In data, a picture speaks more volumes than words. Humans can comprehend visual information quickly when compared to text or speech. MIT research indicates that 90 percent of visual information is conveyed to the brain, and the time taken by the human brain to process an image is just 13 milliseconds.
Instead of spreadsheets or a description, data visualization is the most preferred since it helps in displaying data in terms of charts and diagrams. This is much better than the infinite rows and columns the spreadsheet offers.
Data visualization should also have sufficient attention as organizations are progressing towards building a captivating data universe that includes data analysis, analytics, insights, and intelligence.
What is the purpose of data visualization?
Data visualization conveys the information efficiently in an organization with the help of accurate visual representations. It is necessary for circulating the information effectively and also plays a vital role in driving decisions in an organization. In the age of big data and machine learning, having the right data visualization solution on your side is critical.
The visualization layer’s potential can be leveraged to create an interactive dashboard by employees belonging to all departments, rather than just employees with technical knowledge. Employees can use a perceptive business analytics solution to produce visually attractive and insight-driven data dashboards to enhance organizational decision-making.
The Benefits of Data Visualization
Data visualization is definitely a benefit for an organization. When information is processed swiftly and effectively, the operational performance of the organization is enhanced. Below are the major benefits of using data visualization in an organization:
- Faster information processing
Data visualization helps in processing information faster based on the concept that the retina is part of the brain that has developed into the eye. Pennsylvania School of Medicine research claims that an average human retina conveys data at approximately 10 million bits per second.
Since humans find colors and shape more attractive when compared to plain numbers, data visualization builds the much-needed confidence to make decisions effectively in an organization. The below image gives the summary of customer interactions and the status of the total complaints covering various criteria. These data visualizations assist in processing information quickly.
- Provides actionable items
Data visualization aids in providing actionable items to an organization. For example, if the team has determined that X number of calls results in Y number of sales, this information can be presented to the team in a visually attractive format that inspires them to meet the sales targets. Data visualization can offer better insights to several departments such as HR, marketing, sales, operations, etc. Organizations must have clarity regarding the expected KPIs and critical indicators in order for them to work effectively. For example, the preceding illustration clearly demonstrates the various status parameters and the performance of the organization.
Such specific information aids in the development of a clear roadmap for enhancing customer service within the organization.
- Boosts productivity and sales
Visual learners account for a sizable proportion of the global population (65 percent, to be exact). Data visualization assists other solutions, such as managed reporting and dashboards, in finding timely information and increasing an organization’s productivity and sales. When the right information is available at the right time, an organization can experience meaningful, consistent growth.
How Can We Ensure Effective Data Visualization?
Data visualization is not just limited to pie chart formation and line graphs. It aids the organization in creating infographics, maps, interactive dashboards, tables, and much more. An organization can take the following steps for a practical approach to data visualization:
- Lessen visual clutter
Data visualization and its potential can rapidly bewilder a team as well as an organization. A business’s performance can be decreased swiftly by visual clutter. For data visualization to be efficient, visual clutter should be minimized and there should be a balance between performance and visualization.
- The proper visualization format
Visualization’s design should be chosen based on the data’s complexity. Consider the below example where the charts are designed in a proper format to analyze the input data. When a line graph is used instead of a pie chart, the data visualization’s purpose is defeated. With this discrepancy, a business cannot leverage the data visualization’s power efficiently.
- Obtain top-level support
Data visualization may seem appealing, yet there is a lot of data complexity behind this, and the top management should understand it. Once they understand the importance and purpose of data visualization in business operations, the organization can utilize it in a more efficient manner in everyday activities.
Conclusion
Data visualization is an important component of telling stories to users. Because humans understand stories better than data points, using the right tools can have a significant impact on the organization. It is easier for the team to collaborate and achieve consistent growth for the business with the ease of sharing visualized data.
