| When it comes to dashboard and reporting tools, there | | | | thorough insight into the topic itself. While it may |
| is a significant difference and you will want to learn | | | | provide new information and understanding, you must |
| what it is. It's helpful to understand that traditional | | | | also realize that there are still many different aspects |
| reporting tools typically just produce tables of numbers | | | | that you cannot learn from such quick and flashy |
| and statistics, and while they can be adequate in | | | | presentation techniques. Dashboard reporting usually |
| certain situations, are becoming unsatisfactory. | | | | deals with two types of data, actual and planned. This |
| Dashboard reporting tools are much more interactive | | | | would for example, be the amount of revenue that |
| and give a much different and sometimes more | | | | has been budgeted for so far, which is planned, and |
| efficient way to digest the information that is being | | | | actual results as well. |
| reported to the business user. If you are looking for | | | | Two very important issues that are present in most |
| good reporting tools, then what you really want to | | | | dashboard products are user satisfaction and adoption. |
| know about is the dashboard style of visualizing | | | | These can be two dimensions that are difficult to |
| information. By using graphs, charts, and other visual | | | | completely measure, unless of course you have a |
| presentation types, you will effectively communicate | | | | good way to present the data in such a way that |
| the information that needs be shared with another | | | | everyone can comprehend. It can be unproductive |
| person or a team of people. | | | | looking at rows and rows of numbers on reports, so |
| This is not to say that traditional reporting tools do not | | | | introducing a graphic way of presenting data is often |
| have their place or any value, because they certainly | | | | necessary. |
| do. PDF reports for example, are great for organizing | | | | Despite the use of dashboard reporting tools in |
| a large batch of information for purposes of mass | | | | modern businesses today, there are still many different |
| distribution. The key to truly great presenting is to find | | | | modern tools for reporting that must not be forgotten. |
| updated and visual methods that are combined with | | | | It is recommended that you find a nice balance |
| traditional reporting tools that have been proven to be | | | | between modern presenting methods and older |
| effective over the years. A certain amount of change | | | | traditional ones that still very much have a place in the |
| is needed, but it is also a good idea to include some of | | | | business world today. After a while you will eventually |
| the older techniques as well. | | | | come up with your own combination that is sure to be |
| The chief benefit of dashboard reporting is that it is a | | | | effective in communicating any and all information you |
| quick yet effective overview of key performance | | | | need to get through to someone else. |
| indicators, but it is not meant to be a complete and | | | | |