Benchmarking

Benchmarking allows you to compare the performance of any part of your organization to other parts that represent standards and industry bests. In Salient Dashboards, you can dynamically benchmark performance of whatever is selected against "all", "all others", or custom peer groups (i.e., cohorts) using advanced options in Multi Comparative column filters. For example, compare a single account to all other accounts and/or a top-performing group of similar accounts. The results update dynamically based on whatever filter is selected at the time; just pick from the filter to benchmark a different part of the organization (e.g., a different account).

The filtered data is also available when you switch to graph format.

To compare performance to a benchmark
Add or select a Multi Comparative widget. Column filtering is only available in this widget type. - The widget must have at least one measure. - The widget must be in grid format. - The widget should have at least two date columns, which should typically use the same date (e.g. MTD vs. YAG) as each other to provide a direct comparison. Apply a workspace filter to focus on the member (e.g., account) that you want to compare to a benchmark. The workspace filter may be applied via a filter widget, filter panel, or other method. To preview results as you work, select a member from the filter (e.g., a single account). A different member may be selected at any time; the columns will update dynamically. Leave at least one column as is to show results for whatever is selected in the filter.
In another column, apply a filter for the same dimension or key as the workspace filter (e.g., key account)—leaving it set to All. - Place the cursor over the column and click the menu icon. - Select Filter Date Range. - Click Create a filter. - Select the dimension or key list. - Do not check any members. Click Apply once.
In the Filters area, place the cursor over the new filter and click the button to access advanced settings.
Select one of the following from the Advanced Filter Modifier menu: Option 1: Compare to All To show data for all members including the member you are filtered on, select All. Option 2: Compare to All Others To show data for all members except the member you are filtered on, select All Others.
Option 3: Compare to a Cohort To show data for a custom group of members (must be pre-defined by an administrator), make the following selections and click OK. Select Named Cohort. From the Cohort Selection menu, select the name of the cohort group. The Salient Dashboards application will search within this group to find the corresponding cohort for the filter member (e.g., target account for R D Foods) and show results for the cohort member(s).
From the Cohort Options menu, choose from the following options to add or remove the filter member from the results: Non-Modified - Leave the cohort as is; do not add or remove the filter member. Include Filtered Members - If the cohort does not include the filter member, add it to the results. Exclude Filtered Members - If the cohort includes the filter member, remove it from the results. After choosing Advanced Settings, click Apply to apply the filter to the column.
(Recommended) Repeat the following steps for each column to modify headings so that they show what the column is filtered on: Place the cursor over the column and click the menu icon. Select Customize Header. In the Filter Options section, select Auto and then select the filter dimension to automatically show the member(s) that the column is filtered on; then click OK. Other options for custom headers are available.

Tips:

For a cohort comparison:

If the filter member does not have a cohort within the selected group, the column will show zero data and the column header will show "Group Not Found" (if filter label is on).
You cannot compare a cohort to multiple members at once (i.e., filter on multiple members); the column will show zeros if multiple members are on.

Depending on the dataset configuration, you may be able to include custom calculations that compare one column to another (e.g., difference between an account and a target account). This feature requires temporal measures.

See the Salient Dashboards Installation and Configuration Manual for information about creating and editing cohorts.

To provide automatic comparisons of user-assigned data to benchmarks (e.g., how am I doing compared to everyone else), your organization can use password collections to filter the data in a column and include another column with "all", "all others", or cohorts applied. This feature requires additional setup.