If you’re here, you probably have to build a reporting dashboard in Ubique Live—maybe for your team, your boss, or just to keep your own sanity. It sounds simple: connect data, drag some charts around, and hit “Go.” But the reality? There’s more to it. If you want dashboards that are actually useful (not just pretty), you’ll need to know what matters, what to skip, and how to avoid common headaches. This guide is for anyone who wants real answers—not just marketing slides—about customizing and deploying dashboards in Ubique Live.
1. Get Clear on What You Actually Need
Before you even open Ubique Live, get one thing straight: what’s the point of this dashboard? Ask yourself (or whoever’s asking for it):
- Who will use it? Execs, analysts, frontline staff? Everyone wants something different.
- What decisions should it help make? If it’s just “to see stuff,” you’re wasting your time.
- How often does it need to update? Real-time? Daily? Weekly?
Pro tip: Skip the “kitchen sink” approach. More charts don’t mean more insight.
2. Connect Your Data Sources
Dashboards are only as good as the data feeding them. Ubique Live connects to a bunch of sources: SQL databases, cloud spreadsheets, CSVs, and some third-party APIs. Here’s what works, and what to watch out for:
Steps
- Head to the Data Sources panel. Usually, it’s in the left nav. Click “Add Data Source.”
- Pick your source type. SQL, CSV upload, Google Sheets, etc.
- Authenticate and test the connection. If you’re connecting to a database, expect to enter credentials. Ubique Live will let you test—do this before moving on.
- Set refresh intervals. Most sources let you schedule how often data updates. Don’t default to “real-time” unless you actually need it; it’s a resource hog.
Honest Take
- Connecting to cloud spreadsheets? Usually smooth.
- SQL databases? Depends on your IT policies—sometimes you’ll need to chase down read-only users or firewall rules.
- Third-party APIs? Sometimes flaky; check the logs if something looks off.
3. Build a Rough Draft Dashboard
Don’t worry about polish yet. Start by slapping your main metrics on the page.
Steps
- Create a new dashboard from the main dashboard panel.
- Drag in widgets or tiles. Ubique Live offers bar charts, tables, KPIs, line graphs, and more.
- Map widgets to your data. Usually, this means picking your data source, then selecting columns or fields.
- Arrange the layout. Don’t obsess over spacing—just make sure it’s readable.
What Works
- Tables and simple charts: Always useful for a first draft.
- Prebuilt templates: Ubique Live has a few, but most are generic. Use them as a starting point, not the final product.
What to Ignore
- Fancy gauge charts and donut graphs. They look cool but tell you little.
- Animations. They slow things down and impress nobody.
4. Customize for Clarity (Not for Show)
Now that you’ve got something on the screen, it’s time to make it actually usable.
Steps
- Edit chart labels and titles. Skip jargon—use plain language.
- Add filters and dropdowns. Let users slice the data by time, region, or whatever matters.
- Set up conditional formatting. Highlight outliers, trends, or anything you need to act on quickly.
- Group or hide less-important widgets. If it’s not useful, get it off the front page.
Honest Take
- Less is more: If everything’s highlighted, nothing stands out.
- User permissions: Ubique Live lets you control who sees what. Use this feature—don’t show finance numbers to everyone “just in case.”
- Mobile view: Test it, but don’t expect miracles. Most dashboards look best on a laptop.
5. Test with Real Users (Really)
This is the step everyone skips—and it’s why so many dashboards get ignored.
Steps
- Share a draft link with 2–3 people who’ll actually use the dashboard.
- Ask them to find specific info. (“How many widgets did we sell in April?”) Watch what trips them up.
- Gather honest feedback. If they’re confused, don’t defend your design—fix it.
What Works
- Quick, brutal feedback: Better to hear “I don’t get it” now than after launch.
- Iterate fast: Make one or two changes at a time, not a full redesign.
What to Ignore
- Feedback from people who’ll never use the dashboard. Their opinions add noise, not clarity.
6. Deploy and Share the Dashboard
Once your dashboard passes the “real user” test, it’s time to roll it out.
Steps
- Set final permissions. Decide who can view, edit, or share.
- Publish the dashboard. Ubique Live gives you a shareable link and, optionally, an embed code for other apps.
- Announce it. Send the link to your team with a one-liner on what it’s for (“Quarterly sales trends—updated every Monday”).
- Set up notifications (optional). If Ubique Live supports scheduled email reports or alerts, set these up now—but only if people will actually use them.
Honest Take
- Don’t over-automate: Most people ignore daily dashboard emails.
- Skip embedded dashboards unless you really need them. Embeds can be glitchy, especially across browsers.
7. Maintain and Iterate
Dashboards aren’t “set it and forget it.” Data changes, business needs shift, someone finds a bug.
Steps
- Schedule a check-in. Every month or quarter, review if the dashboard is still useful.
- Monitor data quality. If something looks wrong, investigate—bad data kills trust fast.
- Make tweaks, not overhauls. Small improvements beat big, time-consuming redesigns.
What Works
- Leaving a “suggestion box” (even just a shared doc) for real users to request tweaks.
- Automating basic health checks—if Ubique Live supports alerts for stale data, turn them on.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Keep It Useful
Customizing and deploying dashboards in Ubique Live isn’t rocket science—but it’s easy to overthink. Focus on what your users actually need. Start ugly, test early, and don’t chase every shiny feature. The best dashboards are the ones people use and trust, not the ones with the most colors or charts. Iterate as you go, and don’t be afraid to trim the fat.
If you keep things simple and listen to real feedback, you’ll end up with dashboards that actually help—not just dashboards that look helpful.