Data Visualization is a powerful tool for qualitative reporting. Visual elements, like graphics, not only break up the monotony of long text pages in the reports, but they also communicate the information in an interesting way. This helps readers understand things quickly and makes the data more memorable. However, it is helpful only if done right.
If you go through the trouble to create a report, but no one finds it interesting or don’t want to read it, will it do anything good? Certainly not! Therefore, it is necessary to research useful data visualization for creating reports. Whether you want to provide your team with better insights, or get your team’s support for a new initiative, read on to know how to make data visualization to create qualitative reports.
Know The Basics Of Data Visualization
Before you create graphics for your report, it is necessary to check the data for accuracy. Incorrect data in the reports may lead to an incorrect decision. So, make sure to deliver the right, valuable information. Below are the three basic principles of creating data visualization for a report-
Pick the right graphics based on your goals.
Ensure that the message in your graphics is relevant to the audience.
Choose the right design for the graphic.
You also need to consider:
Purpose: Data analytics basically creates and analyzes the raw and unused Dara by transforming it into actionable data. These reports contain insights and also present data metrics, analysis, and conclusion in a visual format. This makes it easy for everyone in the organization to access and read data to make data-driven decisions.
Accessibility: Previously, creating reports with lots of data was a resource-driven and time-consuming task. Also, data pull requests were the most important thing for IT professionals, with lots of time analyzing, formatting, and representing data. However, with real-time, cloud-based reporting has changed the reporting game. The modern data visualization tools allow businesses to collaborate on various subject matter experts (SME). You can also export stunning reports that can be shared via automating emails.
Data types: Business data reports cover lots of topics and hold various organizational functions. These data reports are of varied length, format, and content. So, identify which data types you are using in your organization. Whether you want to present annual reports or accounting reports, you can use these reports by offering predictive and real-time insights to show in your organization.
If the message is right, but the graphic is dull, or there is a wrong insight, you won’t get the desired results.
Choose The Right Type Of Graph
Choose the wrong graph type, and the viewers will get confused. Therefore, it is important to know the data you want to visualize and the purpose behind it. Do you want to compare data points? Or, do you want to show the structure of something using data? Here are the popular chart types you can choose to achieve your goals-
Sankey Diagram (used to show the flow in system)
Line chart (used for comparing changes within data sets)
Bar chart (when you want to compare several data sets)
Pie chart (shows the shares of each component in the data set)
Histogram (shows the distribution of data sets across a definite period of time)
Bubble chart (used for comparing two parameters via the means of the third)
5 point likert scale (used for getting response from respondents in survey analysis)
Adding the right design principles and choosing elements, like ordering, comparison, shape, size, color, etc., make a big difference in how people perceive the data.
Make The Correct Use Of Visuals
Another important thing you need to consider while making research useful data visualization is to choose the right message. The readers should be familiar with the data you include in the report. Also, make sure that the parameters you are going to visualize can be combined.
Besides, take into account the scale and scope. For example, most viewers are used to reading the measurement from the bottom or left of the axes. If you happen to change this direction, the audience may get confused. However, if you must reverse the order, you need to use some tactics so that it is clear and easy to understand.
Keep It Simple And Compelling
The simpler the chart, the easier it is to understand. You don’t have to use extra elements, different colors, structures, etc., to a standard report. Avoid displaying all the charts on the same dashboard by reducing the size of the visualizations. Ideally, don’t use more than three charts on one page. Furthermore, if it is a non-standard task, don’t hesitate to experiment with different visuals.
Compare And Pick The Right Visualization Tool
There are several data visualization tools available on the market. Some of these tools work online, while others need to be installed on the desktop. Many tools are free to use, whereas you need to pay for some. The best visualization tool is the one that caters to your needs and helps you create visuals with great insights. Some of the popular tools are Tableau, Databox, Google Charts, etc.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways to make data visualization and create engaging reports and communicate the key findings more effectively. If your report contains valuable information and compelling visuals, the in-house team, as well as the readers outside the company, will find it interesting. However, creating catchy and useful data visualizations is the first step to create high-quality reports. You can use a good data visualization tool and solution to create visuals that create the most impact. These tools will help you create the most insightful visuals for your report effortlessly.