Tech Tip Tuesday: How to Build a KPI Dashboard in Google Sheets or Excel
Turn your spreadsheets into a live, visual summary of your most important numbers
After last week’s focus on some of my favourite Excel tools, we are staying in spreadsheet territory but taking it up a notch. This week is about building a simple KPI dashboard that lets you see your key numbers at a glance.
Dashboards are not just for big businesses. Any organisation, project or team can benefit from a single page view of the metrics that matter most. And you do not need specialist software to create one. Both Excel and Google Sheets have everything you need.
Step One. Decide What to Track
The most important part of any KPI dashboard is deciding which numbers are worth tracking. Too many metrics will clutter your view. Too few and you may miss important trends.
Think about your goals and pick no more than six to eight key measures. Examples might include monthly sales, customer retention, project completion rate, average response time or website traffic.
Step Two. Organise Your Data
Your dashboard will only be as good as the data feeding it. Store your raw data on a separate sheet and keep it clean and consistent.
Use clear column headings, consistent date formats and avoid empty rows. This makes it easier to build charts and formulas without constant fixes.
Step Three. Build the Visuals
Choose charts and tables that clearly represent your data. For example
Column or bar charts for comparing categories
Line charts for trends over time
Scorecards for single key figures
In Excel, use Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts to group and summarise. In Google Sheets, use the Chart tool and customise colours and labels to make the data easy to read.
Step Four. Keep It Simple
The best dashboards are simple, uncluttered and easy to read. Avoid cramming every chart into one page. Use white space and clear headings to separate different metrics.
If your dashboard needs scrolling, it is too big. Condense the most important numbers into a single view.
Pro Tip. Automate Updates
Link your dashboard charts to your live data so it updates automatically when new data is entered. This ensures your KPIs are always current without extra work.
In Excel, use dynamic named ranges or tables. In Google Sheets, use formulas like IMPORTRANGE or connect to Google Forms or other data sources.
A good dashboard turns raw numbers into decisions. Build it once, keep it up to date, and you will always know where you stand.
See you next Tuesday for more tech tips.