Dashboard Requirements Template: Plan Business Analytics That Gets Used
Use this dashboard requirements template to define decisions, metrics, sources, owners, refresh rules, and adoption before spending on reporting implementation.
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A dashboard request often starts with a screen: “We need a sales dashboard.” The better starting point is the decision someone needs to make on Monday morning. If the business cannot name the decision, owner, source records, and next action, a dashboard can become a report that nobody trusts enough to use.
This template turns a vague request into a practical analytics brief. It connects to Scallar's data analytics service, the business intelligence implementation guide, and data analytics pricing.
Start With One Decision
Write one sentence: “This dashboard helps _[role]_ decide _[action]_ by showing _[evidence]_ every _[cadence]_.” A marketing lead may need to shift budget using qualified enquiries, sales-stage progression, and source cost. A sales manager may need to identify leads needing attention from response time, ownership, and pipeline movement.
Dashboard Requirements Template
| Requirement | What to define |
|---|---|
| Decision and user | The named role, action, and meeting where the dashboard is used |
| Questions | The questions the view must answer |
| Metrics | Definitions, calculation logic, time period, and exclusions |
| Sources | CRM, advertising, web, ERP, spreadsheet, product, or operational systems |
| Data quality | Known gaps, duplicate records, missing fields, and reconciliation |
| Refresh and history | Update frequency and comparison period |
| Access | Who can see, edit, export, or approve |
| Actions | What happens when a metric is off target and who owns it |
Define Metrics Before Visuals
“Lead”, “revenue”, “conversion”, and “active customer” can mean different things to marketing, sales, finance, and operations. Record the definition, source of truth, calculation, exceptions, owner, and review process. This is what allows teams to discuss the same number.
For complex source systems, use the data engineering guide. When access rules, definitions, and change ownership matter, use the data governance guide.
Plan Adoption, Not Just Delivery
A dashboard is adopted when it has a recurring user, useful question, and clear follow-up path. Design the first version around a real meeting or operational handoff. Prove source reliability, definitions, dashboard, and review rhythm on one valuable process before expanding.
Bring the priority decision, current reports, source access, sample records, known disagreements, and desired cadence to a data analytics consultation. Scallar can define the requirements, implementation plan, dashboard, reliability checks, and adoption model.
Questions Buyers Usually Ask
What belongs in dashboard requirements?
Include the decision, users, questions, metrics, sources, definitions, quality checks, refresh expectations, access, and action owners.
Do we need a data warehouse first?
Not always. It depends on source count, historical depth, transformation complexity, governance needs, and future reuse.
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