Software-as-a-Service and online business software are being increasingly adopted, and are set to
rise even further
Whether the service is for accounting, marketing, or any other outsourced business function, managing client expectations and giving proof of value is an
essential part of the package. While frequent reports are an essential part
of client management, more and more businesses require customers to log into an online service to manage their own data.
As a result, companies are outsourcing their customer data management to external online dashboard providers. However, giving multiple clients access to
their data can be time-consuming and difficult to manage.
To effectively manage your clients’ access to data, some features exist which make the process much easier and less stressful. This article will show you
the 5 most important features which your dashboard software should have for customer management.
1.
Individual Permissions for Data and Dashboards
If you manage multiple clients who regularly access your online service, there are a few rules which have to be adhered to.
- An individual client’s data must be kept private from other clients
- Client Data must be accurate
Therefore, it is important for your service dashboards to be able to grant different levels of permission to users. These will block off
data from users who have nothing to do with it.
In a program such as Target Dashboard, if a user doesn’t have permissions to a particular data set, they
simply cannot see it or access it at all. This gives security to other clients.
While the second rule (above) mostly relies on a having a reliable system which won’t store or chart the data inaccurately, data can become inaccurate when
it is accessed by multiple users from the same company who change data without their colleague’s knowledge. This can lead to inaccurate figures. Permissions allow dashboard admins to let certain users see data, but not edit it. This lets your clients work in full confidence that
their data is accurate.
2.
Single Sign-on Service
When businesses run software as a service (SaaS), clients will not want to log into the service, and then log in again to access their dashboards; this
makes the service slow and tedious to use. This can be prevented by using a single sign-on service.
As the name suggests, using a single sign on service lets you log into multiple user accounts for online services at once. Logging into the online service
and dashboard service simultaneously makes the service dashboard appear to be integrated with the actual SaaS. This is more practical for clients, and
makes the business SaaS less jarring to users.
3.
Chart Embedding
Sometimes, clients need to be able to share data with their own stakeholders or employees, so that they can make their own decisions and take action. Chart
Embedding allows clients to display their data on their own online communications (website, intranet). This also lets others see the value that your SaaS
brings them.
One of the main advantages that chart embedding gives clients is the ability to manage their external data charts from one source. If a client simply
recreates an image of a chart to show on their website, this will quickly become out of date. However, embedding a chart still keeps it live; if the chart is updated in the original dashboard, the embedded chart updates along with it.
4.
Personalised Logos and Design
To make the transition between the business software and client dashboards more seamless, dashboard software should give admins the option to customize the
layout and appearance of their dashboards to their own specifications.
Because there is an abundance of online applications to choose from, branding plays a part in why people choose your offering, as your brand represents to
people your core values, such as reliability or safety. Therefore, changing the aesthetics of your dashboards to reflect your own software is a great way
to give customers confidence in you and your service.
A key point to remember for customisation is that less is more. For example, Target Dashboard allows you to customize logos, chart windows
and fonts (amongst other things). These may seem simple, but they can be all that’s needed to improve a client’s user experience. Editing each of these
with your own logo, primary brand color and a font similar to the one used on your service goes a long way to making your client feel right at home.
5.
Easy to Use Interface
The most important feature that a client dashboard program should have is an easy to use interface. If you manage multiple clients, teaching them all how
to use a complex dashboard system designed for IT experts is going to be next to impossible. Therefore, the ideal dashboard solution is one that is easy to use, yet does not sacrifice this for analytical power.
A lower learning curve will also mean that the adoption time for your product will be significantly reduced. Choosing dashboard software for client use can
be very different to choosing it for internal use. When
assessing ease of use, it is best to think of what analysis your clients will need to do, then shop around to test these functions on different dashboard
programs. Concentrating on the features your clients need (rather than everything) will let you find the best service dashboards for your client’s needs.
Keep these 5 Features in Mind when Choosing Dashboards for Customer Management
Allowing clients to access and edit data from your online service usually requires an external dashboard program (unless you have the skills to make and
manage your own). However, not all dashboard software is built for handling clients, and some features are essential to have. This article has shown you 5
important features which you should consider when evaluating dashboards for client use.
If you are currently looking to implement dashboard software for clients, Target Dashboard could be the best option for you and your clients! Just email us for more information, or sign up for a completely free trial now!