# How dashboards work

## **1. High-level metrics**

At the top of each dashboard, you will see a set of key performance indicators (KPIs). These provide a quick overview of your most important business outcomes.

Common examples include:

* Total Sales
* Completed Appointments
* Unique Clients Served
* Visit Frequency
* Retention Rate

The **Reference Data → Metrics** section of this documentation contains the exact definitions, formulas, and clarifications for each metric.

<mark style="color:$warning;">**\[Insert Image Here of KPI Tile Row]**</mark>

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## **2. Time-based trends**

Below the KPIs, you will find charts that show how performance changes over time (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.). These trends help you identify patterns such as seasonality, growth, or changes in demand.

\[Insert Image Here of Line Graph or Trend Chart]

These visualizations are designed to answer questions like:

* Are we improving over time?
* Which periods show strong or weak performance?
* Are there predictable peaks or slow periods?

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## **3. Breakdowns and comparisons**

{% columns %}
{% column %}
Further down the dashboard, you will find sections that break your metrics into more specific views, such as:

* Location
* Region or market
* Provider or staff member
* Service type
* Client type (new vs returning)
* Cancellation or no-show reasons
  {% endcolumn %}

{% column %}

#### These breakdowns help identify:

* Strong and weak performing locations
* Provider performance gaps
* Service-specific demand
* Operational bottlenecks
  {% endcolumn %}
  {% endcolumns %}

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#### And the documentation will explain:

* What each chart represents
* Why it matters
* What patterns to look for
* How the information can guide decisions

<mark style="color:orange;">**\[Insert Image Here of Bar Chart or Comparison Layout]**</mark>

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## **How to interpret reportlab dashboards**

Each dashboard is built to answer a set of core business questions. This helps you move from simply viewing data to understanding what it means.

Below is an example of how reportlab frames analysis across business areas.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Executive Perspective" %}

* Is revenue increasing or decreasing?
* Which regions or locations are the strongest performers?
* How are discounts, taxes, and net sales trending?
* Are there growth or decline patterns over time?
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Customer Perspective" %}

* How often clients return
* Whether retention is improving
* The ratio of new vs repeat clients
* Trends in client engagement
  {% endtab %}

{% tab title="Operations Perspective" %}

* Appointment volume patterns
* Provider utilization
* Cancellation and no-show drivers
* Scheduling and staffing efficiency
  {% endtab %}
  {% endtabs %}

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## **How this documentation supports reportlab**

This documentation acts as the interpretation layer for your dashboards. Use it whenever you want to confirm a definition, understand how data is calculated, or interpret what a trend indicates.

| If you need…                        | Go to…                                  |
| ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Definition of a metric              | Reference Data → Metrics                |
| Guidance on what a dashboard is for | The dashboard’s introduction section    |
| Help understanding a chart          | The breakdown explanations              |
| Suggestions on what actions to take | Insights & Recommendations on each page |
| Clarification on calculations       | Reference Data → Metrics or Formulas    |

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## **Recommended workflow for using reportlab**

1. **Open a dashboard** in reportlab and review the high-level metrics.
2. **Scan the trends** to understand how performance is shifting over time.
3. **Review breakdowns** to identify strong and weak segments.
4. **Open the corresponding documentation page** for explanations and decision-support notes.
5. **Refer to the Reference Data section** for definitions or formulas if needed.

This workflow ensures clarity and consistency across your entire organization.