Why you should share dashboards across your organization

Do you ever feel as though you’re the only one who really knows what’s going on in your organization? Do you find yourself constantly having to explain things to people, or worse, having to make decisions based on incomplete information? If so, you’re not alone.

Many employees report feeling isolated and disconnected from the larger organization, and one of the main reasons for this is a lack of access to information. In today’s data-driven world, information is power, and those who have it often hoard it.

But what if there was a way to break down these barriers and create a more open and collaborative environment? What if everyone in your organization had access to the same information that you have access to?

Dashboard sharing is the process of making your business intelligence (BI) dashboard available to others within your organization. By doing this, you can help employees understand and make better use of the data that is available to them. In addition, you can also build trust and collaboration among team members by openly sharing information.

Plus, sharing your dashboard can also help you to get feedback about your data and improve the quality of your BI dashboard over time.

There are many benefits to dashboard sharing, but there are also some challenges that you may face when doing so. In this article, we will explore both the benefits and challenges of dashboard sharing.

The importance of dashboard sharing

In today’s data-driven world, information is power. Those who have access to information often have an advantage over those who don’t.

But what if everyone had access to the same information? What if there was a way to level the playing field and give everyone the same opportunity to succeed?

Dashboard sharing is the process of making your business intelligence (BI) dashboard available to others within your organization. By doing this, you can help them understand and make better use of the available data.

BI dashboards are often custom-built or purchased from a vendor. They typically contain a variety of charts, graphs, and other visualizations that help users understand complex data sets.

Dashboards are used by all sorts of organizations, including businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and more. They can be used to track anything from financial data to website traffic to social media engagement.

While dashboard sharing may seem like a simple concept, it can profoundly impact an organization. When everyone has access to the same information, they can make better decisions, collaborate more effectively, and work towards common goals.

For example, sales teams can use dashboard sharing to track their progress towards quotas, marketing teams can use it to measure the success of their campaigns, and product development teams can use it to monitor the progress of their projects.

The benefits of dashboard sharing

Dashboard sharing can have a number of benefits for both you and your organization. Here are just a few:

1. Sharing dashboards enhances understanding of data

Data is helpful, but without the right context, it can be difficult to understand and make use of. Dashboards provide that context by organizing data into visually appealing and easy-to-understand displays.

When you share your dashboard with others, you can help them see the big picture. This can help them make better decisions and take actionable steps based on the data.

2. Dashboard sharing builds trust and collaboration

In any organization, trust is essential. When team members trust each other, they are more likely to collaborate effectively and work towards common goals.

When you can share dashboards openly, it shows that you trust others to see the data and use it appropriately. This can help to build trust within the organization and encourage collaboration.

3. Sharing dashboards leads to better dashboard quality over time

When you share your dashboard with others, you also open yourself up to feedback. This feedback can be used to improve the quality of your dashboard over time.

For example, if users find certain visualizations confusing, you can make changes to make them clearer. Or, if they have suggestions for new features or data sets to include, you can consider adding them in future iterations of the dashboard.

4. Dashboard sharing saves time and money

Organizations often have multiple teams working on similar projects. If each team has its own dashboard, that can lead to duplicate effort and wasted time and money.

By sharing dashboards, you can avoid duplication of effort if everyone is working with the same data sets. This can save your organization time and money in the long run.

The challenges of dashboard sharing

While dashboard sharing can have many benefits, there are also some challenges that you may face. Here are a few:

1. Security and privacy concerns

When you share dashboards, you are also sharing sensitive data. This data may include confidential information about your customers or clients—and the risk of a data breach is always a concern.

Before you share your dashboard, be sure to consider the security and privacy implications. Make sure that only those who need to see the data have access to it, and consider using encryption or other security measures to protect the data.

2. Inconsistent data sets

If different team members are working with different data sets, it can be difficult to create a team dashboard that includes all of the relevant information. This can lead to confusion and frustration among users, as well as inconsistency in the dashboard itself.

To avoid this issue, make sure that everyone is working with the same data set before creating the dashboard. This will ensure that the dashboard is consistent and accurate.

3. Lack of ownership

If multiple people are working on the same dashboard, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for maintaining it. This can lead to problems if the dashboard is not updated regularly or if there are errors in the data.

To avoid this issue, be sure to assign ownership of the dashboard to one person or team. This will ensure that someone is always responsible for maintaining the dashboard and keeping it up-to-date.

4. Data overload

When you share dashboards, users may try to cram too much information into one visualization. This can lead to a dashboard that is cluttered and difficult to understand.

To avoid this issue, consider breaking your dashboard into multiple smaller sections—each with its own specific purpose. This will make it easier for users to find the information they need, and it will prevent the dashboard from becoming overloaded.

How to get started with dashboard sharing

The first step to dashboard sharing starts with you. If you’re not already sharing your dashboards with others, now is the time to start.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Use dashboard software with sharing capabilities

There are a number of dashboard-sharing software options available. These platforms make it easy to share your dashboard with others in your organization and offer various features to make the process easier.

2. Create a dashboard that is easy to understand

Remember that not everyone who sees your dashboard will be an expert in data visualization. Make sure that your dashboard is clear and concise and that it includes only the most important information.

3. Share your dashboard regularly

The more often you share your dashboard, the more likely it is that others will find it useful. Share your dashboard on a regular basis so your colleagues can benefit from it as well.

4. Get feedback from users

As you share your dashboard with others, be sure to get feedback about what is working well and what could be improved. Use this feedback to improve the quality of your dashboard over time.