What to look for in a dashboard
They use visual components (e.g., charts, performance bars, sparklines, gauges, meters, stoplights) to highlight, at a glance, the data and exceptions that require action.
They are transparent to the user, meaning that they require minimal training and are extremely easy to use.
They combine data from a variety of systems into a single, summarized, unified view of the business.
They enable drill-down or drill-through to underlying data sources or reports, providing more detail about the underlying comparative and evaluative context.
They present a dynamic, real-world view with timely data refreshes, enabling the end user to stay up-to-date with any recent changes in the business.
They require little, if any, customized coding to implement, deploy, and maintain.