Building better dashboards with the IBCS rules

Last week I learned about the International Business Communication Standards (IBCS) rules and how the can help you build better reports and dashboards. The rules help you better deliver the insights you want. It’s a way of making structurally walking the viewer through the data in a comprehensible way. When it comes to creating dashboards that drive decisions, clarity and consistency are everything. That’s where the IBCS come in. These guidelines provide a framework for creating visualizations that are not only visually appealing but also incredibly effective at communicating insights.

The IBCS rules

1. Convey: Deliver a clear message Dashboards should answer specific questions. Instead of simply presenting data, focus on the key message you want the viewer to take away. For instance, rather than showing raw sales data, highlight trends like “sales increased 10% quarter-over-quarter.”

2. Unify: Apply semantic notation Consistency is key. Use the same colors, shapes, and labels throughout your dashboards to make them intuitive. For example, always use green for positive trends and red for negative ones, or maintain consistent fonts and chart styles.

3. Condense: Increase information density Present more insights without overwhelming the viewer. Small multiples—a series of similar charts using the same scales—can make comparisons across regions or time periods much clearer than a single cluttered chart.

4. Check: Ensure visual integrity Misleading visualizations erode trust. Avoid distorted scales, truncated axes, or exaggerated proportions that could misrepresent the data. Always aim for honest representations.

5. Express: Choose proper visualizations The type of chart matters. Use bar charts for comparisons, line charts for trends, and scatter plots for correlations. Avoid using pie charts or 3D effects, which often confuse more than clarify.

6. Simplify: Avoid clutter Remove unnecessary elements like excessive gridlines, redundant legends, or decorative visuals. Every component on your dashboard should serve a purpose. Simplicity keeps the focus on the insights.

7. Structure: Organize content Arrange your dashboard hierarchically. Place the most important metrics or insights at the top, and group related information together. This helps viewers quickly navigate and prioritize the data.

Applying IBCS to your dashboards

Here’s how to put these principles into practice:

• Design with the user in mind: Identify who will use the dashboard and what decisions they need to make. An executive might need high-level KPIs, while a sales manager may want detailed pipeline metrics.

• Use consistent formats: Set standards for visual elements—like using bold for totals, italics for projections, and consistent units (e.g., millions, percentages).

• Prioritize actionable insights: Highlight areas requiring attention, such as underperforming regions or significant cost variances. Use annotations to explain anomalies or outliers.

• Optimize for space: Avoid sprawling dashboards that require excessive scrolling. Use tabs or sections to organize detailed views while keeping summaries concise.

Why it matters in RevOps

In Revenue Operations (RevOps), dashboards play a critical role in aligning sales, marketing, and customer success teams. By applying IBCS principles, you ensure that:

• Communication is clear and consistent: Teams can trust the data and make decisions faster.

• Insights are actionable: Key metrics are highlighted, and trends are easy to interpret.

• Resources are optimized: Time spent interpreting dashboards decreases, leaving more time for strategic action.

By adopting IBCS guidelines, you’re not just building dashboards—you’re creating a foundation for better collaboration, faster decisions, and more reliable insights.

Start experimenting with these principles in your next dashboard project, and watch as clarity and effectiveness take center stage. Let me know how it works for you—or share examples where you’ve seen these principles make a difference!

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Cheers

Erik