Why CFO dashboards fail (and how to fix them)

We’ve all seen it: the "Command Center" dashboard that took six months and CHF 150k to build. It has sleek charts, automated feeds from SAP, and... nobody looks at it.

After the initial launch hype fades, the CFO goes back to asking for "that Excel export" because they trust it more.

Why does this happen? It’s usually not a data quality issue (though that helps). It’s a design issue. Specifically, a failure to design for decisions rather than just display.

The "Wall of Numbers" Trap

The most common failure mode is what we call the "Wall of Numbers." This happens when IT or BI teams ask stakeholders, "What data do you need?"

The natural answer from a finance professional is: "Everything." They don't want to miss anything. Result: a dashboard with 40 KPIs, 15 filters, and zero narrative.

When everything is highlighted, nothing is.

A Better Way: Decision-First Design

To fix this, we need to invert the process. Instead of asking "What data do you need?", ask:

1. What meeting is this for? (e.g., Monthly Ops Review)
2. What specific decisions are made there? (e.g., Reallocate marketing spend? Cut production shifts?)
3. What 3 numbers inform that decision?

Everything else is noise.

The Dashboard Rescue Checklist

If you have a dashboard that’s being ignored, try this rescue plan:

• Audit usage logs: Be brutal. If a tab hasn't been opened in 60 days, delete it.
• Simplify the home page: Show top 5 variance drivers only. Everything else goes to a drill-through.
• Add commentary: Numbers without context are dangerous to a CFO. Add a text box for the controller's narrative.
• Check the lineage: Can you prove where the number comes from? If not, adds a "Draft" watermark until you can.

Conclusion

Adoption is the only metric that matters for a BI project. If the CFO isn’t opening it before the board meeting, it’s failed.

If this sounds like your current reporting landscape, we can help you audit and rescue your key executive views.

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