The Biggest Mistake in Dashboard Design
When it comes to building dashboards, many people think the biggest mistakes are about choosing the wrong software, using the wrong visuals, or even connecting to the wrong systems.
But in reality, none of those are the biggest issues. The real problem lies in data quality.
Why Data Quality Matters
The quality of your decisions—and the insights you gain from a dashboard—are only as good as the data you feed into it.
Too often, companies assume that turning on a dashboard will instantly produce game-changing insights. But if the data going in is flawed, incomplete, or disorganised, the dashboard won’t be helpful. In fact, it could mislead you.
The Data Validation Process
Before you build your dashboard, you need to validate the data going in. Here’s what that process looks like:
- Check for Accuracy: Is the data correct? Does it reflect reality?
- Evaluate Usability: Is the data useful for decision-making, or is it cluttered with irrelevant information?
- Identify Gaps: What’s missing, and how can you fill those gaps?
Only once your data passes these tests should you begin building your dashboard.
The Cost of Ignoring Data Quality
Failing to address data quality can result in dashboards that:
- Provide misleading insights: Flawed data leads to flawed decisions.
- Undermine trust: Teams stop relying on dashboards when the data doesn’t align with reality.
- Waste resources: A dashboard built on bad data is a wasted investment in both time and money.
In worst-case scenarios, we’ve seen systems so riddled with garbage data that they’re essentially useless.
"Good Enough" Data
It’s important to note that data doesn’t need to be perfect. Achieving 100% accuracy may not be realistic—and that’s okay.
Instead, aim for “good enough” data: a level of quality that gives you a clear and reliable picture of what’s happening. This foundation allows you to make informed decisions without chasing perfection.
The Takeaway
When you’re planning your next dashboard, don’t focus solely on visuals or software. Instead, ask yourself:
- What’s the quality of the data going in?
- How much effort will it take to clean, validate, and organise that data?
Building a dashboard without addressing data quality is like building a house on a shaky foundation. Take the time to get your data right—it’s the key to creating dashboards that deliver real value.
Because at the end of the day, a dashboard is only as good as the data it’s built on.
