Microsoft Excel is a great tool for creating business dashboards. Recently, I made the below dashboard using Excel in just 5 steps.
Step 1: Figure out what you need
The first step for any successful dashboard is to understand what information your users want and how they want it.
- Talk to your users and ask them “what and why” they need the information.
- Prepare a mock-up sketch of the dashboard and get the buy-in.
- Identify data sources and refresh options.
At the end of STEP 1, you should have a clear idea about where you data is, how it should be gathered, analyzed and presented.
Step 2: Clean & Set up data
If you look long and hard, you can find the Loch Ness Monster, the truth about Bermuda Triangle before you locate the Perfectly Clean Business Data.
The next step is to clean & structure your data in a tabular format.
- Use Power Query to connect to the data source(s) and fetch the data.
- Set up necessary data cleaning processes with in Power Query.
- Load the data to Excel either as tables or to the data model.
Step 3: Calculate the KPIs with Pivots
Load the cleaned data into “data model” based pivot tables in Excel. Now, using Power Pivot DAX measures, calculate the necessary KPIs.
For example, for the above business dashboard, I’ve calculated:
- Total Sales =SUM(sales[Sales])
- Total Boxes = SUM(sales[Boxes])
- Total Expenses = SUM(sales[Expenses])
- Total Profit = [Total Sales] – [Total Profit]
- Profit % = [Total Profit] / [Total Sales]
Create the pivot tables using these measures.
Step 4: Make Interactive Charts
First create the necessary pivot charts (refer to the mock-up you made in step 1).
Then, make them interactive using Slicers, Timelines or Report Filters.
Step 5: Bring Everything Together & Format
We are ready for the big finale!
Bring all the charts, KPIs and slicers you have created so far to a new sheet. (Cut & Paste).
Arrange them neatly and format as needed.
Viola, your dashboard is ready!
Video Tutorial - How to create a dynamic business dashboard
I’ve created a 30 minute tutorial on how to create the above dashboard with all the necessary steps. Watch it below or on my Youtube channel.
Sample Workbooks
Please download the blank template file from here.
If you want the full dashboard (with al the workings), you can find it in my Excel School Online Course.
More Dashboard Tutorials & Examples
I have a confession to make. Dashboards are kind of my thing. So I have been writing about them for almost 15 years now. Here are some of my best Excel & Power BI dashboards.
21 Responses to “Make a Pivot Table in Excel [15 Second Tutorial]”
[...] First step is to create Pivot Table. Here is a video tutorial on making pivot tables. [...]
Dear Sir,
I would like to study pivot table from basics detailed.Pls send me the tips of that
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[...] Click here to see a video tutorial of making pivot tables in excel | One more Pivot Table Video Tutorial [...]
it is very useful
hello sir
please send me some information of pivotable. and how to use it
because I am beginer so how can i learn it the pivotable.
and sir will you send me pivotable data because i have no data and i don't
know how to applyed for the pivotable. give some videos so I learn quikely.
thank you
and my best
anticipation
Hi,
This tutorail was helpful. If possible can you please email me some data, so I can create another pivot table? I am trying to learn ASAP and need some info.
Thank you
@Keri
Have a look at FakeNameGenerator.com
Top of the day to you. can you pls send me a detailed tutorial on the pivot table tutorial? Thanks.
Hi,
please tell me how to use Pivot table.
@Karthick, Yemi
Have a read of: http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/08/19/excel-pivot-tables-tutorial/
Dear Sir,
I visited this website of urs for the very first time and trust me this is fabulous.i learnt pivot table through this.Thanks a lot.In corporate world nobody gonna make u learn these things.m very grateful to u.This is a great initiative from ur side.Commendable job done.Hats off to u.For beginners also this is very helpful.The way this website makes u learn excel is very good.
Pooja
Can you please email me information to put into a pivot table and possibly a complete set of instructions? I am a beginner to pivot tables and am possibly interested in obtaining a position that requires pivot tables. thank you.
[...] Click here to see a video tutorial of making pivot tables in excel | One more Pivot Table Video Tutorial [...]
It's simply great..!!
Cool!
Fast but not furious.
Pls email me details of pivot table. I want to learn it asap because I just got a job that requires this. Thanks
it is very useful..............thanks
Sir please can u send me the complete explanation of pivot tables from basics
hello,
I wanted to know how to put pivot with emp id, emp name, emp position in one row.
Ex:-
cel A4 should have Emp id
Cell B4 should have Emp Name
Call C4 should have Emp Position
many thanks in advance
Nice information, thanx my dear.