Strategic Dashboards
We don't build dashboards to look good. We build them so you use them every day and make better decisions. The difference is in the process: we start by understanding your business, not by connecting data.
The problem nobody mentions
Most dashboard projects start wrong. Someone says "we need a dashboard," they hire someone who knows Power BI, connect data, make pretty charts, and deliver.
Three months later, nobody opens it.
The problem isn't technical. It's that nobody sat down to ask: what decisions do we want to make better? What numbers really matter? Who is going to use this and for what?
What I hear when I arrive at a company:
- ✗ "We have a dashboard but nobody uses it"
- ✗ "Each area measures different things and they never match"
- ✗ "We spend more time building reports than analyzing them"
- ✗ "The CEO asks for a number and nobody knows where to get it"
How I approach this
My approach is different: I start with the business, not the technology. Before opening Power BI or writing a line of code, basic questions need answers.
Needs diagnosis
We talk with those who will use the dashboard. Not IT, not whoever's paying: those who will actually make decisions looking at those numbers. What questions do they ask? How do they answer them today? What's missing?
KPI definition
We define the 5-7 indicators that really matter. Not the 47 that can be measured. Each KPI must be connected to a business objective and a concrete action.
Visual design
We design the visualization thinking about usability, not aesthetics. A dashboard understood in 10 seconds beats a pretty one requiring a user manual. We make quick prototypes and validate before building.
Technical build
We connect the data, build the model, and automate updates. We use Power BI, Streamlit, or whatever makes most sense for your context and budget.
Training and adoption
A dashboard nobody knows how to use is useless. We train your team, not just on how to read it, but on how to act based on what they see. And we follow up to adjust what isn't working.
Tools I use
Power BI
The standard choice for most companies. If you already have Microsoft 365, you probably already have licenses. Strong in traditional reporting, good ecosystem, wide adoption.
Best for: Companies with Microsoft stack, financial and operational reporting, teams that need to create their own reports.
Streamlit
For dashboards needing more complex logic or special interactivity. Data web apps that go beyond showing charts: simulations, calculators, predictive models.
Best for: Custom applications, complex data models, rapid prototypes, tech-forward companies.
Which is better? Depends on your context. I don't have favorites. I use whatever makes most sense for your situation, budget, and team.
Examples of dashboards I've built
Sales dashboard for store chain
3 locations, POS data scattered in Excel files. We consolidated everything into a dashboard showing sales, average ticket, conversion, and margin by store. It updates automatically every night.
Result: The manager went from manually building Monday reports (2 hours) to checking the dashboard in 5 minutes.
Management control for services company
150-person company with no visibility on profitability by project. We created a model connecting hours worked, costs, and billing to show real margin by client and project.
Result: They discovered 20% of their clients were generating losses. They renegotiated or stopped serving them.
Financial consolidation for corporate group
5 companies, each with its own ERP and different account structure. We automated monthly consolidation and board reporting.
Result: Monthly close went from 5 days to 1 day. The board has comparable information across companies.
Questions I get asked often
How much does a dashboard cost?
Depends on complexity. A simple dashboard with 1-2 data sources can cost from $2,000 USD. A more complex one with multiple integrations and elaborate business logic can reach $10-15K. I'll give you a specific quote after understanding what you need.
How long does it take?
Between 3 and 8 weeks typically. The first week is diagnosis and definition. The following weeks are design, building, and adjustments. The slowest factor is usually getting access to data and cleaning it.
What do I need before starting?
Data. It can be in Excel, in an ERP, in a database, wherever. If you don't have digitized data, that's a previous step. I also need access to the people who will use the dashboard to understand what they need.
Who maintains the dashboard afterward?
You or your team, if you have the capability. I train you so you can make minor adjustments. For major changes or technical issues, I offer hourly support or monthly maintenance contracts.
Is Power BI free?
Power BI Desktop is free. To share reports with others, you need Pro licenses (~$10 USD/user/month) or Premium. If you already have Microsoft 365 E5, you probably have them included. I can help you review what licenses you need for your case.
Need a dashboard you'll actually use?
Let's talk about your situation. I'll tell you if it makes sense to work together and what the process would look like.