Dashboard is a graphical user interface (GUI) found on computers and other electronic devices used to represent and organize data into a more easily digestible form. It typically consists of a variety of components such as charts, tables, graphs, and other visual elements to provide a condensed summary view of the underlying data.
The term “dashboard” originated from vehicles, referring to the instrument panel located directly in front of a car’s steering wheel, containing a cluster of gauges and warning lights used by the driver to monitor and control the car’s performance. This same concept was later applied to modern-day computing devices and their associated data displays.
Dashboard examples include a range of monitoring software tools such as web analytics dashboards, performance dashboards, and tracking dashboards. Such dashboards may also offer graphical representations of the data being monitored, such as pie charts and bar graphs. The use of a dashboard can help break down complex datasets into more easily understood components, thereby making it easier for the user to analyze the data and draw relevant insights.
Dashboards are also commonly used in enterprise data management systems like enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Here, they serve to provide an overview of the organization’s most important operational data and metrics, such as sales and customer information. A typical ERP dashboard will display charts or graphs based on performance metrics and areas of improvement, and provide users with a high-level understanding of business health and progress.
Dashboard technology is also used in a variety of applied settings, such as healthcare. For example, many healthcare organizations use dashboards to track patient health and monitor clinical services or for research purposes. Similarly, dashboards are often used by educational institutions to track student performance or monitor spending.
Dashboards continue to be a popular data visualization tool as technology advances. Modern iterations are now available online or as mobile applications, and have even entered the automotive industry in the form of vehicle infotainment systems, giving car owners access to a range of gauges and indicators.
