What to look for in a data visualization platform
Data visualization platforms are highly useful tools. They help facilities managers and those in real estate and construction view information from anywhere in the world. They help streamline and automate otherwise tedious tasks. Most importantly, they help inform better decision-making. Or at least, they should, if you know how to find and use the right data visualization platform.
Here is a breakdown of what to look for in selecting the right tool for your business.
What is a data visualization platform?
There are several different types of data visualization platforms with different features depending on industry and intended use. Within the context of IDS, a data visualization platform is a tool that ties detailed, high-quality imagery to numbers, measurements, statistics, site plans and more related to a given space.
Such a space might include a hotel, a factory, a retail store, or even a parking lot or surrounding area. In these properties, data visualization helps assess the condition and need of a given area to inform projects such as remodels, acquisitions, routine maintenance, and more. It provides visual context to the data collected, immersing the user into the property. Now, let’s take a look at the key features to consider in a data visualization platform.
Web-based access
First and foremost, any modern data visualization software has to be web-based. This has a large impact on portability and efficiency when using the tool. It makes information accessible from anywhere at any time, whether on a jobsite, walking a facility, or in an office thousands of miles away.
You can use a web-based platform from any mobile device or laptop. This means you can take your data with you anywhere you go and have it at your fingertips for when you need it most.
Custom reporting
Having access to data is great, but you still need to be able to make sense of it. Your data needs to tell a story to factor into the decisions you’ll be making on behalf of your organization or your clients. Otherwise, it is just a collection of numbers with little useful purpose.
Templated reports from some data platforms will only get you so far. They can offer some insight, but will still leave out many key aspects. Custom reporting puts you in control of your data so it can support decisions based on timing, location, historical info, and more.
Automation
A data visualization platform should also let you automate tasks to improve efficiency. Manual tasks can take up unnecessary time in a daily or weekly schedule, but the right tool can help trim this down.
Automation can help you run a custom report, log info based on set terms, or send timed emails more efficiently.
Easy access and sharing
If a data visualization platform is web-based, it should also be easy to access and share whatever data you want to with whomever you need to. Other team members should also be able to log into the platform themselves and see the same data as you in real time. Or, you should just as easily be able to export and send the data directly to them.
Data is only usable when it can be shared with the right people at the right time. The right platform should help you do this at every level of your organization.
Improved decision-making
This is what it all comes down to. Using a web-based platform enables custom reporting, automation, and easy access and sharing. This all contributes to more efficient and effective decision-making for all involved.
You should be able to view all necessary data about all your properties and projects at a moment’s notice and use that data to make informed decisions. This helps keep project timelines moving without having to wait for travel, calls, or meetings to ensure team alignment.
View your business from a whole new angle with IDS
The IDS platform features cutting-edge technology in one location so you can make informed decisions from anywhere in the world. Whether capturing high-quality imagery with the IDS Capture app, accessing virtual environments in IDS Viewer, or creating and sharing custom reports with the IDS Report Builder, our platform has everything you need to track and maintain your facilities in one virtual location.
Contact us today to get started.