Business users report that dashboard numbers do not match their Excel reports. How do you approach this issue?

< 1 min read

When users report mismatched numbers, I first acknowledge the issue and collect the specific example they are referring to.
I compare the dashboard metric with the Excel calculation to understand the exact difference.
Next, I check the data source used in the dashboard and confirm whether it matches the source used in Excel.
I also validate business definitions, such as filters, date ranges, or calculation logic.
In one case, the dashboard used “order date” while Excel used “delivery date,” which caused the mismatch.
I then review the data transformation or aggregation logic in the data model.
After identifying the root cause, I explain the difference clearly to stakeholders.
Finally, I align both reports with the correct definition to maintain consistency.

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