Dashboard tools

We use all kind of data base systems, business intelligence tools but unfortunately we do not know where we are. Dashboard software application can come to our rescue. It is graphical user interface which tells the executive where he is in terms of performance. Present’s information in such a way that it can be quickly grasped for taking action. We know that our computer’s windows desktop is a dashboard for us interacts with the computer system. Similarly executives are presented with a dashboard with which they can their functions:

• It can offer a personalized view of the information required to do his duty or control his department or company.
• Present him with result data in charts, graphics, gauges etc.,
• Can be converted in to other formats so that he will communicate effectively.
• Easy to manage and deliver result to his stakeholders.

The above uses of a dashboard or dashboard itself may impart different meanings to different people.

Of late, dashboard software application is linked to Business Intelligence, more. The dashboard is used to display the enterprise performance metrics to various people. Through dashboard they quickly understand the information and decide on further action. With dashboard it becomes easy to look at data and arrive at conclusions. Crucial information is noted by the board and dissipated to stakeholders. Dashboard software is an important part of an organisation’s evaluation.

Today’s enterprises have the luxury of having sophisticated dashboard software. Not like good old days where every one used a plain lotus or excel sheet. If we have to mention some vendors and brands here, there are IBM Cognos, SAP Business Objects, Oracle Hyperion etc., There are also some emerging new players who operate in niche sectors. Some of them are listed below:

• Dundas
• SwiftReporting
• KlipFolio
• Panopticon
• PureShare
• Corda
• FusionCharts
• JuiceAnalytics
• TableauSoftware

Dashboard software makes it easy for everyone to have access to the intelligence provided by sophisticated applications. The importance of dashboard can be explained by a news item that appeared in USA. The new federal CIO of USA, Vivek Kundra, wanted all the Government IT projects by American Government to be monitored by dashboard. Though the KPIs or Key Performance Indicators of the projects are updated regularly, he wanted the same to flow to the dashboard at real time!

• Amazon Web Services, the undisputed leader and pioneer in cloud front operates a AWS or Amazon Web Services Service Health Dashboard.
• Google runs its own Google Apps Status Dashboard.
• Facebook, a social networking site with more than 400 million active users, announced an updated analytics dashboard in June 2010. The company’s website.

Let us conclude with the fact that the benefits of having a dashboard is definitely manifold!

About the author:

• Malick Md
• PMP, Technology Expert And Writer
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