How can you customize ERP system dashboards and reports effectively?

1 Why customize dashboards and reports?

Dashboards and reports are essential features of any ERP system, as they allow you to monitor, analyze, and communicate your performance, progress, and problems. However, not all dashboards and reports are created equal. Some may be too generic, cluttered, or irrelevant for your purposes. That's why you should customize them to fit your goals, roles, and workflows. By doing so, you can enhance your decision-making, productivity, and collaboration.

2 How to customize dashboards and reports?

Customizing dashboards and reports can be done in a variety of ways, depending on your ERP system, access, and expertise. Most ERP systems come with pre-designed dashboards and reports that can be modified with simple drag-and-drop or click-and-select options. You can also create your own from scratch, using the data and metrics that matter to you. Various tools such as spreadsheets, charts, graphs, tables, gauges, indicators, and maps can be used to visualize data. If necessary, external data or insights from sources outside your ERP system can be incorporated with APIs, connectors, or plugins that allow you to import or export data and embed dashboards and reports into other platforms or devices.

3 What to consider when customizing dashboards and reports?

When customizing dashboards and reports, you need to consider some important factors that can affect their usefulness and usability. Ask yourself who the audience is, what the purpose is, and how often the data is updated. Different users may have different needs and expectations when it comes to dashboards and reports, so tailor them to specific roles and responsibilities. Define your objectives and align your dashboards and reports with them, using relevant and accurate data and metrics. Consider how often you need to refresh your dashboards and reports, and how to indicate the currency and reliability of the data. Too many or too few data points can affect the clarity and validity of your dashboards and reports.

4 How to test and improve dashboards and reports?

Customizing dashboards and reports is an ongoing process that should be tested and improved to meet user needs. To do this, solicit feedback from users and stakeholders, and use surveys, interviews, focus groups, or usability tests to identify any gaps or issues. Performance should be measured against metrics such as usage, satisfaction, accuracy, timeliness, and impact to evaluate the effectiveness of dashboards and reports. Additionally, ensure dashboards and reports are kept up to date with any changes in the business environment or processes, and maintain them by fixing any errors or bugs that may occur.

5 How to share and distribute dashboards and reports?

Customizing dashboards and reports is not enough; you must also share and distribute them to your users and stakeholders, ensuring they can access and use them easily and securely. To do this, you should consider the right format, channel, and permissions. For example, choose a format that suits your audience and purpose while preserving the quality and interactivity of your dashboards and reports. You should also select a channel that offers convenience and accessibility for your users and stakeholders, as well as support the features of your dashboards and reports. Additionally, apply permissions and security measures to control who can view, edit, or share the dashboards and reports. This is especially important if they contain sensitive or confidential data.

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?