'Dashboards' Help Drive Agency Success
Company 'dashboards,' the newest technology in agency software, are arriving on the scenes as the latest and greatest way to track agency performance.
These systems, which resemble a vehicle's instrument panel, allow agencies to closely monitor their vital processes. They help agencies know what's working—and what isn't—by reveaing data on key performance indicators like:
According to Independent Agent magazine's January cover story, these dashboards have been around for more than a decade, but until recently were used only by wealthy companies that had the resources to build them.
But recently, developers have learned how to create dashboards from software, enabling small- to mid-size businesses to have them custom-designed to fit each agency's specific needs.
By lifting data from Excel spreadsheets and other applications, dashboards reveal existing problems so agencies can improve processes for their company's betterment.
The biggest challenge lies in learning to analyze the data presented, then apply it to each agency's processes and goals.
Dave Stafford, owner of WeSpeakInsurance.com, uses a custom-designed dashboard to view and track his site's lead volume, lead origin, sales status and revenue. Of the dashboard he says, "I don't know now how I could do without it."
What does the future hold for this latest technological development?
Although only a small percentage of agents appear to be familiar with dashboards, experts predict they will become a hot topic in the future.
For more information, read the entire story here.
Comments
What will be interesting to see is what happens when agents realise they can easily create their OWN dashboards using services like BlueBoxWidget (www.blueboxwidget.com)
Agents really don't need to rely on developers and can cheaply and efficiently solve their own problems!
Posted by: Carl | November 22, 2006 06:20 AM
Hi Carl, and thanks for the info. I checked out BlueBoxWidget and you're right—this looks like a great way to track business without having to involve the I.T. crowd.
Have you developed a dashboard of your own using this service? After reading the fine print, I just wonder if the "basic service" provided free of charge is sufficient, or if you find yourself spending more on extra page views? Though a penny a view is dirt cheap, I wonder how much extra it would actually cost a large agency to monitor their stats using a service like this....
Anyone else out there who uses a service like BlueBoxWidget.com? I'd be interested in hearing how it's working for you.
Thanks for your comment, Carl.
Posted by: Penny Hagerman | November 22, 2006 08:47 AM