Understanding Multi-Layered Excel Dashboards

Introduction

Multi-layered Excel dashboards are powerful tools that enable organizations to summarize and analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately. They are composed of multiple layers of information that include visuals and interactive graphics, allowing the user to quickly understand trends and patterns.

The use of multi-layered Excel dashboards provides significant advantages. The most obvious are the ease of use and the ability to quickly leverage data to make informed decisions. Additionally, this type of dashboard can be used to create customized reports and to track performance in real time.

Definition of multi-layered Excel dashboards

A multi-layered Excel dashboard is created using multiple data sources and includes interactive visualizations such as charts and tables. These can be combined to create a snapshot of the data that is easy to understand. The dashboards are built using formulas, connecting different elements of the dashboard and giving the user the ability to slice and dice their data and perform ad-hoc analysis.

Overview of the benefits of multi-layered Excel dashboards

• Organizations can quickly summarize and analyze large amounts of data.
• Enables users to quickly leverage data to make informed decisions.
• Helps create customized reports and track performance in real time.
• Provides an interactive and intuitive way to interact with data.

Benefits of Using Multiple Dashboards

An Excel dashboard allows analysts to visualize data easily and quickly. Unlike traditional charts and tables, multi-layered dashboards allow analysts to gain insights into complex data quickly, view trends from different angles, and compare multiple data sets. Here are some additional benefits of using multiple dashboards:

Allows for Deeper Data Analysis

By combining multiple visualizations, reports, and data sets in a single dashboard, analysts can quickly explore data and uncover hidden patterns. Within a single dashboard, analysts can also adjust settings to explore different aspects of the data. This ability to quickly adjust settings and explore data allows analysts to gain an in-depth understanding of the information they are working with.

Effective Display of Grouped Data

Multi-layered dashboards allow analysts to display large amounts of data in an organized and easy-to-understand format. By combining charts, graphs, and tables, analysts can quickly compare and evaluate multiple aspects of the data. This visualization makes it easier for analysts to quickly draw insights from the data and identify trends.

Ability to Create Custom Reports

Multi-layered dashboards allow analysts to customize reports within the same dashboard. This makes it easy for analysts to quickly create reports to share with stakeholders or to analyze further. Analysts can also quickly adjust parameters and settings to create custom dashboards that are tailored towards specific data sets.

How to Create a Multi-Layered Excel Dashboard

Design the dashboard layout

Designing the layout of your Excel dashboard is the first step in creating a multi-layered dashboard. Think about the overall objective of the dashboard and what type of data needs to be presented. Identify the data elements you would like to include in the layout and consider how they should be arranged to best display the information. Break down the data into different components and plan how each component will fit together to create the full dashboard. Visual elements, such as images and charts, can be used to provide the user with an easier understanding of the overall dashboard.

Create the dashboard sheet

Once you have designed the layout of your dashboard, it’s time to create the dashboard sheet. Use Excel to create a sheet that contains the elements of your dashboard. Determine the data types needed for each element and use the appropriate functions to create the sheet. For example, for charts you should use the Chart Wizard or a chart-specific function. Once the sheet is created, you can start to populate it with the appropriate data elements.

Pull data from multiple sources

Multi-layered dashboard sheets typically contain data from multiple sources. You will need to look at different data sources and decide which pieces of information you want to include in your dashboard. This can include external data, such as financial or customer data, or internal data, such as project timeline or employee performance data.

Connect data visuals

Once you have pulled the data from multiple sources, it’s time to start visualizing the data in the Excel dashboard. Select the appropriate visuals for the data and use advanced functions, such as pivot tables and slicers, to visualize the information. Pay attention to the visuals you choose and ensure that they are easily understandable by users. Keep the visuals relevant to the data and use colors and fonts that match the overall look and feel of the dashboard.

Create a summary dashboard sheet

Once the individual elements of the dashboard are ready, you can create a summary dashboard sheet. This will provide an easy to understand overview of the entire dashboard and will help users quickly gain insights from the data. Use Excel functions to create summary calculations and use previously created visuals to display the information. This summary sheet should be easy to understand and should be well-designed to create an appealing end result.

Applying Filtering and Subtotals

Filtering and subtotaling data are key features when creating a multi-layered Excel dashboard. With these features, you can quickly and easily access the data you need. This section will cover three techniques for working with filtering and sub-totals: utilizing the SUMIFS function, applying PivotTable filters, and grouping and subtotaling.

Utilizing the SUMIFS Function

The SUMIFS function allows you to specify criteria within a range of cells to add up all the cell values that meet the criteria. This function can be used to calculate totals for a wide range of tasks, including calculating total sales for a certain date range or total sales for a certain region. This is a useful tool for creating multi-layered dashboards.

Applying PivotTable Filters

PivotTable filters are a powerful way to quickly filter and analyze large datasets. With pivot tables, you can quickly filter data based on multiple criteria. This makes it easy to explore different perspectives of your data and create meaningful insights.

Grouping and Subtotaling

Grouping and subtotaling allow you to quickly gain insights into your data by grouping similar items into categories. This helps to quickly identify relationships between different groups and can be used to create sophisticated summary dashboards. Grouping and subtotaling are particularly useful for creating multi-layered Excel dashboards.

Adding Charts and Graphs

Charts and graphs are essential components of Excel dashboards as they present complex data in an easy-to-follow visually appealing manner. There are several types of charts and graphs that can be added to dashboards, three of the most commonly used are bar graphs, line graphs, and area graphs.

Using Bar Graphs

Bar graphs are ideal for illustrating data to compare values and reveal trends. For example, a bar graph may be used to illustrate how sales figures change over several periods of time. The y-axis typically displays the values of the data or counts, while the x-axis displays categories that divide the data, such as a product, region, etc.

Utilizing Line Graphs

Line graphs are best used to monitor changes in data over time. Unlike bar graphs, line graphs may have multiple lines which can be compared over different time periods. Line graphs also use the x-axis to display the time frame and the y-axis to display the measurement categories.

Utilizing Area Graphs

Area graphs are similar to line graphs, with the main difference being that the area between the x-axis and the line is shaded. This helps to further emphasize the differences or similarities between data points. As is the case with bar graphs and line graphs, the x-axis displays the time frame and the y-axis displays the measurement categories.

Collaboration and Sharing

Creating an effective Excel dashboard requires close collaboration among all stakeholders, including the designers, the developers, and the users. A successful dashboard requires the regular review, feedback, and adjustment to keep it up to date and useful. Working collaboratively with others and sharing the dashboard can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the dashboard remains effective.

Creating the Dashboard

When creating a dashboard, all collaborators should be given an opportunity to have their say in the design. This is generally best done through in-person meetings, online conference calls, or a combination of both. Everyone should be given the opportunity to express their ideas and clearly communicate their needs to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

Storing and Sharing the Dashboard

Once the dashboard has been created, it must be stored and shared with all stakeholders. This can be done by uploading the file to a shared file-sharing service, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and providing a link to the collaborators. This will ensure that everyone has access to the most up-to-date version of the dashboard. It is important to ensure that all collaborators have editing access to the file, as this will make it much easier to track and make changes to the dashboard down the line.

Making Edits to the Dashboard

Once everyone has access to the file, the next step is to make edits and changes to the dashboard. Depending on the complexity of the dashboard, this can involve a variety of steps, such as adding in new data sets, changing the layout of the sheet, adjusting formulas and functions, or creating visualizations. It is important to ensure that all stakeholders are in agreement on the changes and that they provide regular feedback on the functioning of the dashboard.

• Designers, developers and users must collaborate closely
• Ensure everyone can input ideas and has a voice
• Store and share the dashboard through a shared service
• Provide stakeholders with editing access to the file
• Track and make changes to the dashboard
• Stakeholders must agree on the changes and provide regular feedback

Conclusion

Creating and using multi-layered dashboards in Excel can be a powerful tool to organize, track, and collaborate on data. The ability to have multiple layers that are easily accessible and customizable provides a layer of data analysis that was previously unavailable. This article has discussed the benefits, setup steps, and implications of utilizing multi-layered dashboards in Excel.

Summarizing the Benefits of Multi-Layered Excel Dashboards

Multi-layered Excel dashboards are an incredibly useful tool for various functions. The ability to track useful data points provides deep insights into data a business may not have previously accessed. Additionally, the ability to easily navigate, customize, and collaborate on the dashboard provides an accessible platform for teams to build from.

Overview of the Steps to Create and Use the Dashboard

Creating and using multi-layered Excel dashboards is relatively simple by utilizing the Excel functions. The first step is to create the separate worksheets. Then, use Excel’s linking and referencing features to connect the worksheets. Finally, use the dashboards feature to customize the display and have a more interactive experience.

Implication of the Ability to Collaborate on Dashboards

The ability to collaborate on dashboards opens up a world of possibility. The ability to share information and track progress in an accessible way allows teams to stay connected and efficient in their workflows. This streamlined access and delivery of data allows teams to make better, informed decisions.