What are the best practices for presenting BI data to a global audience?

1 Know your audience

Before you design your BI presentation, you need to understand who your audience is, what they care about, and how they consume information. Research their background, context, goals, and expectations, and tailor your message accordingly. For example, some cultures may prefer more direct and factual communication, while others may value more emotional and personal stories. Some audiences may prefer more visual and interactive data, while others may want more detailed and analytical reports. Knowing your audience will help you craft a BI presentation that resonates with them and meets their needs.

3 Use clear and consistent language

One of the biggest challenges of presenting BI data to a global audience is the language barrier. You need to use clear and consistent language that can be easily understood and translated by your audience. Avoid jargon, slang, idioms, and acronyms that may confuse or offend your audience. Use simple and direct sentences that convey your main points and avoid ambiguity or confusion. If possible, use a professional translator or a localization service to ensure the accuracy and quality of your translation. Also, be mindful of the tone, style, and etiquette of your communication, and respect the cultural norms and preferences of your audience.

4 Design for clarity and impact

Another challenge of presenting BI data to a global audience is the design of your data visualization and storytelling. You need to design your BI presentation for clarity and impact, so that your audience can easily see and understand your data and your message. Use colors, shapes, fonts, icons, and images that are appropriate and consistent for your data and your audience. Avoid clutter, noise, and distractions that may reduce the readability and effectiveness of your data. Use charts, graphs, maps, and tables that are suitable and relevant for your data and your audience. Use titles, labels, captions, and annotations that are informative and concise. And use transitions, animations, and effects that are smooth and engaging, but not distracting or overwhelming.

5 Test and refine your BI presentation

Before you deliver your BI presentation to a global audience, you need to test and refine it to ensure that it works well and meets your objectives. Test your BI presentation on different devices, platforms, browsers, and networks that your audience may use. Test your BI presentation with different languages, cultures, and feedback that your audience may have. Test your BI presentation with different scenarios, situations, and questions that your audience may encounter. And test your BI presentation with different metrics, measures, and outcomes that you want to achieve. Based on your testing, refine your BI presentation to improve its quality, performance, and effectiveness.

Presenting BI data to a global audience can be challenging, but also rewarding. By following these best practices, you can create and deliver BI presentations that can communicate your data and your story in a clear, compelling, and convincing way.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?