Called the "Company Snapshot" in the Pro, Premier and Enterprise versions, this dashboard feature allows you to view key QuickBooks metrics in a screen like the one below (click the image for a larger view):
Within the Company Snapshot, you can review your Income and Expense trends in graph form, see a list of Reminders within QuickBooks, check balances on key ledger accounts (i.e. bank accounts, A/R, etc.), review customers that owe your business money, and list vendors your business owes money to.
Much of this information is already available to you in various QuickBooks reports, but you have to run each of these reports separately to obtain the details. The Company Snapshot feature makes it easier, as the key data is summarized on one screen easily available by clicking the Company Snapshot icon.
While this is a worthwhile attempt at creating a dashboard like feature, the Company Snapshot is missing the ability to do any customization (with the exception of choosing ledger accounts and what date range to show in the graph). When I heard that QuickBooks was going to offer a dashboard like feature in the 2009 edition, I was hopeful it would be a robust and useful tool. Unfortunately, this "dashboard 1.0" leaves me wanting more. Much more in fact. Let's hope "dashboard 2.0" provides us with a much more powerful approach to seeing key metrics about our businesses.
What are your thoughts on the new QuickBooks 2009 dashboard? Post a comment below!
FIND THIS TIP HELPFUL? This is just one nugget of knowledge that Scott Gregory, QuickBooks Expert can bring to your business. Contact Scott today and put a game plan in place to help your business boost your QuickBooks knowledge and your bottom line.
Comments