{"id":8730,"date":"2021-10-01T07:04:42","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T11:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=8730"},"modified":"2026-02-12T04:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T09:36:01","slug":"visualize-your-data-to-empower-business-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/visualize-your-data-to-empower-business-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine ways to visualize your data to empower business growth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTechnology & Innovation<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNine ways to visualize your data to empower business growth\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Keir\t\t\t\tKeir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How can you be sure the work and resource you\u2019re investing into your business is having a direct impact on your growth and bottom line?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to get visibility into your business. You need to see not just the bottom line, but everything above it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s hard enough to get the information in front of you, without then having to interpret what it all means. How can you avoid information overload headaches?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a solution and it\u2019s built into most modern accounting software:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving with data: Getting visibility via dashboards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of us have created a graph within a spreadsheet application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All that\u2019s needed is to highlight a few columns of figures, then hit the graph icon on the toolbar and follow the steps. Hey presto\u2014you get an instant bar graph or pie chart representing those figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern accounting software takes this one step further with dashboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, with just a few clicks you can transform your profit and loss ledger into a series of attractive tables, charts and stand-out figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carl Reader<\/a> is an author, speaker and small business expert. He says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in an age now where the data and the reports that were available to a business owner or the board are at the level that only corporations had a few years ago. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s transformational. It provides the business with more than just a list of numbers and words. It translates that data into indicators that are easily understood. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historically, accounting has always been very historic, looking in the rear-view mirror. Nowadays they can look at actually what\u2019s happening up ahead. It\u2019s game changing for any business.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dashboards might show overheads, expenses, net profit percentage, or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If data is made attractive and accessible then we\u2019re likely to be able to understand it\u2014and so we see trends and gain real insights which can be acted on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three reasons why accounting dashboards are awesome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s not the only benefit of dashboards within accounting software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n