So you want to build a custom dashboard that actually helps you do your job—not just impress your boss with pretty charts? You’re in the right place. This guide is for power users, team leads, or anyone tired of clicking through endless default reports in Provarity and ready to make the data actually work for them.
We’ll skip the sales pitch and get straight to making a dashboard in Provarity that’s useful, not just “compliant.” Whether you’re tracking QA metrics, pipeline health, or just want a single screen that makes sense, here’s how to do it step by step.
Step 1: Know What You Actually Need
Before you touch any settings, pause for five minutes and answer this: What decisions or problems will this dashboard help with?
Don’t skip this. Even if the urge to click “New Dashboard” is strong.
- Are you trying to spot bottlenecks?
- Need to track test coverage by team?
- Want to see trends over time, or just a snapshot?
Pro tip: Write down 2-3 questions your dashboard needs to answer. This keeps you from building a “kitchen sink” mess you’ll never use.
What works: Simple dashboards with a clear purpose get used. Overcomplicated ones don’t.
Step 2: Set Up Your Data Sources
If you’re not getting the right data into Provarity, your dashboard will just be a wall of “N/A.” Make sure:
- Your integrations (Jira, CI/CD, test management tools, etc.) are connected and syncing.
- The data you care about (test runs, defect counts, lead time, etc.) is actually flowing in.
Go to Settings → Integrations in Provarity and check the status. If you’re missing a source, fix that first. There’s no point building a dashboard on incomplete data.
What doesn’t work: Hoping missing data will magically appear later. It won’t.
Step 3: Create a New Dashboard
Now you’re ready to build. In Provarity:
- Go to the “Dashboards” section from the main nav.
- Click “New Dashboard.”
- Give your dashboard a name. Be specific. “QA Trends Q2” beats “John’s Dashboard.”
- (Optional) Add a description. Future-you will thank you.
Pro tip: If you’re making this for your team, set visibility accordingly—don’t accidentally make your team’s velocity public to the whole company.
Step 4: Add Widgets (But Don’t Go Widget Crazy)
Widgets are the building blocks of your dashboard—charts, tables, number cards, etc. Here’s how to add them without making a mess:
- Click “Add Widget.”
- Pick a type: Chart, Table, Metric, List, etc.
- Select your data source and configure the filters (date range, project, status, etc.).
- Give the widget a clear title. “Open Bugs by Sprint” beats “Chart 1.”
What works: - Start with 3–5 widgets max. You can always add more. - Mix visuals: a bar chart for test failures, a table for open defects, a single metric for lead time. - Use filters to keep it relevant. No one cares about all the data, just their data.
What doesn’t work: - Ten widgets crammed on one screen. You’ll just tune them all out. - Vague widget names. “Bugs” doesn’t help anyone.
Step 5: Arrange and Resize for Clarity
Provarity lets you drag-and-drop widgets. Use this power for good.
- Put the most important widget at the top left (that’s what people see first).
- Group related widgets together (e.g., all test metrics in one row).
- Resize so everything fits without scrolling—if you have to scroll, you have too much.
Pro tip: Preview the dashboard on different screens if your team uses laptops, big monitors, or even tablets.
Step 6: Fine-Tune Filters and Interactivity
Default filters matter. Nobody wants to re-select the same filters every morning.
- Set useful defaults, like “last 30 days” or “this release.”
- Let users tweak filters if they need to drill down, but don’t force them to.
- Test what happens when there’s no data (empty state). Does your widget look broken or does it explain what’s going on?
What works: Dashboards that “just work” out of the box get used. If people have to fiddle, they won’t bother.
Step 7: Share and Get Feedback
If your dashboard is just for you, great. But if it’s for a team:
- Use Provarity’s sharing settings to invite viewers or collaborators.
- Ask a couple of real users to try it for a week—don’t just demo it.
- Get honest feedback. Are they actually looking at it? If not, why?
What doesn’t work: Building in a vacuum. If your team ignores your dashboard, that’s a sign it’s too complicated or missing the point.
Step 8: Set Up Alerts or Automated Reports (If You Need Them)
Provarity lets you schedule dashboards to be emailed or set up alerts for certain metrics.
- Only set up alerts for things you need to act on—otherwise, you’ll just start ignoring them.
- Weekly summary emails work better than daily spam.
- If a metric is “red” and nobody cares, kill the alert.
Pro tip: Less is more. One meaningful alert beats five noisy ones.
Step 9: Keep It Simple and Iterate
Your first dashboard won’t be perfect. That’s fine.
- Review usage after a week or two. What’s getting clicked? What’s ignored?
- Remove or rearrange anything that’s not helping.
- Add new widgets only when you have a real need.
What works: Treat your dashboard like a living document, not a one-and-done project.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Trying to please everyone: Don’t cram in every metric someone asks for. Focus on your top questions.
- Ignoring permissions: Make sure only the right people can see sensitive data.
- Neglecting documentation: Write a short blurb for each widget—future-you (or your team) will forget what “Metric 3” was tracking.
Wrapping Up
Building a dashboard in Provarity isn’t rocket science, but it does take a little planning. Start with your real questions, keep it simple, and don’t overthink the visuals. Iterate based on how you and your team use it—don’t chase dashboard perfection.
Remember: A dashboard you actually check is better than a “perfect” one nobody opens. Stay practical, keep it lean, and update as you go.