The Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Professional Dashboards with Excel

Introduction

A dashboard is a visual representation of important data and information. It is a way to quickly monitor and analyze the performance of a business, website, project, or other activity. By creating a professional dashboard in Excel, you can easily monitor and analyze complex data sets and view results in a way that is organized and easy to understand.

The purpose of creating a dashboard in Excel is to help businesses and organizations make decisions quickly and effectively. It can also help them track progress, identify trends, and communicate results in a concise and organized fashion. This step-by-step guide will provide you with the steps to create a professional dashboard in Excel and make the most of your data.

Preparation

Creating a professional dashboard in Excel requires extensive preparation, ensuring the data provided is organized in a way that can be seamlessly tracked and presented. Having a working and organized spreadsheet not only makes data input quicker, but also increases comprehension when visualizing the data.

Organize data prior to creating the spreadsheet

Step one to creating your professional dashboard is organizing the data prior to creating the spreadsheet. It is important to ensure the data is in a structured and readable format and that any potential calculations are completed. This data should be in one cohesive unit and not scattered throughout multiple sheets or separated into different columns.

Deciding which type of chart/graph is most suitable

Once the data is prepared, it is important to consider which type of chart or graph will best present the data. A few common graph types include bar graphs, line graphs, pie graphs, and scatter plots. Utilizing different graph types can effectively represent data and provide more detailed information to users. Which type of chart or graph is used can depend on what type of data is being presented, the data size, and its intended usage.

Creating the Dashboard

Creating an advanced dashboard in Excel can seem overwhelming at first, but having a step-by-step guide will make the process a lot easier. In this section, we’ll cover two key steps to creating a professional dashboard: suggesting suitable columns/rows to include in the spreadsheet and inserting the relevant charts/graphs into the spreadsheet.

Suggesting Suitable Columns/Rows to Include in the Spreadsheet

When creating a dashboard in Excel, it’s important to think about what type of data you need to include. This will determine what columns and rows you should add to your spreadsheet. The columns and rows should be consistent with the type of data you need to produce the appropriate visuals (charts and graphs).

You should also consider which numerical data points are most appropriate to measure whatever it is you are trying to track. Once you have these data points determined, you can create the appropriate columns and rows in the spreadsheet.

Inserting Relevant Charts/Graphs into the Spreadsheet

The next step is to insert the relevant charts and graphs into the spreadsheet. This can be done by selecting the appropriate data points you want to include in the visuals. Excel has various chart and graph templates that you can use to visualize this data. Once you add the relevant data points to the chart or graph template, the appropriate visuals will be produced.

It’s also important to format the visuals so that they blend in with the overall design of your dashboard. This could involve changing the colors and fonts of the visuals. Also, think about how you want to arrange the visuals on the dashboard. The goal is to create a neat, professional-looking dashboard that clearly communicates the data.

Dashboard Design

Creating a professional dashboard in Excel requires paying close attention to even the smallest of details. Anything from formatting charts/graphs to making sure the formulas are customized for more detailed analysis can make or break a dashboard design. Let’s take a closer look at the two key elements for a great dashboard design.

Formatting Charts/Graphs to be Visually Appealing

In order to make a professional dashboard, you'll need to make sure all of your charts/graphs are clean, crisp, and visually appealing. Some tips on how to format charts/graphs in Excel include:

• Pick appropriate chart types. It’s important to use the right chart types for visualizing the data in your dashboard. For example, line charts are best used to show trends in the data.
• Choose an initial color palette. Use the same colors across all of the charts/graphs you have in your dashboard. This will provide consistency and make the dashboard visually cohesive.
• Consider using labels and annotations. Utilizing labels and annotations can help explain what’s shown in the graphs. If done properly, most of the data should be visible without the need for labels and annotations.

Customizing Formulas for More Detailed Analysis in the Spreadsheet

You should also make sure to format your formulas for detailed analysis. Formulas can be used to do things like calculate total costs, display relevant information, and compare different data points. Some tips for customizing formulas to make them more effective include:

• Determine the type of calculation you need. Make sure the formulas you use are designed to provide the results you need. Customizing formulas to fit your needs can be a trial-and-error process.
• Manipulate the data in your spreadsheet. Where possible, manipulate the data in your spreadsheet to facilitate easier calculations. This will save time when it comes to creating the formulas.
• Try to simplify your formulas. If possible, try to find a way to simplify your formulas in order to make them easier to read and understand.

With these tips, you can create a well-designed and professional dashboard that will help you analyze and make sense of your data quickly and efficiently.

Adding Advanced Functions

Using Excel’s statistical analysis functions can make creating a professional dashboard even easier. Depending on the complexity of the dashboard, using built-in functions such as formulas, VLOOKUPs, and the like, can provide a higher level of analysis and add a more dynamic element to the dashboard. For example, using PivotTables can help to organize various datasets on the dashboard. By incorporating various statistical functions, we can gain a better understanding of how various data points interact with each other and even make predictions or provide forecasting.

Utilizing Excel’s statistical analysis functions for a more thorough analysis

Excel offers a wide variety of statistical analysis functions that can be used to provide a more comprehensive view of the data. Using the data analysis tools available in Excel, you can compare different sets of data, find trends, test hypotheses, conduct regressions, and use the results of your analyses to make more informed decisions. Additionally, you can use these features to create dynamic graphs that automatically update themselves whenever the underlying data changes.

Creating filters/data points to make the dashboard more interactive

In addition to using Excel’s statistical analysis functions, you can also create filters and data points to make your dashboard more interactive. For example, you can set up drop-down menus that allow users to select various datasets for comparison. By creating custom filters and data points, users can not only access and analyze the data in a more efficient way, but also tailor their dashboard to their individual needs and preferences.

Furthermore, using other spreadsheet-based tools such as Power Query, you can create even more sophisticated filters to extend the functionality of your dashboard. Power Query helps to filter, clean, and transform data in order to make it more useful. This can be particularly useful when dealing with complex datasets that require a more thorough analysis.

Sharing & Publishing

Once your Excel dashboard is complete, you have the option to share it with colleagues or save it for later retrieval. There are a few different ways you can go about doing this.

Exporting the Dashboard for Colleagues to View

If you want to share your dashboard with colleagues, the best way to do this is to export the dashboard as a PDF and then email it or share it through another file sharing service. To do this, go to the File tab in the Office ribbon and select Export. Select 'Create PDF/XPS Document' from the list of export options and click Publish. Your dashboard will be created into a PDF which you can then open in a PDF viewer, or save to your computer for later sharing.

Saving the File in a Secure Location for Easy Retrieval

Your dashboard may contain sensitive information, so it’s important to save the file in a secure location. You can do this by saving the file on a cloud-based service such as Dropbox or Google Drive. This will ensure the file is safe and accessible to you and anyone with whom you share the link. Additionally, these services allow you to share the file with others.

Conclusion

Dashboards are an important tool for performance analysis, communication of insights, and creating solutions. Creating a professional dashboard in Excel is an effective way to keep track of information and metrics, allowing teams to make more informed decisions. In this step-by-step guide, we have outlined the key steps you need to follow when creating an Excel dashboard.

Summary and Recap of Importance of Creating a Professional Dashboard

It is essential to be able to monitor key metrics and analyze data in order to make critical project decisions. Dashboards enable teams to quickly and easily visualize data, showcasing the performance and current status of a project. By creating a professional dashboard in Excel, teams will be able to make better decisions and identify areas of improvement.

Outlining the Key Steps to Follow when Creating a Dashboard in Excel

• Step One: Assess which data sets will be included
• Step Two: Input data into Excel
• Step Three: Prepare the data and create tables
• Step Four: Design the dashboard layout
• Step Five: Adjust the dashboard layout and visuals
• Step Six: Distribute the dashboard

Creating a professional dashboard in Excel is a great way to display and communicate data in an effective manner. This guide has provided you with the key steps to follow when creating a dashboard, from assessing data sets and inputting data into Excel, to adjusting the dashboard layout and visuals.