Data-driven decision making is increasingly important in today’s business world, and Salesforce offers a range of tools to help you analyze and understand your data. Two of the most powerful tools at your disposal are custom reports and dashboards. These features allow you to create visual representations of your data that can be accessed and shared with ease, giving you the insights you need to make informed decisions. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how to build custom reports and dashboards in Salesforce, so you can start unlocking the full potential of your data today.

Getting Started with Custom Reports-
Creating custom reports in Salesforce is a straightforward process. To begin, navigate to the Reports tab in your Salesforce account, and then click “New Report.” From there, you’ll be prompted to choose the type of report you want to create, such as a tabular report or a summary report. You’ll also be able to select the object you want to base your report on, as well as any filters or groupings you want to apply. Once you’ve made your selections, you can click “Run Report” to see a preview of your data. If you’re happy with the results, you can save your report and access it at any time from the Reports tab.

Building Custom Dashboards-
Custom dashboards in Salesforce allow you to present your data in a visual, easy-to-understand format. To create a custom dashboard, navigate to the Dashboards tab and click “New Dashboard.” You’ll be prompted to choose the components you want to include on your dashboard, such as charts or tables. You’ll also be able to set filters and choose the data you want to display. Once you’ve built your dashboard, you can access it at any time from the Dashboards tab.

Sharing Reports and Dashboards-
One of the most powerful aspects of custom reports and dashboards in Salesforce is the ability to share them with others. You can share your reports and dashboards with individual Salesforce users or groups, or you can make them available to everyone in your organization. You can also customize the level of access people have to your reports and dashboards, ensuring that everyone sees exactly what they need to see.

Enhancing Reports and Dashboards with Add-ons-
Salesforce also offers a range of add-ons that can enhance the functionality of your reports and dashboards. For example, you can use the Einstein Analytics add-on to create more advanced data visualizations, or the Conga Composer add-on to create custom reports and documents. By exploring these add-ons, you can take your data analysis to the next level and gain even deeper insights into your business.

Best Practices for Custom Reports and Dashboards-
As with any Salesforce feature, there are certain best practices to keep in mind when creating custom reports and dashboards. One important tip is to start with a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your reports and dashboards, so you can select the right type of report or dashboard and filter your data effectively. It’s also important to keep your reports and dashboards up to date and easy to understand, so everyone in your organization can benefit from the insights they provide.

Conclusion:
Custom reports and dashboards are powerful tools for unlocking the insights hidden in your Salesforce data. By following these best practices and exploring the full range of features available in Salesforce, you can build custom reports and dashboards that provide the insights you need to make data-driven decisions and drive your business forward. So what are you waiting for? Start building your own custom reports and dashboards today!