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Dashboards

Dashboards

Dashboard Builder: Create Custom Reporting Dashboards

The Dashboard Builder lets UltraCart store owners transform saved reports into shareable dashboards—collections of charts and analyses that summarize store performance. Dashboards can track sales, marketing, customer behavior, and fulfillment trends in one place, and can be emailed on a schedule to stakeholders.

Key concepts

  • Report: An individual analysis (query + visualization + optional AI expert summary) created with the AI-Powered Report Builder.

  • Dashboard: A canvas that arranges one or more saved reports in a layout, optionally across multiple pages.

  • Schedule: An automated email delivery of a dashboard PDF.

Navigation: Operations → Reporting → Build Custom Dashboards.

Prerequisites To add content to a dashboard, you must first generate and save at least one report using the AI-Powered Report Builder. See AI‑Powered Report Builder documentation: AI-Powered Report Builder

 

Developer/Marketer Note: AI assists with query generation and chart selection during report creation. Dashboards themselves do not execute AI when viewed or delivered; they render from the saved reports and parameters.

 

Quickstart / TL;DR

  1. Go to Operations → Reporting → Build Custom Dashboards.

  2. Click Create New Dashboard.

  3. Click Add Report, pick a saved report, then drag/resize it on the canvas.

  4. Set the Date Range (use Quick Picks) and click Run Reports to render.

  5. Click Save Dashboard.

  6. (Optional) Click Schedules → New Schedule to email the dashboard PDF on a cadence.

Getting Started

  • Create a dashboard: From the Dashboard Builder, click Create New Dashboard.

  • Don’t see the button? If Create New Dashboard is hidden and you see an intro with a Generate AI Reports button (see screenshot in UI), it means there are no saved reports available yet. Visit the AI Report Builder, create and save at least one report, then return here.

  • Manage existing dashboards: Previously created dashboards appear in the list below. Use View, Edit, or Delete to manage them.

Building a Dashboard

1) Name your dashboard

Give your dashboard a descriptive, action-oriented name (e.g., “Executive KPI Summary – Weekly”). Consider creating several focused dashboards rather than one giant one—smaller, themed dashboards are easier to scan and act on.

Common dashboard examples for eCommerce

  • Executive KPIs (Weekly)
    Reports: Gross sales, net sales, AOV, conversion rate, sessions by source, refunds, top SKUs.
    What you’ll track: Week-over-week trends, anomalies, funnel conversion, top product contribution.

  • Merchandising Performance (Monthly)
    Reports: Top sellers by revenue and units, new vs. repeat buyers by product, product margin, inventory at risk (low stock / oversupply).
    Actions: Reorder/markdown decisions, feature placements, upsell/cross‑sell opportunities.

  • Acquisition & Traffic (Channel View)
    Reports: Sessions and revenue by channel/campaign, ROAS/CPA, new customers acquired, email/SMS impact.
    Actions: Budget allocation, campaign optimization, creative testing priorities.

  • Customer Health & LTV
    Reports: Cohorts by first purchase month, repeat purchase rate, subscription retention, predicted LTV, RFM segments.
    Actions: Win‑back flows, VIP perks, subscription save offers.

  • Fulfillment & Operations
    Reports: Orders shipped on time, backorder rate, shipping cost per order, returns/chargebacks.
    Actions: Carrier mix, packaging changes, SLA monitoring.

2) Pages

Dashboards can include multiple pages. When downloaded or emailed, each page becomes a separate page in the PDF. Use pages to group related topics (e.g., KPIs on Page 1, Marketing on Page 2, Operations on Page 3).

If your reports include AI Expert Analysis, the narrative appears on subsequent page(s) alongside the related report—tailored to your store’s data—to help you interpret trends and recommended actions. (Insert a screenshot of the pages control or PDF preview here.)

3) Add reports to your layout

  1. Click Add Report.

  2. Select a saved report from the picker.

  3. Drag and resize the report to fit your grid layout.

  4. Set parameters (most commonly Date Range). Use the Quick Picks modal for fast selections like Last 7 days, Last 30 days, This month, etc. (Insert screenshot of the Quick Picks modal here.)

  5. Click Run Reports to render the visualizations based on the parameters.

  6. Repeat to compose the rest of the page(s). Use drag/resize to refine spacing and emphasis.

4) Save your work

Click Save Dashboard after arranging reports and setting parameters.

Dashboard Schedules (Email Delivery)

Keep everyone aligned by sending dashboards automatically.

  1. Open your dashboard and click Schedules (next to Run Reports).

  2. Click New Schedule.

  3. Enter one or more email addresses (comma‑separated).

  4. Choose a frequency: Daily, Weekly (choose days & time), or Monthly.

  5. Click Save.

The recipients receive an email with a quick summary and a PDF attachment that includes the dashboard visualizations and any AI Expert Analysis associated with the reports. You can configure multiple schedules per dashboard (e.g., managers weekly at 9:00 AM; executives quarterly).

(Include a screenshot of the Schedules list and New Schedule dialog.)

Downloading & Sharing

At any time you can generate a point‑in‑time PDF:

  1. Open the dashboard.

  2. Set your Date Range and other parameters.

  3. Click Run Reports and then use the Save/Download as PDF option (label may vary) to export.

Share the PDF via email, chat, or file storage—no UltraCart access required for readers.

Best Practices & Tips

  • Make it scannable: Lead Page 1 with 6–8 core KPIs your audience can read in under a minute.

  • Tell a story: Place diagnostic charts next to the KPI they explain (e.g., revenue next to channel mix).

  • Use pages for roles: Create separate pages for Exec, Marketing, and Ops. Schedule each to the right audience.

  • Name conventions: Prefix with cadence (e.g., [Weekly] Executive KPIs).

  • Iterate from alerts: When a metric surprises you, add a supporting report and an Expert Analysis to explain it.

Troubleshooting / FAQ

I don’t see “Create New Dashboard.”
You likely have no saved reports. Use the AI Report Builder to create and save at least one report, then return.

My visualization won’t render.
Click Run Reports after setting parameters. Also confirm the chosen Date Range contains data and that the report still exists.

We didn’t receive the scheduled email.
Check spam, confirm recipient emails, verify the next send time in Schedules, and ensure the dashboard isn’t deleted or renamed mid‑schedule.

Can I include the same report in multiple dashboards?
Yes. Each dashboard holds its own layout and parameters.

What time zone do schedules use?
Schedules respect your account time zone settings.