Why Data Visualization is Essential for Driving Change at Your Business

Presenting data in pictorial or graphical format makes it easier for the brain to interpret

If you want to get the most from analytics at your business, collecting huge reams of data and compiling that data into reports isn’t enough. You need to be sure this data is presented in a form that everyone—from executive officers down to individual franchise managers and even employees—can understand and act on.

In other words, you need data visualization.

What is Data Visualization?

Data visualization is simply using visual aids to present information. This information might be the data that was collected, or the results of analytics that were run on that data. Common visualizations include pie charts, line graphs, scatter plots, bubble charts, and heat maps.

3 Reasons Your Brain Needs Data Visualization

1.Visualizations Allow You to Process Large Amounts of Data

Depending on what kinds of metrics you are tracking, what time period you want to compare them across, and what algorithmic processes you are running, you could easily end up with reports including thousands if not millions of data points. Obviously poring over this data in a traditional format such as an Excel spreadsheet would not be a practical or effective means of gathering insights. Data visualization consolidates massive amounts of information into a simpler format that your brain can easily interpret, saving you time and energy.

2. Visualizations Trigger Pre-Attentive Processing

Pre-attentive processing is the brain’s low-level system for detecting visual properties such as colors, patterns, and forms. Pre-attentive processing can be completed in about 200 to 250 milliseconds, which is a mere fraction of the time it takes to read and process a word or a number. By highlighting important details with visual clues, data visualization taps into this ability and allows information to be communicated quickly and intuitively. In this way, charts and graphs can help stakeholders generate actionable insights even without deep technical expertise.

3. Visualizations Integrate All Aspects of Memory

Memory is a complex process consisting of three aspects: sensory (information captured as we gather it through sensory experience), short-term (information remembered as it is being processed in the working memory), and long-term (information preserved for long periods of time). Data visualization triggers all of these functions. First, you see information in a visual format and remember it in the sensory memory. This makes it easier to process the information in the short-term or working memory. Once a conclusion has been drawn, the information is stored in the long-term memory. As a result, individuals who view your data visualizations should be better prepared to remember and act on the insights generated through analytics.

Create Actionable Graphic Reports with MyFieldAudits

MyFieldAudits is an excellent example of a tool that can capture data from audits or reporting activities and transform it into easy-to-digest data visualizations. These visualizations can easily be shared with key stakeholders through MyFieldAudits’ secure cloud-based portal. To learn more about using MyFieldAudits to generate actionable insights about your business, please contact us at info@MyFieldAudits.com and request your free demo.