Step by Step Guide to Building a SharePoint Dashboard

You can make a SharePoint dashboard easily, even if you have never made one before. Dashboards let you see your business data in one place. They help you make better choices. Many companies use dashboards. About 78% put them in their products. Dashboards help teams understand information fast. You can use tools like FineBI to connect your data. This makes your dashboard even stronger.

Understanding SharePoint Dashboards

What Is a SharePoint Dashboard

A sharepoint dashboard is a tool that shows business data in one place. It is the front part of your business intelligence system. This tool makes your data simple to see and use. You can make dashboards with Excel Services, PerformancePoint, or Web Parts. These dashboards help you watch key performance indicators, called KPIs. This way, you can make smart choices using real-time data.

Many companies use different dashboards. Some dashboards focus on KPIs. Others give you a place for daily work. Some dashboards change for each user. Many dashboards have features that help you work faster.

• Traditional KPI-focused dashboards
• Dynamic and personalized dashboards
• Tailored workspaces for daily activities
• Enhanced productivity features

SharePoint dashboards are special because they have unique cards and tools. Here are some features you might find:

Benefits for Teams and Projects

When you use a sharepoint dashboard, your team gets many good things. You can see all your information in one place. This saves time and helps you decide faster. You can make reports that show trends. These reports help you spot problems or wins. Dashboards also help you check how well people are doing. You can see status and find patterns that need help.

SharePoint dashboards also make teamwork simple. Everyone can see the big picture and their own jobs. You can edit documents with others at the same time. This means you always see the newest changes. Microsoft Teams helps you talk and share with your group. Visual dashboards, like Power BI, give you live updates on your project’s health.

• Co-authoring lets you and your team edit together in real time.
• Integration with Microsoft 365 tools makes working together smooth.
• Visual dashboards show project status and help you track progress.

A sharepoint dashboard gives you tools to work smarter, not harder.

Creating a a SharePoint Dashboard: Step by Step

Building a sharepoint dashboard gives you a clear view of your business data. You can follow these steps to create a dashboard that fits your team’s needs. This guide will help you with setting up the dashboard page, adding web parts, customizing the layout, using filters and KPIs, and embedding advanced analytics with FineBI.

Setting Up the Dashboard Page

Start by setting up the dashboard page. This is the foundation for your sharepoint dashboard. You need to choose the right site and layout for your team.

1. Open your SharePoint site.
2. Select New and then choose Page.
3. Pick a blank layout for your dashboard. A blank layout gives you more control over the design.
4. Name your page and add a description if needed.
5. Click Create to start building.

Tip: Make sure you have the right permissions before creating a dashboard. Upload any Excel files or data sources you want to use. Organize your data in rows and columns for easy display.

You can also set your dashboard as the site homepage. This makes it easy for everyone to find and use.

Adding Web Parts and Components

Adding web parts is the next step. Web parts are building blocks for your dashboard. They let you show lists, charts, documents, news, and more.

Common web parts include:

• List web part: Shows SharePoint lists for tracking tasks or issues.
• Quick Chart web part: Displays simple charts for visual data.
• Document Library web part: Gives access to important files.
• News web part: Shares updates with your team.
• Highlighted Content web part: Shows content based on filters.
• File Viewer web part: Embeds Excel dashboards or PDFs.
• Events web part: Lists upcoming events.
• Power Apps card: Embeds business apps for custom needs.

You can add web parts by clicking the + button on your page. Drag and drop them into one, two, or three-column sections. This helps you organize information clearly.

Note: Configuring web parts is important. You can set filters, choose views, and adjust settings for each web part. This makes your dashboard more useful.

Customizing Layout and Appearance

You can customize sharepoint dashboards to match your team’s style and needs. Adjust the layout by dragging web parts into different sections. Use one, two, or three columns to organize your content.

• Change the background color or add images for a branded look.
• Resize web parts to highlight key information.
• Add text, images, or links to explain data or guide users.

The way you set up your dashboard page affects how much you can customize later. If you create fields using the List Settings screen, you get more control over internal field names and future changes.

Tip: Keep your design simple. Too many colors or widgets can make the dashboard hard to read.

Using Filters and KPIs

Using filters on the dashboard helps you focus on the most important data. Filters let users see only what matters to them. For example, you can filter tasks by status or show sales data for a specific region.

Creating key performance indicators (KPIs) is a smart way to track progress. KPIs show real-time results for goals like revenue, completed tasks, or customer feedback. You can add KPIs as charts, scorecards, or custom cards.

Best practices for filters and KPIs:

• Show information that matches your company’s goals.
• Use clean and accurate data for reliable results.
• Start with a few key metrics and add more as needed.
• Avoid clutter by using only useful widgets.
• Review and update your dashboard often.

KPIs help you measure site performance, user engagement, and team activity. They also support better decision-making.

Embedding External Content with FineBI

You can make your sharepoint dashboard even more powerful by embedding external analytics. FineBI is a great tool for this. FineBI lets you connect to many data sources, create advanced visualizations, and share dashboards securely.

To embed FineBI content:

1. Build your dashboard in FineBI and publish it.
2. Copy the embed link from FineBI.
3. In SharePoint, edit your dashboard page.
4. Add a web part that supports embedding, such as the Power BI or File Viewer web part.
5. Paste the FineBI link into the web part settings.
6. Save and publish your page.

FineBI brings extra features to your dashboard:

• Unified metrics and governance for consistent KPIs.
• A data catalog for easy discovery and validation of data.
• ChatBI, an AI assistant, for instant insights and dashboards.

Note: FineBI dashboards are interactive and mobile-friendly. You can filter data, drill down into details, and share insights with your team.

By following these steps, you can create a sharepoint dashboard that is both informative and easy to use. You can customize sharepoint dashboards to fit your business needs and add advanced analytics with FineBI for deeper insights.

SharePoint Project Status Dashboard Best Practices

A sharepoint project status dashboard helps you watch your projects. You can make your dashboard better by using some easy tips. These tips help you design, protect, and keep your dashboard working well for a long time.

Simplifying Dashboard Design

Your sharepoint project status dashboard should be simple to use. Keep the layout clean and easy to follow. Use clear buttons so people find things fast. Only add the most important details. If you put too many charts or lists, people might get confused.

• Show only the most important things.
• Make sure every page looks the same.
• Leave space between items so it is easy to read.
• Check that your dashboard works on phones and tablets.

A simple dashboard helps your team see project status fast. You save time and make fewer mistakes. FineBI helps you show hard data in a simple way. You can use FineBI to link different data and make dashboards your team can use.

Security and Permissions

It is very important to keep your data safe. Set up rules so people only see what they need. Do not share your dashboard outside your team. Use special rules to control who can see or change the dashboard.

• Watch what users do to catch strange actions.
• Check who can see or change things often.
• Do not let too many people edit the dashboard.

If you do not set rules right, you could lose data or break trust. Good security keeps your sharepoint project status dashboard safe and helps your team work together.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

You must keep your dashboard up to date. Look at your dashboard every day to find mistakes or missing data. Each week, check main numbers and update events or reminders. Every month, move old files and fix broken links. Every few months, update contact lists and change branding.

Talk with your team and IT staff often. Ask for ideas and ways to make your dashboard better. FineBI helps you update data and share new info with your team. You can set up real-time updates so your dashboard always shows the newest data.

If you follow these steps, your sharepoint project status dashboard will stay helpful and safe. Your team will work better and make smarter choices.

You now know how to build a SharePoint dashboard step by step. Remember these key points for success:

1. Use a simple layout and clear visuals for better decisions.
2. Focus on what your users need most.
3. Add interactive features to keep your team engaged.
4. Keep your data clean and up to date.

With tools like FineBI, you can create dashboards that fit your needs. Try new ideas and see what works best for your team.