In last month’s blog, I discussed the concept of data storytelling and provided some tips to improve visualisation. This is essential in building a meaningful narrative for unlocking the value inherent to the data a company has at its disposal. Building on from this, the visualisation journey is a continuously evolving one influenced by new approaches and technologies.
With this in mind, I recently came across this checklist that provides insights into six strategies to modernising data visualisation with dashboards and reports. Fortunately, the report shows that dashboard development is a priority at most companies. And for good reason. But in this growth of development lies the risk that companies may be tempted in creating too many dashboards for them to be effective.
Therefore, these modernisation focused strategies entail more than just improving the visualisation element itself, but rather examining ways to use self-service capabilities, data architecture resources, and enterprise reporting platforms to improve overall efficiency of data visualisation. Below I have recapped these interesting and very useful strategies, as they remain key to the overall process of achieving effective data driven decisions.
#1 Use visualisation to make it easier for users to gain actionable insights
Visualisation introduces new ways of delivering reports and providing access to data and contextual information. Naturally, this extends beyond the traditional spreadsheet-based approach many companies still rely on today. Instead it overlays data with technological innovations that build on people’s ability to find meaningful patterns, structures, and outliers in visual data presentations. The main focus of visualisation should be to produce information that can be clearly understood.
#2 Balance self-service capabilities with the value of enterprise solutions
Even though self-service has been identified as a key organisational priority for many, it is dependent on accessing quality data, standardisation across business environments, and fast query performance. Clearly, this is something many companies need to work on especially as the importance of data-driven decision-making for a digital environment becomes crucial. The balance comes in by leveraging Business Intelligence reporting systems with the freedom of users to use self-service technologies to personalise visualisations according to their specific requirements.
#3 Manage metadata to enable users to integrate complete, trusted data
Having access to quality metadata is critical, especially when it comes to building trust in dashboards and reports. It stands to reason that improving this management becomes fundamental to modernising data visualisation for the right results. More than that, it also improves meeting compliance requirements and helps decision-makers see the relationships between multiple data sources within the business – and all to the benefit of the business and solid decision-making processes.
#4 Reduce total cost of ownership and add flexibility through web-base and embedded deployment
Working from self-service technologies through to cloud-based ones, visualisation is an organic journey that requires the embracing of the most innovative solutions available. The high-performance computing capabilities of cloud offerings make them a natural fit to enhance the visualisation and analytics environments inside organisations, as well as to reduce costs. Furthermore, the ability to use open standards systems in this regard becomes a key component to creating a more intuitive and enhanced visualisation experience.
#5 Modernise performance management with analytics-based recommendations
During these challenging times, performance management becomes even more important to ensure the success (and competitiveness) of an organisation. To this end, dashboarding and scorecards can become an invaluable resource to show visualisation in a new light. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and other sophisticated technologies can certainly help enhance visualisation through the delivery of more analytics-based recommendations.
#6 Improve operational excellence with actionable, real-time insights
Dashboards present insights in context and in a visually compelling way. By injecting them with real-time analytics, they evolve beyond the static formats of the past into a richer storytelling medium. It is through this additional layer of complexity that companies can derive significant value to inform their decision-making.
Ultimately, a customised approach that incorporates all these strategic elements can work to the advantage of the business. Even though it is difficult to predict what the new normal will look like, data and gaining insights from it will be the foundation for a successful digital work environment.
