Let’s start with a little background on the word ‘dashboard’.
A dashboard was a wooden or leather screen placed in front of a carriage or sleigh to shield the driver from mud, splashback, and other objects that the horses “dashed up.”
Coming to the present day and age, businesses and organizations try to comprehend and analyze their data better as data dashboards are growing in popularity.
With the rise of big data and the importance of data-driven decision-making, having a user-friendly and informative data dashboard is essential.
With a plethora of options available, choosing the right data dashboard creator service can be a daunting task.
In this article, we will highlight the 5 best data dashboard creator services of 2023 based on their features, user-friendliness, and affordability.
Read more: An Introductory Guide To Business Dashboards 2023
What Is A Data Dashboard?
A data dashboard is an information management tool that provides a centralized view of key performance indicators (KPIs), data sets, and metrics relevant to an organization or a specific business process.
Dashboards can display data from multiple sources and can be customized to fit the specific needs of the organization or process they support.
They can be accessed from a computer or mobile device and can be shared with others.
Dashboards can include charts, graphs, tables, and other visualizations, making it easier to understand complex data and find actionable insights.
Purpose Of Data Dashboards
The purpose of a data dashboard is to provide a visual representation of important metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) in a single location.
The goal is to make data accessible, understandable, and actionable for decision-makers and stakeholders, allowing them to quickly and easily monitor performance and make data-driven decisions.
Data dashboards provide a high-level overview of key metrics and KPIs, while also allowing users to drill down into specific details to gain a deeper understanding of the data.
By presenting data in a visual format, dashboards make it easier to identify trends, patterns, and insights that may not be immediately obvious from a table or list of numbers.
According to a recent study, people utilized 20% fewer cognitive resources when activities were presented graphically, such as with a dashboard, as opposed to using conventional text-based software programs.
Benefits Of Data Dashboards
Data dashboards are a valuable tool for organizations looking to be able to visualize qualitative data to drive better decision-making, improve performance, and achieve their goals.
Businesses that use advanced data analytics and visualizations are:
- 2 times more likely to succeed financially in the top quartile of your industry
- 5 times more likely than market peers to take quick decisions
- 3 times more likely to carry out decisions than anticipated
- 2 times more likely to routinely use data when making judgments
The following are some of the key benefits of using data dashboards:
1. Customizable
Dashboards can be customized to fit the specific needs of the organization or process they support, including the display of KPIs and metrics that are relevant to the user.
2. Interactive
Data dashboards often have interactive features, such as drill-down capabilities, that allow users to explore data at a deeper level and gain a more comprehensive understanding of their metrics and KPIs.
3. Allow For Real-Time Monitoring
Data dashboards provide real-time updates, allowing organizations to quickly respond to changes and make timely decisions.
This is especially important for businesses that need to react to market trends and conditions in real time.
4. All Of Your Data Is In One Place
Data dashboards provide a centralized location for all of your data, making it easy to access, analyze, and share information.
This eliminates the need to search through multiple systems and reports, saving time and improving efficiency.
5. Intuitive And Predictive
Data dashboards often have intuitive interfaces and predictive capabilities, making it easier for users to quickly understand their data and identify trends and patterns.
This helps organizations make data-driven decisions and achieve their goals more effectively.
How To Visualize Qualitative Data
Compared to other types of communication, visuals convey information significantly more swiftly. Images that endure for only 13 milliseconds can be seen by the brain.
There are several ways to visualize qualitative data, including:
- Bar charts can be used to compare categories of data, such as customer reviews, demographics, or opinions.
- Pie charts are used to show the proportion of different categories of data.
For example, pie charts can be used to visualize the distribution of customer satisfaction scores.
- Word clouds are a fun way to visualize qualitative data. They display words in different sizes, with larger words representing more common or important words.
Word clouds can be used to display the most common words in customer feedback, for example.
- Stacked bar charts can be used to compare categories of data, such as customer feedback, by stacking the categories on top of each other.
- Donut charts are similar to pie charts, but with a hole in the center.
Donut charts are a good choice of dashboard tools for visualizing data when you want to highlight one or two categories of data.
- Line charts can be used to display changes in data over time, such as customer satisfaction scores, by plotting a line to represent the changes.
- Treemaps are used to visualize hierarchical data, such as customer feedback, by displaying the data in nested rectangles of different sizes and colors.
The key is to choose a visualization that helps you effectively communicate your message and insights to your audience.
The 5 Best Data Dashboard Creator Services of 2023
The data dashboard creator services are platforms that allow you to create, customize and share data dashboards for improved data analysis and decision-making.
These services offer a range of features such as pre-built data visualizations, integration with multiple data sources, customizable dashboards, and real-time monitoring capabilities.
Here are the 5 best data dashboard creator services to consider in 2023:
1. DotNet Report
DNR provides organizations with a flexible and powerful reporting solution that can be customized to meet their specific needs.
With its robust setup process, self-service BI tools, and support for accessibility, DNR is a valuable tool for organizations that need to create and embed reports in their applications.
Features:
1. Customization:
DNR allows organizations to fully customize their reports to meet their specific requirements.
Dashboard tools for visualizing data can include changing the font, color, and style of the report, adding custom calculations, and integrating with other data sources.
2. Server-Side Paging And Sorting:
By performing paging and sorting on the server, DNR reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred to the client, which improves the performance of the reports.
This is especially important for organizations that have large amounts of data that need to be displayed in the reports.
3. Query Builder:
The built-in query builder in DNR makes it easy for organizations to create and manage their reports.
The query builder allows organizations to select the data they need and apply filters, aggregations, and sorting rules to the data.
This makes it simple for organizations to build reports that display the data they need to see.
4. Drill-down Sub reports:
With the ability to create drill-down sub reports, DNR provides organizations with the ability to view more detailed data within a report.
The drill-down sub reports can be configured to display additional information about a specific record in the report.
This makes it easy for organizations to see more detailed information about the data in their reports.
5. Robust Setup:
DNR provides a robust setup process that makes it easy for organizations to get started with the tool.
The setup process includes step-by-step instructions for configuring the report server, database, and other components.
This makes it simple for organizations to get up and running with DNR quickly and easily.
6. Accessibility:
DNR is designed to be accessible to users with disabilities, and it supports accessibility features such as screen readers and keyboard navigation.
This makes it easy for organizations to ensure that their reports are accessible to all users, regardless of their ability.
7. Self-Service BI Tools:
DNR provides organizations with powerful self-service BI tools that allow business users to create, customize, and run reports without needing the assistance of IT.
This makes it easy for organizations to give business users the ability to build reports that meet their specific needs, without relying on IT to do it for them.
2) Datapad:
Datapad is a cloud-based data analytics platform that allows you to visualize your data in an interactive and meaningful way.
In the domain of building KPI dashboards specifically for mobile devices, Datapad is a market leader.
It assists forward-thinking business owners in gathering, tracking, analyzing, and managing vital business data from their mobile devices.
Read more: A Comprehensive Guide To Creating KPIs
Features:
Some of the key features of Datapad include:
1. Highly Customizable:
Datapad provides a range of customization options, so you can tailor the platform to your specific needs.
You can choose from a variety of charts, graphs, and other visualizations to help you understand your data in the way that makes the most sense to you.
2. Team Collaboration:
With Datapad, you can share your data and dashboards with your team members, making it easier to collaborate and make informed decisions.
You can also set permissions, so you have control over who has access to your data.
3. Mobile Friendly Dashboards:
With Datapad, you can view your data dashboards on any device, including smartphones and tablets.
This makes it easier for you to keep up-to-date with your data, even when you’re on the go.
4. Ease of Data Import And Export:
Datapad makes it easy to import and export your data, so you can quickly get started with creating dashboards and visualizing your data.
You can import data from a variety of sources, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud storage platforms.
Read more: Everything You Need To Know About Data Quality Management In 2023
3) Databox
Databox makes it as simple as it can for employees to track, evaluate, and enhance performance in one location on any device available.
More than 20,000 companies use Databox to track, visualize, and improve the data-driven decisions they make.
Features:
Some of the key features of Databox include:
1. One-Click Integrations:
Databox integrates with over 60 popular data sources, allowing users to quickly and easily import data from multiple sources and gain insights from a single dashboard.
2. Dashboard And Report Templates:
Databox offers more than 200 pre-built templates that can be easily customized to suit specific needs.
These templates provide a quick and easy way to visualize data and make informed decisions.
3. Easily Calculate New Metrics:
Databox makes it easy to calculate simple or complex mathematical calculations on the data that is being visualized.
The new metrics are calculated easily using its drag-and-drop interface to add data sources and build custom calculations.
4. Customize And Visualize KPIs:
Databox allows users to customize their KPIs to fit their specific needs, and to visualize the data in a way that is meaningful to their business.
This helps businesses stay focused on their goals and track their progress toward achieving them.
4) Dasheroo
Dasheroo is a cloud-based data analytics and visualization platform that provides its users with the tools to create and share interactive data dashboards.
Features:
Some of its key features include:
1. Instant Group Notifications:
Allows teams to stay updated on critical changes and trends by sending notifications to a designated group of people.
2. Custom Metrics Creation:
Enables users to combine and analyze data from different sources to create unique custom metrics, providing a more comprehensive view of the data.
3. Recurring Email Reports:
Facilitates regular communication and sharing of dashboards with teams by scheduling recurring emails with up-to-date data.
4. Data Import:
Facilitates easy import of data from internal or custom data sources, enabling users to quickly analyze the data and generate insights.
5) Grafana:
Grafana is a popular open-source data visualization and monitoring platform that provides a wide range of features and capabilities like ingesting, querying, and displaying data via interactive visualizations.
Moreover, the platform enables you to build team-wide dashboards that integrate information from many sources and promote a data-driven culture.
Features:
Some of its key features include:
1. Pre-Built Data Visualization:
Grafana comes with a vast library of pre-built data visualizations that make it easy to visualize your data.
You can choose from a wide variety of chart types, including bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and more.
2. Easily Import Data:
Grafana integrates with a variety of data sources, making it easy to import your data and start visualizing it.
Whether you have data stored in a database, a cloud-based platform, or a custom data source, Grafana can help you connect and visualize it.
3. Use Panel Editor:
Grafana’s panel editor provides a user-friendly interface for configuring and customizing your data visualizations.
You can easily adjust settings like the axis labels, color palette, and other visual elements to get the look you want.
4. Notifications:
With Grafana, you can set up custom alerts and notifications to keep you informed about changes in your data.
You can receive alerts via email, SMS, or other channels, and you can specify the conditions that trigger the alerts.
This can be especially useful for monitoring key performance indicators and staying informed about changes in your data.
Read more: Everything you need to know about using gauge charts
Conclusion
In conclusion, data dashboards are a crucial tool for businesses and organizations to make informed decisions based on real-time data.
By choosing the right data dashboard creator service, you can turn your data into actionable insights and take your organization to the next level.
Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, the 5 best data dashboard creator services of 2023 offer a range of features and pricing options to meet your specific needs.
FAQs
What are the three types of dashboards?
Operational, strategic, and analytical dashboards are the three different categories.
What are the basics of dashboard?
Content, layout, color, and fonts are the four cornerstones of dashboard design. You can influence how people interact with your dashboards to interpret information and take action by adjusting each of these levers.
What is Excel dashboard?
Metrics and other data points can be viewed in one location on the Excel Dashboard. Dashboards primarily include graphs and charts, which attract the user’s attention. Excel’s raw data might be tedious to view.
