The Power of Visual Analysis

With multi-dimensional charting you can add coloring and sizing options. Coloring means coloring different data points on that two-dimensional chart to denote more information.

For example start with a graph of sales opportunities where closing probability is depicted on the y-axis and days until expected close date on the y-axis, with dots represented a single opportunity. You would already be able to identify imminently winnable opportunities in the upper left corner.

Now color the dots by sales person, a different color for each person. Now a scan of the color patterns shows who has more open opportunities and where they are in the likelihood and timeliness to close.

Add another dimension by sizing those dots by dollar amount, such that the larger the revenue potential of the opportunity, the larger the circle is. Now, at a glance you can prioritize opportunities to focus on.

Drill-down

Another aspect of visual analysis is the interactivity, pointing and clicking to explore the data and drill into more details. Drill-down simply means clicking on a data point to see more detail. That can be summarized data as seen by hovering the mouse over a data point, or detailed background information seen by drilling into a detail page of another application or another detailed report by that can be accessed by double-clicking on a data point.

Filtering

Filtering the data displayed on a graph is as easy as checking off selection boxes from criteria lists, as many lists as applicable. Date selection is another level of filtering, and date sliders or visual calendars are visual controls for picking the date ranges to include in the chart. Either of these methods allows sifting through large amounts of data, zooming into the areas of interest, noticing comparisons and trends along the way.

Drop-downs for Dimension Selections

A very powerful innovation in visual analysis is the ability to change what is on the X or  Y axis, or the “size by” or “color by” options. By using simple drop-down menus of available choices for any of these four settings, dozens of useful charts and analyses can be accessed in a single visual analytical view.

More Articles About Visual Analysis

Analytics to Put on a Loan Management Dashboard - So many numbers are floating around, so a dashboard is an easy way to track your performance and measure your KPIs. Using a dashboard also helps you to arrange and organize your data in a way that is easy to read and works for your business. You can pull automatically generated reports and view your vital information in easy-to-read tables and graphs. Using a dashboard saves time by eliminating the need to manually arrange data and put together information in a meaningful way. Your dashboard is typically a visual representation of your KPIs so that you can pick up on trends, track progress and decide more effectively. If you're a loan company, consider including the following KPIs and analytics on your dashboard...

How to Add Hyperlinks in Reports - You can add hyperlinks to certain report elements, targeting another report or a URL. Hyperlinks can be associated with Text, Textbox, Table, Section, and Chart elements. For exported reports, hyperlinks are supported in 'PDF', 'HTML' and 'RTF' formats. If the hyperlink is associated with a Table, Section, or Chart, you can pass the contents of the clicked element as a parameter to the drill-down report or URL. To define a hyperlink, follow the steps below: 1. Select the component on which to place the hyperlink. This can be a text element, table cell, or graphical element in a chart (slice of a pie chart, bar in a bar chart, point in a point chart, etc.). For a Table or Section element, you can place a hyperlink on any column; the values of all columns are then available as hyperlink parameters. In a crosstab table, hyperlinks on the row and column headings can pass the heading text...

Let's Make a Heat Map - This page will discuss the uses of heat maps, show you how to create them in InetSoft, and provide access to a free online tool for creating heat maps as well as complete functioning business intelligence dashboards. A heat map is a visual representation of data that uses colors to indicate the relative values of the data points. A heat map displays a measure using a colored grid, where the value of the measure for a given combination of dimension values is used to determine the color of the grid at that location. Heat maps are often used to visualize data that has a spatial or geographical component, such as weather data, traffic patterns, or population density. In a heat map, each data point is represented by a colored square or rectangle, with the color indicating the intensity of the value being represented. Typically, warmer colors such as red and orange indicate higher values...

Patient or Client Satisfaction Metrics - Prioritizing patient or customer pleasure is crucial in the legal, healthcare, and other service sectors. KPIs and data pertaining to customer happiness, such as Net Promoter Score (NPS) and Customer happiness Score (CSAT), are often included in practice management dashboards. NPS assesses patients' or customers' propensity to refer the service to others, while CSAT evaluates their level of satisfaction with the whole encounter. By examining these data, one may get insight into areas that need improvement and raise the standard of service. In the healthcare industry, like in other service industries, effective scheduling and appointment management are essential. KPIs including provider utilization, appointment no-show rates, and scheduling accuracy...

Using Dashboards for Marketing Leads - Data analysis and dashboards are critical tools for marketers to make informed decisions, optimize their strategies, and measure their performance. They can help marketers identify trends and patterns in customer behavior, market trends, and campaign performance. By analyzing data, marketers can make informed decisions about what products or services to offer, what messaging resonates with their target audience, and how to optimize their marketing campaigns. Dashboards provide real-time, visual representations of key performance metrics, such as website traffic, conversion rates, and customer engagement. By monitoring these metrics, marketers can quickly identify areas for improvement and adjust their strategies accordingly. Data analysis...

Which Sectors and Departments Use SQL Reporting Services? - SQL Reporting Services (SSRS) is a popular collection of tools that may be utilized by businesses of all sizes and in a variety of sectors. SSRS is often used in the following contexts: Accounting and Finance Financial reports including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements are produced by finance and accounting departments using SSRS. The procedures for financial reporting may be streamlined by integrating these reports with current accounting software and tailoring them to the particular requirements of stakeholders. SSRS is used by sales and marketing teams to provide reports on sales data, customer information, and marketing campaign results. These reports may be used to pinpoint areas where sales and marketing efforts should be strengthened and to make wise choices about sales strategy, product development, and consumer targeting...

Continued: The Business Benefits of Visual Analysis Software