What is a main purpose of dashboards in BI?

Dashboards in Business Intelligence (BI) serve a primary purpose of providing real-time analytics and visual reporting, allowing users to quickly grasp key insights and trends at a glance. They aggregate and present data from various sources in a visually compelling way, often using charts, graphs, and other visual elements that facilitate easy interpretation. This capability is crucial for decision-makers who require up-to-date information to make informed choices promptly.

By utilizing dashboards, organizations can monitor performance indicators and track metrics that are vital for achieving business objectives. The real-time aspect enables users to react swiftly to changes in data and identify emerging patterns, which can lead to proactive decision-making and improved operational efficiency. The visual nature of dashboards is particularly significant as it enhances data comprehension, making it accessible even to those who may not be data experts.

While storing historical data, limiting data access, and reducing redundancy are important practices in data management and security, they do not encapsulate the core functionality of dashboards in BI, which focuses on providing immediate insights through visualization and interactive analytics.