Dashboard Design Of Sales Force Automation Systems

By Author: Dean Paul
Total Articles: 2
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A Sales Force Automation System dashboard aims to put across useful data on a single screen shot for use by the management to decipher history, guesstimate trends and make useful forecasts. A real time SFA dashboard gives a clear quick picture of the status of orders and the efficiency of the sales force itself. Corrective actions can be planned when needed based on the dashboard analysis proving to be a savior in most of the cases by enabling corrective actions.

Sales Force Automation systems use websites, online inquiries, trend meters, market watches and many other references as its source for data. Put together intelligently with Business Intelligence Tools, this data can be converted to meaningful information to project business, generate leads, integrate with customer relation management & social media, automate marketing and integrate with cloud.

Needless to say, a tool out of which a lot is expected needs to be designed, planned and shaped very logically. A good dashboard Vs a bad dashboard design is a constant thin line a dashboard designer walks. A dashboard design team should consist of a witty ...
... mix of upper level management, filed force staff, marketing personnel and UI/UX designers.

Sales Force Automation Dashboards Pursuits

•Present Visual Data
•Sales
•Orders
•Trends
•Measure Performances
•Sales Person wise
•Area wise
•Region wise
•A Powerful Reporting Tool
•Pictorial Reports
•Visual Comparisons
•Insight into the system in a nutshell
•Drill Downs
•A Competent Analysis Tool
•Trend Analysis
•Corrective Actions
•Decision Making Tool
•Insightful decisions based on Business Intelligence tools
•Strategize instantly
•A complete picture of the on goings of the business

Top Tips to Create a Useful SFA Dashboard

Short and simple, lucid and clear is the way the dashboard should be. Sales force automation dashboards, just as any other should follow the basic principles of UI/UX design which follow certain guidelines.

•Do not overwhelm the audience

The purpose of a SFA dashboard is to provide small amounts of relevant information, to the correct person. Unncessary details can overwhelm the users and scare them away defeating the purpose of this tool.

•Plan & prioritize the dashboard

Dashboards can be used to provide a variety of information. A dashboard designer can come up with various reports which can be shown on the interface. A good dashboard shortlists and then prioritizes the information that should be displayed. The rule of the thumb is to display around five of the relevant reports. The display list should vary according to the user who is using the dashboard, rather than generalizing.

A detailed study and analysis of the design of the dashboard constitutes the content planning of the dashboard itself. It is very important to be targeted towards an audience, categorizing the audiences into groups and then displaying the information needed and useful to the group. The dashboard itself should be capable of metamorphosing as per the user and the role of the user.

•Proper Use of Graphics

This age old adage tells it all. Graphics of all sorts – graphs, charts, colours for discriminating makes the displays distinct. Graphics display the text information in an easy and comprehendible method rather than just pepping it up. Wisely used graphics in a SFA dashboard, break the monotony and makes the dashboards interesting to look at.

•Prudent Chart Design

Numbers are very difficult to read and comprehend, especially when they are a part of a large statistics. A dashboard full of numbers and heavily so can create aversion for the reader. Rather, a good dashboard design strives to improvise readability by using a correct mix of colours, shapes, charts and graphs prudently.

•Follow a colour code for the same categories across the charts
•Avoid unnecessary text. Include legends for elaboration to make it easy for the user to decipher pictorial representations
•Scale the charts to give a clear and uncluttered view

The Last Word on SFA Dashboards

A business intelligence dashboard supporting the sales force automation system is a data visualization tool displaying the current status of the system. Dashboards consolidate and present data on a single screen, intended for use by only the sales department or other departments which work in close sync with this department like the marketing and accounts departments as well. The dashboards can be allowed to be customizable to a greater or smaller extent to represent real time data from multiple sources.

The success of a SFA dashboard relies heavily on how much it really communicates to the intended user. When planned with a macro level view of the system and with the correct inputs from the users at each level, the dashboard can be instrumental in making a good sales force automation system. A perfect balance for simplicity, clarity and efficiency has to be struck on the onset of the design itself.

A Tech enthusiast, Business Development Manager for Software Development firm. A good listener and reader. Global Enterprise Web and Mobility, CRM and Sales Force Automation Consultant. Interested in New Web, Mobile App, Big DATA, BI technologies, Engaging with new people around the globe.