So, your sales team is living in spreadsheets, and you’re tired of asking, “How’s the pipeline?” every week. You want a dashboard that shows you what matters—without three extra logins or a PhD in business intelligence. If you use Xactlycorp, you’re in luck: you can build custom dashboards that actually help you track performance… if you know where to start.
This guide is for sales ops folks, managers, and anyone who needs to see what’s going on, not just trust the numbers in some monthly email. I’ll walk you through how to build dashboards in Xactlycorp, what you should focus on, and which features are mostly fluff.
Step 1: Figure Out What You Really Need to Track
Before you click anything in Xactlycorp, take five minutes to jot down what you care about. Dashboards are only as good as their focus. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a wall of widgets no one looks at.
Ask yourself (or your team):
- What do I wish I could see at-a-glance every week?
- Which numbers would actually change what I do next?
- Who else will use this dashboard, and what do they care about?
Typical sales performance metrics worth tracking:
- Quota attainment (by rep, team, region)
- Win rates over time
- Pipeline by stage
- Commission payouts (actual vs. projected)
- Top deals closed this month/quarter
Skip: Vanity metrics like “calls made” unless you know they drive results in your org. More isn’t always better.
Pro tip: If your answer is “everything,” pick three things that actually matter. You can always add more later.
Step 2: Get Familiar With Xactlycorp’s Dashboard Tools (and Limits)
Xactlycorp is built for sales comp and performance tracking, but it’s not Tableau or Power BI. The dashboard builder is useful, but don’t expect pixel-perfect design or wild custom visuals.
What you can do:
- Drag-and-drop widgets (charts, tables, KPIs)
- Filter data by team, region, or date
- Combine multiple reports into one dashboard
- Set up scheduled email reports
What you can’t (or shouldn’t) do:
- Build super-custom graphs (you’re limited to what Xactlycorp offers)
- Mash up data from other systems (unless you have an integration or export/import process)
- Expect real-time updates—data refreshes are usually daily
Pro tip: Stick to out-of-the-box widgets for speed and reliability. Customizations can get fiddly, and support for them is hit-or-miss.
Step 3: Build Your First Dashboard
Let’s get into the weeds. Here’s how to set up a dashboard inside Xactlycorp:
1. Log In and Find the Dashboard Area
- Once you’re in, look for “Dashboards” or “Analytics” in the left menu. Sometimes it’s under “Reports”—depends on your version.
- Click “Create New Dashboard” (sometimes it’s a big plus button).
2. Name It Something Obvious
- “Sales Team Performance” beats “Dashboard 1.”
- Add a description if others will use it. “Shows quota attainment and pipeline by region” is fine.
3. Add Your First Widget
- Click “Add Widget” or similar.
- Choose a widget type (bar chart, table, KPI card, etc.).
- Pick your data source. Usually, you’ll see standard options like “Quota,” “Pipeline,” “Commissions.”
- Select your filters—date range, team, region.
- Preview before you save.
4. Arrange Your Widgets
- Drag them around. Put the most important stuff top-left or center.
- Delete anything you don’t need.
5. Save and Share
- Save your dashboard.
- Share it with teammates or set permissions as needed.
Pro tip: Don’t cram 10 widgets onto one screen. People will ignore it. Three to five is plenty.
Step 4: Tweak and Test
Now, look at your dashboard like someone who’s seeing it for the first time. Ask:
- Is it obvious what each number or chart means?
- Can you spot problems (missed quotas, slow deals) without digging?
- Does it load quickly, or does it lag?
If you’re not sure—show it to someone else. If they don’t “get” it in 10 seconds, simplify.
Common tweaks:
- Rename widgets so they’re clear (“Q2 Pipeline by Stage” not “Report Widget 3”)
- Change colors if you have the option—highlight what’s good or bad
- Remove anything you don’t actually use
What to ignore: Don’t obsess over making it pretty. Clarity beats design every time.
Step 5: Automate (But Don’t Over-Automate)
Xactlycorp lets you schedule dashboard snapshots or reports via email. This is handy—but don’t blast dashboards to everyone every morning unless they ask for it.
- Set up weekly or monthly emails to folks who care.
- Use filters to target by team or region.
- Review who’s actually opening these emails after a month. If no one is, kill the automation.
Pro tip: Less is more. The goal is to see what matters, not to flood inboxes.
Step 6: Maintain and Iterate
Dashboards aren’t set-and-forget. As goals shift or the team changes, you’ll need to update what you track.
- Once a quarter, ask: “Is this dashboard still helping us make decisions?”
- If a widget hasn’t been looked at in months, remove it.
- Add new metrics only if they actually drive action.
And if your Xactlycorp instance gets new data or integrations, revisit what’s possible—don’t add just because you can, though.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works:
- Keeping dashboards simple and focused
- Using standard, reliable widgets
- Scheduling reports for people who actually use them
What doesn’t:
- Over-customizing (custom HTML/JS widgets are rarely worth the headache)
- Tracking too many metrics (“dashboard bloat” is real)
- Relying on real-time data—Xactlycorp usually updates overnight
Ignore:
- Features that promise “AI insights” unless you’ve actually seen them add value. Most of the time, it’s just marketing speak for basic trends.
- Fancy visualizations if your team just wants to see numbers.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Simple, Keep It Useful
The best dashboards in Xactlycorp are the ones people actually use. Don’t get sucked into the weeds of design or “feature creep.” Start with what matters, see if it helps, and tweak as you go. Sales is complicated enough—your dashboard shouldn’t be.
Go build that dashboard, and remember: if you’re not looking at it every week, it’s probably not worth having.