Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard

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In this training session, you’ll learn how to design and build a stunning, interactive, and professional-looking dashboard using Excel. This course provides a strong foundation for creating dynamic dashboards and reports that effectively communicate key data insights. Whether you're reporting on performance, tracking trends, or presenting business metrics, you’ll gain the practical skills needed to turn raw data into visually compelling and easy-to-understand dashboards.

This training focuses on the essential techniques required to build dashboards that are both powerful and user-friendly. You’ll learn how to create maintenance-free dashboards that automatically update as new data becomes available, develop Pivot Tables to drive your reporting, and design polished visuals that enhance data storytelling. Additionally, you’ll explore how to add interactivity with slicers, automate dashboard elements using simple macros, and protect critical formulas to ensure data integrity. Since Excel is widely accessible and highly flexible, it remains one of the most effective tools for building professional dashboards across any industry.

Your Benefits For Attending:
  • Gain insights on setting up effective data sources in Excel
  • Learn to summarize data efficiently using Pivot Tables
  • Master visual data communication through charts
  • Create rolling 30-day summaries to track data trends
  • Develop KPI summaries with formulas for performance tracking
  • Implement interactive filters with Slicers for dynamic reporting
  • Automate your dashboard with simple macros
  • Use protection features to prevent accidental changes to your dashboard

Attending this webinar will empower you to confidently build dashboards that not only look professional but also deliver meaningful insights, helping you stand out and communicate data more effectively in your role.

Who Should Attend:

This webinar is designed for Excel users who want to learn how to create impactful dashboards. Participants should have an intermediate level of Excel knowledge and a basic understanding of Pivot Tables.

Level: Basic
Format: Live Webcast
Instructional Method: Group Internet Based
NASBA Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None

  1. Introduction
  2. What Is a Dashboard? 00:01:37
  3. Dashboard Demo File 00:03:29
  4. Dashboard Sheet - Gridlines 00:08:52
  5. Shapes 00:10:00
  6. Data Sources 00:14:40
  7. Populating the Boxes 00:16:50
  8. Converting Data Into a Table  00:18:18
  9. Naming The Table 00:20:56
  10. Filling the Boxes 00:22:14
  11. How To Add Numbers To The Shapes 00:22:50
  12. Displaying Total Revenue In Large Font & Changing The Text, Font, Size, and Color 00:26:26
  13. Changing the Formula 00:27:20
  14. Changing to Currency 00:33:13
  15. Adding More Data To The Table - TEXT Function 00:37:16
  16. Calculating Average Days to Pay 00:38:26
  17. TextBox 00:42:19
  18. Building A Chart From A Pivot Table  00:47:38
  19. Moving The Chart To The Dashboard 00:51:08
  20. Changing The Table Name 00:51:20
  21. Automatically Updating The Chart 00:51:34
  22. Changing the Chart From Highest to Lowest Revenue 00:52:30
  23. Adding Multiple Charts 00:53:15
  24. Slicers  00:57:33
  25. Clearing the Filter In the Slicer 01:01:57
  26. Charts Linked To Pivot Table - Applying a Filter 01:03:25
  27. Connecting A Slicer to a Pivot Table 01:04:20
  28. Connecting A Slicer To A Second Pivot Table 01:04:47
  29. Moving the Slicer to the Dashboard 01:06:32
  30. Updating KPI Boxes 01:08:25
  31. Hiding Tabs 01:16:21
  32. Adding Another Row of Data 01:20:18
  33. Protect the Workbook 01:22:14
  34. Data - Get Data 01:26:36
  35. Setting Up a Dashboard - Get Data 01:31:51
  36. Presentation Closing 01:40:06
  • Mike Thomas

    Mike Thomas

    Mike Thomas has worked in the IT training business for 26 years. His expertise and experience covers designing and delivering training courses, creating written training materials (Quick Reference Guides and step-by-step tutorials), recording and editing video-based tutorials and providing support t [...]

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You must answer all questions during the webinar, view the recording completely and pass the test at the end with 70% correct answers to receive CPE credit.

  • .CSV 0:16:01, 01:28:55
  • AVERAGE 00:39:05
  • Cell 00:05:26, 00:06:02, 00:18:55, 00:26:06, 00:33:57, 00:50:03, 01:08:52
  • Chart 00:05:26, 00:47:40, 00:48:38, 00:51:46, 00:57:31, 01:03:29, 01:09:13
  • Column 00:05:46, 00:17:02, 00:22:45, 00:52:57
  • Column Chart  00:48:04 , 00:50:55
  • Dashboard 00:01:37, 00:03:53, 00:07:29 , 00:38:06, 00:46:46, 00:57:40, 01:19:52
  • Filter 00:58:03, 06:12
  • Format 00:13:19, 00:33:45, 00:40:36
  • Formula 00:07:35,00:20:54,  00:24:25, 00:39:59, 00:42:23, 01:09:37
  • Formula Bar 00:23:07, 00
  • Pivot Table 00:48:34, 00:51:42, 00:54:08, 01:03:24, 01:08:42
  • Power Query 00:15:14, 00:21:57, 01:34:50, 01:38:36
  • Power Query 01:38:26
  • Refresh 00:52:22
  • Ribbon 00:19:01, 00:
  • Row 00:03:45, 00:06:43, 00:11:38, 00:15:09, 00:50:27 , 00:54:22
  • Slicer 00:57:40, 01:05:03, 01:11:53, 01:35:07
  • Spreadsheet 00:05:27, 00:14:45
  • SUM 00:23:10, 00:30:53, 00:33:26
  • Table 00:18:20, 00:22:10, 00:48:52, 01:34:22
  • TextBox 00:42:22
  • TEXT Function 00:33:34
  • VLOOKUP 00:30:54
  • Worksheet 00:49:56

.CSV: Comma-Separated Value files are text files where each field of data is separated by a comma. This is an effective means to export data from QuickBooks that you, in turn, wish to analyze in Excel.

AVERAGE : Returns the average (arithmetic mean) of the arguments.

Cell: In spreadsheet applications, a cell is a box in which you can enter a single piece of data. The data is usually text, a numeric value, or a formula. The entire spreadsheet is composed of rows and columns of cells.

Chart: In Microsoft Excel, a chart is often called a graph. It is a visual representation of data from a worksheet that can bring more understanding to the data than just looking at the numbers. A chart is a powerful tool that allows you to visually display data in a variety of different chart formats such as Bar, Column, Pie, Line, Area, Doughnut, Scatter, Surface, or Radar charts.

Column: A column is a vertical series of cells in a chart, table, or spreadsheet in Excel.

Column Chart: A column chart is a graphic representation of data. Column charts display vertical bars going across the chart horizontally, with the values axis being displayed on the left side of the chart.

Dashboard: An Excel dashboard is a one-pager (mostly, but not always necessary) that helps managers and business leaders in tracking key KPIs or metrics and take a decision based on them. It contains charts/tables/views that are backed by data. A dashboard is often called a report, however, not all reports are dashboards.

Filter: The Filter feature in Excel allows you to show or hide rows within a list of data by making selections from drop-down lists. The Filter feature is available on the Data tab of all versions of Excel as well under the Sort & Filter command on the Home menu.

Format: When we format cells in Excel, we change the appearance of a number without changing the number itself. We can apply a number format (0.8, $0.80, 80%, etc) or other formatting (alignment, font, border, etc). By default, Excel uses the General format (no specific number format) for numbers.

Formula: A formula is an expression which calculates the value of a cell.

Formula Bar: A toolbar at the top of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet window that you can use to enter or copy an existing formula into cells or charts. It is labeled with function symbol (fx). By clicking the Formula Bar, or when you type an equal (=) symbol in a cell, the Formula Bar will activate.

Pivot Table: A report creation tool in Excel that enables you to quickly summarize lists of data into summary reports by clicking checkboxes and dragging fields onscreen.

Power Query: Power Query is a data connection technology that enables you to discover, connect, combine, and refine data sources to meet your analysis needs. Features in Power Query are available in Excel and Power BI Desktop. Power Query is one of three data analysis tools available in Excel: Power Pivot.

Power Query Editor: Power BI Desktop also comes with Power Query Editor. Use Power Query Editor to connect to one or many data sources, shape and transform the data to meet your needs, then load that model into Power BI Desktop.

Refresh: The Refresh command appears on the Options tab of Excel 2007 and 2010 as well as the Analyze tab of Excel 2013. Pivot tables store a snapshot of the underlying source data, so they don’t immediately reflect changes to said data. You must periodically refresh any pivot table to ensure it reflects any changes to the source data.

Ribbon: The "ribbon" is the strip of buttons and icons located above the work area that was first introduced in Excel 2007. The ribbon replaces the menus and toolbars found in earlier versions of Excel. Above the ribbon are a number of tabs, such as Home, Insert, and Page Layout.

Row: A row is the range of cells that go across (horizontal) the spreadsheet/worksheet. Rows are identified by numbers e.g. row 1, row 5. Examples of use. A row might contain the headings of a table e.g. product ID, product name, price, number sold.

SUM: Microsoft Excel defines SUM as a formula that “Adds all the numbers in a range of cells”. This definition clearly points that Sum function has a job to add numbers and the arguments can be supplied using combinations of both numbers and range of cells. =SUM The SUM function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Math/Trig Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the SUM function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Slicer: You can insert slicers in Excel to quickly and easily filter pivot tables. Slicers were introduced in Excel 2010, and they make it easy to change multiple pivot tables with a single click

Spreadsheet: Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. Excel forms part of the Microsoft Office suite of software.

Table: A table is an arrangement of data in rows and columns, or possibly in a more complex structure. Tables are widely used in communication, research, and data analysis. Tables appear in print media, handwritten notes, computer software, architectural ornamentation, traffic signs, and many other places.

TextBox : Textboxes are used in worksheets or userforms to display information or to allow the user to input information.

Worksheets: A worksheet is a collection of cells where you keep and manipulate the data. Each Excel workbook can contain multiple worksheets.

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Webinar Survey Overall Rating

This webinar received a total of 3 survey responses. Attendees have given an average rating of 4.7 stars out of a possible 5, reflecting the quality and value of the content presented.

Average rating

4.7 / 5
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How many of the objectives of the event were met?
4.7 Stars
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Reviews From Webinar Survey

Our webinars are crafted to deliver exceptional value and insight to business professionals. Below, you'll find genuine feedback from attendees.

Kimberly E.
May 14, 2026
5.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
5.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
Great session! So many features in excel that i did not know how to use
Andrea K.
May 14, 2026
4.2 / 5
Webinar Rating:
4.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
4.5 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
I enjoyed the program very much. It was informative. I did get behind when the screen froze on a section, but I tried to keep up anyhow. I will review my notes and work at recreating what was shown with a company spreadsheet.
Ursula L.
May 14, 2026
5.0 / 5
Webinar Rating:
5.0 Stars
Speaker Rating:
5.0 Stars
Do you have any other comments, questions or concerns?
The presenter was great!

Frequently Asked Questions

An Excel dashboard is a single-page visual summary that displays key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics, and trends in an at-a-glance format for business decision-making. Effective dashboards combine several components: a well-structured data source (ideally an Excel Table for automatic expansion), PivotTables that summarize the data, charts and PivotCharts that visualize trends and comparisons, KPI cards using shapes or text boxes to highlight critical numbers, and Slicers that provide interactive filtering without requiring Excel expertise. A ScratchPad worksheet holds intermediate calculations that feed the dashboard without cluttering it. SUMIFS formulas drive dynamic KPI values. The TEXT function formats numbers for display within shapes and labels. Sheet protection prevents accidental edits to formula cells while allowing interaction with slicers. The dashboard sheet should have gridlines hidden (View > Show > Gridlines unchecked) for a clean, professional appearance. Mike Thomas builds a complete dashboard from scratch in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard webinar.
KPI cards—visual tiles displaying a single key metric in large, prominent text—are created in Excel using shapes combined with formula-driven text boxes. Insert a shape (Insert > Shapes) such as a rounded rectangle, format it with a brand color fill and no border, and size it for visual impact. To display a live number inside the shape, add a linked text box on top: insert a text box, click in the formula bar, type = followed by a cell reference containing the KPI value, and press Enter. The shape now displays whatever value is in that cell dynamically. Alternatively, you can type a formula directly referencing a SUMIFS calculation that aggregates data based on current slicer or filter selections. The TEXT function formats the number within the reference—for example, =TEXT(KPI_Cell,"$#,##0") displays it in currency format inside the shape. Multiple KPI cards can be aligned using Align tools (Format > Align) for a polished grid layout. Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard webinar, taught by Mike Thomas, covers KPI card creation as a core dashboard design technique.
PivotTables provide the summarized data engine behind most Excel dashboards, and PivotCharts visualize that summarized data interactively. A PivotTable built from an Excel Table automatically reflects new rows added to the source data after a Refresh (right-click > Refresh or Data > Refresh All). Multiple PivotTables referencing the same data source can each power a different chart or summary on the dashboard. PivotCharts are linked directly to their PivotTable—filtering the PivotTable updates the chart automatically. Moving a PivotChart to the dashboard sheet (Chart Tools > Design > Move Chart) keeps it visually separate from the data-processing sheet. To prevent PivotChart field buttons from cluttering the chart view, they can be hidden via the Analyze tab. Connecting a single Slicer to multiple PivotTables via Report Connections (Slicer Tools > Options > Report Connections) ensures all charts and summaries filter simultaneously from one user interaction. Mike Thomas demonstrates this complete PivotTable-to-dashboard pipeline in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard webinar.
Slicers are visual filter controls—buttons showing category values that users click to filter dashboard data instantly. Inserted via Insert > Slicer (while a PivotTable is selected), they display all unique values for a chosen field as clickable buttons. Users simply click a category (like a region, product line, or date period) and all connected PivotTables and charts update simultaneously to show only that category's data. Multiple Slicers can be active at once, allowing compound filtering. A single Slicer can be connected to multiple PivotTables via Report Connections, so all dashboard elements filter together. Slicers are far more user-friendly than dropdown filter arrows for non-Excel users—there's nothing to configure or understand. They can be styled to match the dashboard color scheme via Slicer Styles. The Clear Filter button (the X icon in the Slicer's top right corner) resets the filter. For date-based filtering, Timeline Slicers provide a visual date range selector. Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard webinar, taught by Mike Thomas, covers Slicers as the primary interactivity mechanism for professional Excel dashboards.
Protecting an Excel dashboard ensures users can interact with it—filtering via Slicers, viewing results—without accidentally editing or deleting the formulas that power it. The process involves two steps: first, unlock the cells users need to interact with (select those cells, Ctrl+1, Protection tab, uncheck Locked); then protect the sheet via Review > Protect Sheet, optionally setting a password. By default, all cells are locked, so this protection takes effect immediately upon enabling sheet protection—but the unlocked cells remain interactive. For dashboards, the typical approach is to lock all formula cells and shape elements while allowing Slicer interaction (Slicers are controlled separately through their own protection settings). Hiding formula sheets from view (right-click tab > Hide, then protect workbook structure via Review > Protect Workbook) prevents users from navigating to the underlying data and calculation sheets. A protected, well-structured dashboard looks and behaves like a professional reporting tool. Mike Thomas covers dashboard protection in detail in Aurora Training Advantage's Excel: Business Intelligence - Creating a Dashboard webinar.