A dashboard should answer the key business questions that drive decisions. Common examples include:
- Performance vs Target: Are we meeting sales, revenue, or operational goals?
- Trends Over Time: How are metrics changing daily, monthly, or yearly?
- Comparisons: Which regions, products, or teams are performing best or worst?
- Exceptions or Outliers: Where are risks, anomalies, or underperforming areas?
- Resource Utilization: Are people, inventory, or budget being used efficiently?
- Progress Towards Goals: Are initiatives or campaigns on track?
In one project, the sales dashboard answered:
- Monthly revenue trend
- Top 5 performing regions
- Products below target
- Year-over-year growth
The goal is that every visual directly supports a business decision.