Unlocking insights: A guide to reporting capabilities in Omega 365
Dashboards
Dashboards are interactive visual representations of project data that provide real-time insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics. They offer a comprehensive and dynamic view of project progress, allowing users to access and interpret data quickly. Dashboards typically include charts, graphs, and tables, presenting data in a visually appealing manner.
In Omega 365 one can configure dashboards, based on re-usable reporting components. The reporting component can be chart and data tables. The components can be:
- Server side generated. These are suitable for different scenarioius, like being included in PDF-reports, PowerPoint presentations, on info screens, web apps etc. Charts can be designed used the integrated charts designer, which is based on DevExpress, a leading provider of charting tool. Some technical skills are required, but it is fair to consider it as an end-user tool
- Client side generated. The usage is limited to web apps, e.g. dashboards. They allow for interactivity, e.g. the user can click to show / hide chart serie, drill down etc. For client side charting we use another excellent chart tool: Highcharts. Designing these components is somewhat more advanced, and is normally done by a programmer.
The following dashboard example is from our Product Status dashboard. It gives us valuable live insight into the status when it comes to bugs and feature requests. It is based on server side generated components, which can be re-used on other types of reporting (e.g. screens, PDF reports etc):
In the dashboard giving us valuable inishgt into the usaege of Omega 365, we use client side charting, including a world map showing where the users accessing the system from
Status Reports
Status reports are traditional documents that provide a detailed overview of the project progress, analysis, and forecasts. The reports are typically generated at specific intervals, such as weekly, monthly or quarterly.
The report can contain a mixture of graphical elements, tabular information and text input with status and analysis .
The Status Reports use MS Word as template. The template can be provided by your design department, and tags added to report to indicate where data or graphical report components will be added. This contributes to having useful and well-designed reports, following the corporate standards.
Some of the advantages with this type of reports are:
- Comprehensive information. Reports can include a wide range of data and analysis, providing stakeholders with a detailed understanding of the project.
- Archival value. The reports can be saved, and accessed at any time, making them suitable for historical references or audits
- Wide accessibility. PDF documents can be easily shared with stakeholders, also external not having direct access to the system
The main drawback with this type of report, is the limited interactivity - the reports are statics, lacking the possibility to explore data in real-time.
A key feature in Status Reports, is that you can use it for collecting and presenting status and analysis from multiple contributors. One defines who to get input from, and it will appear on the user's home page that they need to provide their input for the status report, with a due date.
In this video, we present how you can use the "Status Reporting" functionality to ensure consistent reporting with key information from the Omega 365 modules.
Status Presentations
Status Presentations in Omega 365 works very much the same way as Status Reports, the main difference being that Status Presentations uses MS PowerPoint as the basis. As with Status Reports, you can use the corporate standard templates, and combine that with content directly from the solution.
Example of status presentation generated in Omega 365.