice on dashboard design and implementation. With the right approach, your dashboards can become a linchpin in your business strategy, providing clarity and driving informed decisions. Reach out today, and let's unlock the full potential of your data together! 🔽 🔽 🔽 👋 Hi, I'm Lisa. Thanks for checking out my Post!   Here is what you can do next ⬇️   ➕ Follow me for more FP&A insights    🔔 Hit the bell on my profile to be notified when I post   💬 Share your ideas or insights in the comments ♻ Inform others in your network via a Share or Repost #digitaltransformation #finance #cfo #data #businessanalytics

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀? (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 1) Most analysts think a beautiful dashboard is enough. But here’s the truth: 𝗨𝗜 (User Interface) and 𝗨𝗫 (User Experience) are non-negotiable for dashboards that 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬. Here’s what makes the magic happen: - 𝗨𝗫: The silent hero that ensures your dashboard flows seamlessly, answers key questions, and minimises frustration. - 𝗨𝗜: The visual polish—colours, typography, and icons—that keeps users engaged and builds trust in your insights. 💡 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Without UX, even the prettiest dashboard falls flat. Without UI, it’s forgettable. You need 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 for a game-changing experience. 🔍 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗨𝗫 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 I created a dashboard demonstrating how key UX laws transform dashboards from frustrating to intuitive. Explore how thoughtful design improves both usability and functionality. Check it out here on Tableau Public: https://lnkd.in/exmyE5-q 🤔 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲? Dashboards aren’t just for displaying data—they’re for driving decisions. And decisions only happen when the design speaks to users. Click here for Part 2, Focusing on UI: https://lnkd.in/eAQmWaiv  💬 What’s one UX rule you never skip when creating dashboards? Drop your tip in the comments! #Tableau #PowerBI #Datavisualisation #UI #UX