How do you customize and optimize your BI and ERP dashboards and reports for different users and roles?

I get worried when I see "customize and optimize". Don't you think that this has already been done by the billions of R&D dollars which the ERP vendor has pumped in? The first priority here is to understand the standard offerings and the flexibility that allows. Only once that is understood, can a thorough "fit to standard" approach be carried out against business goals (not IT goals). My thoughts are that if a standard approach gets you 90% of the way to meeting a business goal, then that should be enough. Customizing to meet the last 10% will saddle your organization with unduly high maintenance costs in the future - this is incumbent upon us as consultants to make the business aware of that fact.

Here is the problem. Nobody ever knows what they want when it comes to dashboards. The typical user of an ERP system doesn't have a clue what they need. the problem lies with the executive sponsors on the business side providing clear and critical KPIs as a starting point. Some great examples would be for asset maintenance, managing the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) statistics and maintaining a certain level by asset type. Without management defining the targets, you cant simply just provide an off the shelf report if its not in line with their KPI measurement. It also then flows into the ERP itself. How can you report on something that isn't being done accurately in the system or in line with the dashboards needs?

Understanding your audience is key. Start by identifying their roles, needs, and preferences. Tailor dashboards and reports accordingly, focusing on relevant KPIs, metrics, and visualizations. Keep it user-friendly and interactive for effective decision-making. Regular feedback loops help fine-tune for continuous optimization.

Customize dashboards not only based on user roles but also considering the context and purpose of use. Whether for internal monitoring, strategic decision-making, or external reporting, contextual customization ensures that dashboards provide relevant insights, maximizing their effectiveness in driving business outcomes.

Understanding your audience is crucial when customizing and optimizing BI and ERP dashboards and reports. Recognize the distinct needs, goals, and data interaction styles of various users, from C-level executives needing high-level KPI overviews to sales managers requiring detailed sales breakdowns. Consider factors like data literacy, access levels, and the specific expectations for data quality, granularity, and frequency. Also, take into account the intended use of the dashboards and reports—whether they are for internal review, decision-making, historical, or predictive analysis—to ensure they are tailored appropriately for their context and purpose.

To optimize BI and ERP dashboards: Identify user needs. Customize content. Simplify layout. Prioritize key insights. Enable interactivity. Gather feedback. Provide training and support.

Let's consider a real-world example of how this can be achieved: Suppose you're implementing Odoo for a manufacturing company with various departments such as production, inventory, sales, and finance. Each department has different user roles and responsibilities, and therefore, they require customized dashboards and reports tailored to their specific needs. Design Dashboards: 1. Production Department 2. Inventory Management 3. Sales Department 4. Finance Department

Designing for clarity and simplicity is crucial for effective communication. In my experience, it involves presenting information in a straightforward manner, avoiding unnecessary complexity. Use clear and concise language, minimizing jargon to enhance understanding. Prioritize a clean and intuitive design for dashboards and reports, ensuring easy navigation. Organize information logically, and employ visual elements judiciously to aid comprehension. Consider the user experience, aiming for an interface that is user-friendly and minimizes cognitive load. Regularly gather user feedback to identify areas for simplification and improvement. A design that prioritizes clarity and simplicity enhances usability and user satisfaction.

Maintain consistency in design elements such as colors, fonts, and labels across all dashboards and reports to enhance readability and user experience.

Design your BI and ERP dashboards and reports for clarity and simplicity by selecting appropriate visual elements like charts, graphs, and tables that effectively communicate data. Use consistent, intuitive design features such as colors, fonts, and tooltips to enhance readability and user experience. Avoid overloading information and utilize white space, headings, and separators for better structure and clarity. Adhere to best practices in data visualization to accurately represent and highlight key insights and trends, ensuring data is not misleading or distorted.

To enable interactivity and customization in BI and ERP dashboards and reports for different users and roles, start by understanding their unique needs. Utilize user personas to tailor dashboards with relevant KPIs and data visualizations. Implement role-based access controls to ensure users only see pertinent information. Incorporate interactive elements like filters and drill-down capabilities for deeper analysis. Regularly gather feedback to refine and enhance the dashboards further.

Enable interactivity and customization in your BI and ERP dashboards to enhance user engagement and utility. Provide tools that allow users to drill down, zoom in, filter, sort, and manipulate data as needed. Features like changing chart types, color schemes, and data sources, along with the ability to create or modify dashboards through drag-and-drop, wizard, or coding tools, empower users to tailor reports to their specific needs and discover insights independently.

Provide users with the ability to personalize dashboards and reports according to their preferences. Offer options to customize chart types, color schemes, and data sources, as well as the flexibility to create or modify dashboards using intuitive tools like drag-and-drop interfaces.

End user and Customize are dangerous words. The level of customization should be limited to ways the user can see the data, but should never impact what data is being extracted or how it is being joined. Things like filters/slicers/drill-downs are fantastic but it needs to be intuitive and the end users need to be trained properly on how to use the dashboard to avoid the incorrect use of the information. Most importantly, document every element of the dashboard into a wiki/manual so that its clear what the dashboard is doing and how it can be used. Do not change a dashboard without proper documentation. It takes 10% of the time of development to simply document a change.

Enabling interactivity and customization enhances user engagement and satisfaction. In my experience, incorporate interactive features such as drill-down options, filters, and dynamic elements. This empowers users to explore data based on their specific interests and needs. Provide customization options for dashboards and reports, allowing users to tailor views according to their preferences. Implement features like drag-and-drop functionalities for a user-friendly experience. Regularly gather feedback on desired customization features to enhance user control. Balancing interactivity with simplicity ensures a flexible and personalized user experience. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and efficiency in utilizing BI and ERP tools.

Develop a testing framework for ERP and BI dashboards, gather user feedback via surveys and usability tests, analyze usage data, and assess their business impact. Make targeted improvements based on these insights, communicate updates effectively, and continuously iterate to optimize performance.

To enable interactivity and customization in BI and ERP dashboards and reports for different users and roles, start by understanding their unique needs. Utilize user personas to tailor dashboards with relevant KPIs and data visualizations. Implement role-based access controls to ensure users only see pertinent information. Incorporate interactive elements like filters and drill-down capabilities for deeper analysis. Regularly gather feedback to refine and enhance the dashboards further.

Testing and refining are integral steps in optimizing BI and ERP dashboards. In my experience, conduct thorough testing to identify any usability issues, data inaccuracies, or performance bottlenecks. Involve end-users in the testing process to gather valuable feedback. Iterate based on user input and make refinements to improve the overall user experience. Regularly update dashboards to incorporate new features, address issues, and align with evolving business requirements. Establish a feedback loop for continuous improvement, ensuring that the dashboards remain effective and relevant. Testing and refinement are ongoing processes that contribute to the longevity and efficacy of BI and ERP tools.

A medi??o de desempenho e a análise de métricas s?o práticas fundamentais para identificar áreas de melhoria. Fa?a pesquisas, entrevistas e testes de usabilidade para obter insights valiosos. O monitoramento contínuo do uso e ado??o dos painéis é vital para garantir que eles realmente agreguem valor. Uma abordagem iterativa, baseada em feedback e dados, garante que os painéis e relatórios evoluam para atender às necessidades em constante mudan?a.

Test and refine The fourth step to customize and optimize your BI and ERP dashboards and reports is to test and refine them. Collect user feedback and measure performance and usability through surveys, interviews, focus groups, usability tests, and analytics. Monitor usage, adoption, and impact, identifying areas for improvement. Based on this data, make necessary changes such as adding or removing features, fixing errors, or updating data and design. Continuous refinement ensures the dashboards and reports meet user needs and deliver business value.

Regularly maintain and update your BI and ERP dashboards to ensure reliability, accuracy, and security. Make sure they display current data, are compatible with other systems, and comply with governance standards. Update them as needed to meet evolving business requirements and user expectations.

Regular Feedback Loop: Collect user feedback regularly to understand evolving needs. Agile Updates: Use agile methodology for quick iterations and adjustments based on feedback. Continuous Training: Provide ongoing training to ensure users are up-to-date with new features. Version Control: Maintain version control for efficient management of changes. Collaborative Approach: Foster collaboration between IT, business, and users for aligned updates. Documentation: Keep comprehensive documentation for reference and transparency.

Maintaining and updating BI and ERP dashboards is essential for their continued effectiveness. In my experience, establish a routine maintenance schedule to address any performance issues, bugs, or data inconsistencies. Regularly update data sources to ensure the information presented is accurate and up-to-date. Incorporate user feedback and evolving business needs into the update process. Implement version control to track changes systematically. Communicate updates to users and provide any necessary training on new features or changes. A proactive approach to maintenance and updates ensures that BI and ERP dashboards remain reliable, relevant, and aligned with organizational goals.

To maintain and update your BI and ERP dashboards and reports, ensure they are reliable, accurate, and secure, reflecting current data. Ensure compatibility with other BI and ERP tools, and adherence to data governance standards. Regularly review and update dashboards to align with evolving user needs and business requirements.

Ongoing maintenance and updates are essential for keeping dashboards and reports relevant and accurate. Data Accuracy: Regularly check and validate the data sources to ensure the information presented is accurate and up-to-date. Software Updates: Keep the BI and ERP software up-to-date with the latest features and security patches. Content Refresh: Periodically review and update the content of the dashboards and reports to reflect any changes in business processes, goals, or user needs.

Continuously learn and improve your BI and ERP dashboards by analyzing feedback, data, and best practices. Stay updated with the latest trends in BI and ERP technologies, data visualization, and analysis. Explore innovative enhancements and leverage dashboards for strategic purposes like driving innovation and collaboration.

Regularly solicit feedback from users to understand their experience, identify areas for improvement, and refine dashboards and reports based on their needs. Train users on how to effectively utilize the customized dashboards and reports relevant to their roles.

Continuously learning from user feedback and industry trends helps in evolving your dashboards and reports. Gather Feedback: Regularly solicit feedback from users to understand their evolving needs and any challenges they face. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest trends and best practices in data visualization and dashboard design. Training and Support: Provide ongoing training and support for users to ensure they can effectively use the dashboards and reports. Consider creating user guides or conducting workshops.

My top picks would be as follows: 1. Maintain accessibility restrictions for reports based on segregation of duties. 2. Optimize for different output layouts. 3. Ensure high customizability. 4. Involve all relevant stakeholders and harmonize the reports. The latter is often overlooked, leading to the creation of multiple almost identical reports, resulting in unanticipated and unnecessary costs, especially when development is involved. 5. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, train end users on how to use the reports. This includes those who may not be aware of the existence of such reports. The value of reports lies not only in their availability but also in their utilization for making informed decisions.

A huge consideration people overlook when developing dashboards is the access to the data based upon the user. If there is no dynamic security synchronization between the source of the data and the dashboard, then users may have elevated access to data within a dashboard they wouldn't in the source system. Ensure security and user roles are properly developed to limit any misuse of data.

Make sure the audience is clear on what the data in the dashboard represents, and if applicable, that there is data definitions documented. For example, you might display filtered data and think that the title will make it obvious to what was filter. But if the filters are not clearly defined to the audience, they could try to replicate it and use the wrong filter, or they could assume a different set of filter was used, both could lead them to the wrong conclusions.