So, you want better sales dashboards. The kind that actually tell you what’s going on—without making you dig through 12 tabs or beg IT for help. If you’re wrangling sales data for a big team and tired of dashboards that are either too basic or way too complicated, this guide’s for you.
We’ll walk through setting up custom sales dashboards in Factors, step by step, with a focus on what actually helps enterprise sales teams. No buzzwords. No magical “AI-powered synergy.” Just clear, practical advice so you can get what you need and get on with your day.
Why Even Bother With Custom Dashboards?
Let’s get something out of the way: most out-of-the-box dashboards are fine for the basics. But if you’ve got a big team, messy data, or ambitious targets, “fine” usually isn’t enough.
Custom dashboards in Factors let you:
- Track the metrics you care about, not what some vendor thinks you should.
- See team and territory breakdowns that actually match your org chart.
- Spot trends and risks before they become someone else’s problem.
- Cut down on spreadsheet hell.
But… custom dashboards are only as good as the data and design behind them. If you just throw every chart on one page, you’ll waste more time than you save.
Step 1: Get Your Access and Data Sources Sorted
Before you start dragging widgets around, make sure you have what you need:
- Admin or Creator-level access in Factors. If you’re not sure, try creating a new dashboard. If you can’t, talk to your admin. Don’t waste an afternoon only to find out you’re locked out.
- Know where your data lives. Factors connects to common CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.), spreadsheets, and databases. If your sales data’s spread across a few places, list them out.
- APIs and permissions. For enterprise teams, this is usually the biggest roadblock. Make sure you (or IT) have set up the right integrations and that you’ve got permission to access sensitive sales info.
Pro tip: Don’t connect every possible data source “just in case.” Start with one or two you trust. You can always add more later.
Step 2: Figure Out What Actually Matters
This is where most teams get tripped up. Endless meetings about “KPIs” lead to dashboards no one uses.
Ask yourself (and your team):
- What are the top 3-5 questions you need answered every week?
- Who is this dashboard for? (Execs want the big picture. Sales managers want details. Reps want to see their own pipeline.)
- Are you tracking leading indicators (calls, meetings, demos) or just closed deals?
- What do people complain about not being able to see?
Don’t try to please everyone. If you cram in every request, you’ll end up with a cluttered mess. Start with the essentials. If you’re not sure, set up a quick poll or ask in your team chat.
What to ignore: Vanity metrics (like “website visits” on a sales dashboard) and anything that’s just there because “we’ve always tracked it.”
Step 3: Set Up a New Dashboard in Factors
Once you know what you want to track, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
- Create a new dashboard
- In Factors, find the Dashboards section and click “New Dashboard.”
- Give it a clear name. (“Enterprise Sales Overview” is better than “Dashboard 7.”)
- Pick your data sources
- Add your main CRM or spreadsheet connection.
- Double-check that the data is up to date (Factors usually syncs automatically, but check for errors).
- Set permissions
- Decide who can view, edit, or share this dashboard. For enterprise teams, this matters. Don’t give edit access to the whole sales org unless you like chaos.
Pro tip: You can clone existing dashboards if you want to tweak a template instead of starting from scratch. Just don’t forget to update the filters and data sources.
Step 4: Add Widgets and Visualizations (But Don’t Go Overboard)
This is the fun part, but it’s also where things get out of hand.
- Start with one widget per key metric. For example:
- Total pipeline value (by stage)
- New leads added this week
- Closed deals by rep
- Forecast vs. actuals
- Average sales cycle length
- Pick the right chart type. Bar charts for comparisons, line charts for trends, tables for details. Skip the pie charts—nobody can read them.
- Use filters and segments. Factors lets you filter by team, region, product, or custom fields. Set up views for different audiences (like managers vs. reps).
- Add goals or benchmarks. Show target lines so it’s obvious if you’re ahead or behind.
What doesn’t work: Putting 15 tiny widgets on one page. You’ll end up squinting at every meeting. Less is more.
Step 5: Customize Layout and Make It Usable
Don’t underestimate layout. A dashboard that’s easy to scan will actually get used.
- Group related metrics together. Pipeline on the left, activities in the middle, results on the right. Or whatever matches your sales process.
- Use section headers or dividers. Break up the page so people aren’t lost.
- Keep mobile in mind. Even enterprise folks check dashboards on their phones.
- Don’t be afraid of white space. It’s not wasted space if it makes things clearer.
Pro tip: Preview the dashboard as a regular user (not an admin) to see what they’ll see. Permissions matter—a lot.
Step 6: Set Up Alerts and Scheduled Reports
Dashboards are great, but nobody stares at them all day. Use Factors’ automation to push insights to where your team actually works.
- Set up alerts for key changes. For example, if pipeline drops below a certain threshold, or if a deal’s stuck in a stage too long.
- Schedule regular reports. You can have Factors email a PDF or summary every Monday morning. Saves everyone the “Can you send me the latest numbers?” dance.
- Integrate with Slack or Teams. If your team lives in chat, push alerts there. Just don’t overdo it—alert fatigue is real.
What to ignore: Daily report emails for everyone. Most people will just filter them to spam. Be selective.
Step 7: Test, Get Feedback, and Iterate
No dashboard is perfect on the first try. The best way to spot issues is to watch real people use it.
- Do a dry run. Share with a small group first. Ask what’s confusing or missing.
- Check for broken data or filters. Nothing kills trust faster than bad numbers.
- Tweak based on feedback. But resist the urge to say yes to every request. Prioritize changes that help the majority.
Pro tip: Schedule a quick review 30 days in. See if people are actually using the dashboard—or if they’re still asking for screenshots in email.
Honest Pros and Cons of Using Factors for Enterprise Dashboards
What works: - Fast, no-code setup (once you get your data in). - Flexible filtering and segmentation for big teams. - Good automation for alerts and scheduled reports. - Clean UI—doesn’t bury you in menus.
What doesn’t: - You’ll still need to wrangle your data sources and clean up messy CRM fields. - Advanced custom logic can require some workarounds. - Permissions can be tricky if your org has lots of roles.
What to ignore: - Fancy features you don’t need. Start simple. Add complexity only if it solves real problems. - “AI insights” unless you’ve seen them actually help your team.
Keep It Simple—Then Improve
Setting up custom sales dashboards in Factors isn’t rocket science, but it does take some thought. Start with the basics, get real feedback, and don’t be afraid to kill off charts nobody uses.
Good dashboards make life easier. If yours isn’t, strip out the fluff, focus on clarity, and keep iterating. No dashboard is final—just make sure it’s actually helping your team hit their goals.