Who doesn't love the ability to view real-time data? We certainly understand why businesses who hire a market research company find value in it. A customized dashboard or portal is a powerful tool that gives an organization the ability to see data collected by their market research partner at their own convenience. Within market research, there is a high level of transparency to see exactly how an online survey is performing and up-to-the-second results.
A client dashboard is a good fit for online survey market research projects that use a live and accessible data source like a survey platform. With a data source integrated with the dashboard, users can take a look at respondents' answers in real-time. Our market research company uses a platform that allows you to view a dashboard of survey responses as soon as the first one comes in.
Imagine an ongoing customer satisfaction study being distributed throughout the year; a dashboard would be an efficient, helpful way to analyze this data as often or as little as the client would like. The insights can't necessarily be automated, but a dashboard can provide high-level visualizations of the raw data flowing in from the survey.
Dashboards can also be developed for static data if a fieldwork has concluded. These dashboards function identically but serve more as reporting tools than data collection progress updates.
In this post, I will share 5 suggestions for developing a client dashboard for an online survey.
Dashboards are great tools to get a snapshot of your data in real time. Consider these 5 tips to get the most out them when conducting an online survey.
1. A client dashboard shouldn't require any training.
If it isn't obvious how to use the dashboard for a client upon their first exposure, it is likely too complicated. Ease of use is absolutely key for a dashboard to be successful, where success is defined by a positive client experience.
To create a less chaotic dashboard, minimize the amount of buttons, scrolling, and tabs. Provide explicit instructions when needed, but don't explain every single feature - only the most high level or most useful features. The ultimate goal is for the client to seamlessly and conveniently use the dashboard on their own time.
2. A dashboard for an online survey should be visually engaging.
Similar to being user-friendly, a client dashboard should also be graphically appealing. If it looks like a utilitarian, complex software from 1998, you may need to rethink the design of the dashboard.
Meaningful color choices and a sleek layout can go a long way to make the tool easier to use and visually impressive to a client. On the other hand, keep in mind you also don't want the graphics in the dashboard to be a distraction. It is important to simultaneously achieve a dashboard that is both straightforward and pleasing to the eye.
3. A client dashboard should have dynamic data filters.
Another key element of a dashboard is the ability for a client to play around with the data. If the dashboard is limited to static charts, you might as well give the client a presentation deck.
Add relevant filters to the survey that help a client see the data in different ways like you would for a traditional market research report. Some examples include age, location, income, and overall satisfaction. Usually selected as drop-downs or checked as boxes, these should be easy options for clients to get a new perspective on the data.
4. A dashboard for a client should have customized user access.
In some cases, different people at a client organization need to see different data. This is often out of necessity because of conflicts of interest or varying departmental roles.
Each view of a dashboard can be secured by a unique ID and/or password. This not only prevents the wrong client in an organization viewing the data, but also anyone outside of the organization, as well. These roles or assignments can be defined and discussed with the client during the project kickoff meeting.
5. A client dashboard should have export capabilities.
A valuable feature of dashboards for many clients is the option to export the charts, tables, or raw data. This allows the client to take custom views from the dashboard and download them for other internal uses.
Just be sure to only share what is appropriate, considering what the client needs at that stage in the project. Sometimes access to download too much of the data will create more questions than answers.
Contact Drive Research
Drive Research is a market research company located in Syracuse, NY. Our experts can design a customized dashboard for your next online survey project.
Interested in learning more about our market research services? Reach out through any of the four ways below.
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