Within our Metrics 101 series, we’ve already explored why metrics are useful and how to design them in theory. But what are the technical details behind creating reports and dashboards within Salesforce? In this article, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide to transforming your metrics into visual decision-making tools. And the best part is that all of this can be done without any coding at all!
The Difference Between Reports and Dashboards
Put very simply, a report is a visual representation of a single metric. You can customize reports to show raw data or even graphical representations of a metric. Users can dive deeper, group information, and filter data all within the Salesforce point-and-click interface.
A dashboard is a collection of reports formatted to be visible on a single screen. Through simple drag-and-drop actions, you can add reports to a dashboard for full visibility into multiple business goals. Dashboards can be customized for different stakeholders, and they are updated with real-time data upon refresh.
Quick And Easy Salesforce Reports
In order to create a report in Salesforce, you can use the report builder located in the Reports tab.
- Navigate to the Reports tab and click on New Report.
- Choose a report type and click Continue.
- Add columns to your report by clicking Add Column and selecting the field you’d like to add from the dropdown list or by typing it manually.
- Group by a specific row by clicking Add Group and selecting the column you’d like to group. You can group by columns after doing this as well.
- Create filters by clicking on Filters and then Add Filter.
- Add a chart by clicking Add Chart and then changing the chart properties by clicking on the gear icon in the top right corner.
- Click Save & Run to save your report and see what it looks like.
Adding Value With Dashboards
After you’ve created a few reports, you can then create a dashboard containing multiple reports in one view:
- Navigate to the Dashboards tab and click on New Dashboard.
- Name your dashboard and save it.
- Click on Component to add an item to your dashboard.
- Select the report you want to add and click Select.
- Configure the component as you’d like it to be seen and click Add.
- Repeat steps 3-5 to add additional reports to your dashboard.
- Click Save when you are finished.
Leveraging Einstein’s Power
Salesforce Einstein uses artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver predictions and recommendations based on Salesforce data. With applications that touch the entire Customer Success Platform, Einstein Analytics can be integrated across all Salesforce clouds. And true to Salesforce form, Einstein Analytics provides powerful AI functionality without requiring a data scientist’s highly technical skills.
Furthermore, with myEinstein platform services, you can build predictive apps to add value to your business metrics. Start fueling your business decisions with future predictions by using Einstein Analytics. As you can imagine, Einstein comes in the form of many different products and functions. The best way to get started is to check out a Trailhead trail or contact a Salesforce consultant for assistance. But if you feel ready to try it on your own, you can use the Einstein Assessor Report to find out which features your current setup supports. By filling out the assessment, you will receive a personalized report showing which features you are able to use now and which ones will need extra steps.
Stay tuned for an Einstein-specific article next week as well!
Ready To Start Making Reports And Dashboards?
All of this information may seem overwhelming, but we promise it’s all manageable. And for any additional assistance, you can always contact Ntegro for a free consultation. We can help you set up reports and dashboards within Salesforce for all of your data-driven users, and we can even get you started with Einstein Analytics. Do you need a custom Einstein app developed? Our development team is up to the challenge! Let us know how we can help you!
Have you created any useful reports or dashboards on your own? What tips and tricks have you found useful? Share in the comments below!
