Answered: Why can't I just do dashboards myself ?

Olivia, I hear you, but I have my own people...

A common trait for most successful dashboard clients is the ability to quickly gather reliable financial data about their business. Without access to fast and reliable financial data, a dashboard project becomes more difficult for the client to implement.

 

You're a savvy business owner, and you know that in today's fast-paced world, quick access to reliable financial data can be a game-changer. After all, without fast and dependable financial data, making sound, data-driven business decisions becomes challenging.

 

At Agent O Consulting, we have observed this one simple fact

having consistently reliable dashboards is a monumental leap forward for small businesses like yours

 

Now, you might be thinking, "Can't I handle this in-house myself?" It's a fair question, but let's dig a bit deeper.

 

Most small businesses have exceptional team members responsible for managing their financial data, balancing cash, reconciling accounts, and preparing essential month-end reports. They're the unsung heroes of financial stability.

 

But here's the kicker: do they have the bandwidth to prepare, review, and interpret dashboards too? In my experience, when the in-house accounting team was tapped to add the task of tracking and maintaining the teams' KPIs, everyone lost. Sure, it would work for a while until there was a deadline like payroll, quarterly tax filings, or a crisis like a tax audit.

Do they have the bandwidth?

Having in-house accounting professionals on your team is exactly the ideal client for Agent O Consulting because you're already armed with the key to success for our custom dashboard project.

While your in-house team ensures your financial data is top-notch, the real question is—are you consistently harnessing that data to make informed decisions based on your dashboard?

Are You Using The Windshield of Your Business?

This is a different ball game compared to the routine review of your profit and loss statement or tracking sales goals. Think of it this way—when you're driving, do you rely on your rearview mirror or your windshield to navigate?

Leading Metrics: The Windshield of Your Business

Leading metrics, my friend, are the windshield of your business. These are the forward-looking indicators that give you a glimpse of the road ahead. They empower you to anticipate and respond proactively, rather than react to what's already happened.

Let me illustrate with a few examples:

  1. Sales Pipeline Velocity: Imagine having real-time visibility into the pace at which potential customers move through your sales pipeline. If you notice a slowdown, you can take action before it impacts your revenue.
  2. Website Traffic Trends: Monitoring your website traffic regularly allows you to spot trends. A sudden drop in visitors might indicate a technical issue, and you can address it promptly.
  3. Customer Satisfaction Scores: Tracking customer satisfaction scores on an ongoing basis helps you identify issues early, so you can make improvements before they affect your reputation.
  4. Inventory Turnover Rate: By keeping an eye on how quickly your inventory is moving, you can adjust your ordering and stocking strategies in real time, avoiding overstock or shortages.
  5. Lead Conversion Rates: Tracking how effectively you're converting leads into customers helps you tweak your sales and marketing strategies promptly.

These leading metrics act as your early warning system, allowing you to make course corrections while you still have time. They're your business's crystal ball, helping you steer toward success.

Lagging Metrics: The Rearview Mirror of Your Business

Now, let's talk about lagging metrics—these are like using your rearview mirror when driving. They tell you about the past. It's a historical snapshot, not necessarily a crystal ball showing the future. Reviewing your Profit and Loss report at the end of a quarter to check if you hit your sales goal doesn't leave you much room to make course corrections.

But don't get me wrong; lagging metrics are crucial too. They offer insights into the results of your past actions.

Here are some examples:

  1. Revenue: Your total revenue for a quarter or a year is a lagging metric. It tells you what's already happened.
  2. Expenses: Similarly, your expenses are lagging metrics, reflecting your past spending.
  3. Net Profit: Your net profit, while essential, is a result of your past financial decisions and actions.
  4. Customer Churn Rate: Knowing how many customers you lost last quarter helps you understand the impact of your service or product quality.
  5. Employee Turnover Rate: Tracking how many employees left last year informs you about your workplace culture and management practices.

Lagging metrics are your historical records. They're essential for evaluating the results of your past strategies and decisions. However, they're not the best indicators to steer your business in real time.

Book a Call to Learn More

Custom Dashboards for Actionable Insights

Now that we've delved into the world of leading and lagging metrics, you might wonder how to harness this knowledge effectively. That's where Agent O Consulting comes in!

A team trained in the art of leading and lagging metrics

A dedicated team with just one job...looking at your metrics

An expert team training you and your employees how to interpret the results

Snapshot of Sample Client Dashboard by Agent O

My team and I specialize in crafting a custom dashboard that presents this financial data in an easy-to-understand format each month.

By integrating leading and lagging metrics from all parts of your business into your custom dashboard, we give you the power to drive your business forward confidently.

So, why not let us collaborate with your team today and ease the load on your in-house accounting professionals? We've got the expertise to make this process seamless.

 

Let's make informed, data-driven decisions together!

Book a Call to Learn More
Metric Crash Course Max your Profit and Reach Your Financial Goals

Let's Get Started!

I created this course for busy business owners like yourself you wanted to try this "data analysis" thing on their own. While I work with clients daily who want someone else to automate this process for them and their teams, I offer this DIY course to everyone as a place to begin.

I hope that you start today. And, I would LOVE to hear from you about how you implemented this course in your business and what insights you gained from it!

Take Me To The Course

I’m Olivia aka Agent O!

I help your business go from struggling with frequent cash flow crunches to having enough cash in the bank to survive the ups and downs of a typical business.

I found that 1 in 2 businesses fail within the first 5 years NOT because they are “bad at business” but because they do not have a profit strategy in place.

‌I created Agent O’s Clarity to Profit Method to teach small business owners how to finally be and stay profitable.

Let's Talk
Boost your business profit with help from Olivia aka Agent O