If you're in sales ops, management, or just the person everyone asks for numbers, dashboards can make or break your day. You want something that shows the real story, not just flashy charts that look good in meetings. This guide is for anyone who needs to build a dashboard in Aptiv that actually helps you understand and improve sales performance—without getting lost in the weeds.
Let's walk through how to create a custom dashboard that works for you, not against you. I'll point out what to watch for, what to skip, and how to avoid the usual “dashboard bloat” that wastes everyone's time.
Why Bother With a Custom Dashboard?
Out-of-the-box dashboards are fine… if your sales process is cookie-cutter and never changes. But that's rarely true. Teams have quirks, targets shift, and sometimes you just want to see your numbers your way.
A custom dashboard in Aptiv lets you:
- Focus on what matters to your team, not what some template designer thinks is important.
- Cut through noise—less time scrolling, more time acting.
- Spot problems early, before they become expensive.
But, be honest with yourself: more charts doesn’t always mean more insight. Choose what you need, skip the rest.
Step 1: Sketch Out What You Actually Need
Before you even log in to Aptiv, grab a pen or open a blank doc.
Ask yourself:
- Who is this dashboard for? (You? The VP? The reps?)
- What questions do you want answered in 5 seconds or less?
- Which metrics actually drive decisions? (Think: pipeline value, win rate, deal velocity—not “emails sent.”)
- How often will this dashboard be looked at? Daily? Weekly?
Pro tip: Stick to 3–5 core metrics to start. You can always add later. If everything’s important, nothing is.
Step 2: Log In and Find the Dashboard Builder
Assuming you’ve got the right permissions (if not, now’s a good time to bug your admin), log in to Aptiv and head to the dashboard section:
- Open the main menu and click “Dashboards.”
- Look for a “Create New” or “+ Dashboard” button. (Sometimes it’s hidden under a dropdown—thanks, UX designers.)
- Give your dashboard a name that means something. “Sales Overview” is fine. “Q3 Pipeline Fire Drill” works too.
Heads up: Don’t worry about colors or layout yet. Focus on the bones.
Step 3: Add Data Sources (Without Getting Lost)
Aptiv’s dashboard builder will ask you what data you want to pull in. Here’s where a lot of people get overwhelmed.
- Sales metrics: Opportunities, pipeline value, closed-won/lost, deal age.
- Rep activity: Calls, meetings, touches (but don’t overdo activity stats—they can distract).
- Forecasting: Bookings vs. targets, forecast accuracy.
Choose only what helps answer your original questions. Ignore the rest for now. You can always add another chart later.
What to skip: Vanity metrics. If you’re adding “number of LinkedIn messages sent” just because it’s available, stop.
If you get stuck: Sometimes the data isn’t there, or the field names are cryptic. Don’t be afraid to ask Aptiv support or your internal data team for help. Don’t spend hours trying to reverse-engineer a field called “oppty_src_2021.”
Step 4: Pick Your Widgets (And Don’t Go Overboard)
Aptiv will let you add various widget types—charts, tables, scorecards, and more.
- Scorecards: Good for high-level numbers—total pipeline, quota attainment.
- Bar/line charts: Great for trends over time (e.g., monthly bookings).
- Tables: Useful if you want a quick list of deals or reps.
Limit yourself: More than 6 widgets and you’ll end up with a dashboard nobody wants to use. Less can be more.
Pro tip: Put the most important widget top left. That’s where your eyes go first.
Step 5: Set Filters and Drill-Downs
Dashboards aren’t useful if you can’t slice the data.
- Date filters: Most teams want to see this month, this quarter, and maybe last quarter.
- Owner filters: Let managers zero in on their own team.
- Stage filters: See where deals are getting stuck.
Add these filters now, but don’t go overboard. If you have 10 dropdowns, nobody will use them.
Drill-downs: Some widgets in Aptiv let you click through for more details. Use this for things like “Top 10 Deals”—click to see the deal history.
Step 6: Clean Up the Layout
Now’s the time to make it legible:
- Group related widgets together (all pipeline stuff in one row, activity in another).
- Use clear labels. “Pipeline ($)” is better than “Oppty Val.”
- Remove anything you’re not sure about. Less is more.
Don’t: Spend an hour picking colors or tweaking fonts. As long as it’s readable, it’s good enough.
Step 7: Share, Test, and Iterate
You’re not done until you’ve tested it with real people.
- Share the dashboard with your intended audience.
- Ask: “Does this help you do your job better? Is anything missing? What’s confusing?”
- Watch how they use it. If they’re scrolling past half the widgets, those can probably go.
- Make edits based on feedback, not just your own preferences.
Pro tip: Set a calendar reminder to revisit your dashboards every quarter. Metrics change, teams change, and dashboards need to keep up.
What Works (and What Doesn’t)
Works:
- Focusing on actionable metrics.
- Keeping dashboards simple and uncluttered.
- Regular check-ins to make sure the dashboard is still useful.
Doesn’t work:
- Tracking too much data “just in case.”
- Using dashboards as a substitute for real conversations.
- Ignoring feedback from the people who actually use the dashboard.
What to ignore: Flashy features like animated charts or “gamified” leaderboards. They look cool in demos but rarely help in the real world.
Troubleshooting: Common Pitfalls
- Data looks off? Check your filters and date ranges. Sometimes Aptiv defaults to last month.
- Widgets not updating? Refresh the dashboard, and if that doesn’t work, check the data source settings.
- Permissions issues? Make sure everyone who needs access has it—Aptiv can be fussy about sharing.
If you’re stuck, don’t suffer in silence. Aptiv’s help docs can be hit-or-miss, but their support team is usually responsive if you have a specific question.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Custom dashboards are supposed to make your life easier, not harder. Start simple. Build only what you need. Get feedback early and often. If your dashboard actually helps people hit their numbers (or at least see where they stand), you’re doing it right.
Don’t chase perfection or pile on features just because you can. The best dashboards are clear, honest, and a little bit boring. That’s a compliment—and it’s what gets results.