The Ultimate Guide to Dashboards in Salesforce in 2025

Salesforce is widely known for its robust CRM features, but one of its most powerful tools for users is the Dashboard. Dashboards in Salesforce provide a dynamic way to visualize, analyze, and track key business metrics, helping users to make informed decisions quickly. This blog will discuss why Salesforce Dashboards are essential, explain how to set them up, and provide tips for using them efficiently.

What is a Dashboard in Salesforce?

A Salesforce Dashboard is a set of visual elements that showcase important metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from Salesforce reports. It organizes data into intuitive visuals like charts, graphs, tables, and gauges for easy analysis. They give users a snapshot of important business data, allowing them to track progress, identify trends, and spot potential issues.

Dashboards are highly customizable and can include data from various objects like opportunities, accounts, leads, or custom objects. These visuals help track performance more efficiently and enable timely decision-making.

Key Components of a Dashboard

1. Reports: Dashboards are powered by reports. Each dashboard component is linked to a report that provides the data to be visualized.
2. Components: The individual parts of a dashboard, including charts (bar, line, pie), gauges, tables, and metrics, that display the data.
3. Filters: Filters can be added to dashboards to enable users to view data based on specific criteria (e.g., by region, by sales rep, or by opportunity stage).
4. Refresh: Dashboards can be refreshed in real-time or set to refresh at specific intervals, ensuring data is always up-to-date.

How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce

Creating a dashboard in Salesforce is simple and can be done in a few easy steps:

1. Navigate to the Dashboards Tab:

• Go to the App Launcher and select Dashboards.
• Click on Create New Dashboard.
• Give your dashboard a clear and descriptive name so others can easily identify it.
• Save the dashboard in an existing folder or create a new one to keep your reports organized.

2. Add Components:

• Click on +Widget to add visualizations (charts, tables, images, or text) to the dashboard.
• If you select a chart or table, choose the corresponding report for the component and pick the appropriate chart type (e.g., bar, line, pie, etc.).
• You can customize each component’s layout and appearance, making the dashboard visually engaging and informative.

3. Set Filters (Optional):

• Add filters if needed to allow users to narrow down the displayed data (e.g., by region, account, or opportunity type).

4. Save and Share the Dashboard:

• Once you have added all components and made the necessary adjustments, click Save.
• Share the dashboard with other users by providing access through permissions or sharing settings.

Dynamic Dashboard in Salesforce

A Dynamic Dashboard in Salesforce is a powerful tool that allows users to view data based on their own permissions and access levels. Unlike a standard dashboard, which shows the same data for all users, a dynamic dashboard can display data personalized to each viewer. This means that users will only see data that they have access to, such as their own records, opportunities, or cases.

To create a dynamic dashboard in Salesforce:

1. View Dashboard As: In the Dashboard Properties section, select the View Dashboard As option. You will have three options:
   • Me: The dashboard will display data specific to the logged-in user.
   • Another Person: The dashboard will display data as if it’s being viewed by a specific user.
   • The Dashboard Viewer: This option allows the dashboard to adapt based on the viewer’s access and permissions.
2. Choose The Dashboard Viewer
3. Allow Dashboard Viewers to Choose Their Perspective: Enable this option so viewers can select the user whose data they want to see on the dashboard. When this is selected, viewers can change the user to customize the data they see, providing a more personalized experience.

Best Practices for Using Dashboards

1. Use Clear, Relevant Visuals:
   • Ensure that the visuals used in the dashboard clearly represent the data you are tracking. For example, bar charts can be used to compare sales across different regions, while line graphs are ideal for tracking performance trends over time.
2. Keep It Simple:
   • A dashboard should be focused on key metrics, not overwhelmed with data. Keep the components simple, concise, and directly related to your business objectives.
3. Customize for Different Users:
   • Tailor dashboards to suit the needs of different roles within your organization.Sales managers might need a sales pipeline dashboard, while customer service reps may benefit from a case management dashboard.

4. Set Up Real-Time Data Refresh:
   • Dashboards can be set to refresh at specific intervals (daily, weekly). Real-time data is important for making informed decisions, so ensure your dashboard is always up to date.
5. Use Filters for Flexibility:
   • Filters can be applied to enable users to drill down into data and view specific segments (e.g., by time period, region, product type, etc.). This makes dashboards more interactive and tailored to the user’s needs.
6. Monitor Dashboard Performance:
   • Dashboards can become sluggish if too many complex components are added or the data set is too large. Keep an eye on performance and remove unnecessary components or optimize the reports behind the dashboard to ensure smooth operation.

Conclusion

Salesforce Dashboards offer a powerful way to gain real-time insights into your business performance.By using reports and visual components, dashboards help businesses track key metrics, make data-driven decisions, and improve productivity. With the ability to customize dashboards, set up filters, and automate data refreshes, Salesforce Dashboards ensure that users always have the most relevant information at their fingertips.

By following best practices and leveraging the various components, businesses can create effective, insightful dashboards that empower users and drive success. Whether you are tracking sales, customer service, or marketing performance, Salesforce Dashboards provide the tools you need to stay ahead of the competition and make informed decisions based on real-time data.