Project dashboard

What is a project dashboard?

A project dashboard is a visual tool used to centralize, monitor, and analyze a project’s key performance indicators in real time. It allows project managers, teams, and decision-makers to track progress, deadlines, costs, ongoing tasks, and potential risks. It provides a concise overview to support decision-making and ensure effective coordination among stakeholders.

In the construction sector, where multiple stakeholders collaborate on complex job sites, the dashboard becomes a critical element for monitoring work progress, managing unforeseen issues, and meeting deadlines. It is often integrated with a project management software or a dispatch software, making it easier to track time, resources, and budget.

What is the purpose of a project dashboard?

The dashboard is used to:

• Track task progress against objectives
• Visualize discrepancies between forecasts and actual results
• Detect delays or cost overruns
• Communicate effectively with team members
• Document the project status at a given point in time

Some advanced dashboards also allow tracking of productivity, work attendance times, or integration of data from digital timesheets.

Typical contents of a project dashboard

A good dashboard includes key elements such as:

• Performance indicators (KPIs)
• Status of tasks or milestones
• Progress charts (e.g., simplified Gantt chart)
• Budget tracking
• Resource allocation
• Alerts for discrepancies or risks

It may also include data from time tracking systems, especially when connected to an employee time tracking app.

Frequently asked questions about project dashboards

What’s the difference between a dashboard and a project report?

A dashboard is interactive, visual, and real time. It is designed to be checked frequently. A project report, on the other hand, is a static document, often produced at regular intervals, used for archiving or communicating information to external stakeholders.

Is a dashboard useful for small businesses?

Absolutely. Even in an SME, a project dashboard helps structure monitoring, optimize resources, and improve communication. It’s an accessible tool that can be integrated into a connected electronic calendar.

Is it possible to track multiple projects in a single dashboard?

Yes. Some tools allow you to view all projects in parallel with customizable filters. This helps managers prioritize and allocate resources effectively.

What data feeds a project dashboard?

Data can come from multiple sources: timesheets, punch clock systems, budgets, daily reports, or mobile apps. The dashboard centralizes this information for fast and continuous analysis. Connections with features like the mobile punch clock or the daily report further enhance its accuracy.