Improving dashboard shareability with live data
How can we enable live data sharing in dashboard links for users outside Brandwatch’s Consumer Research?
About
In 2023, Brandwatch Consumer Research (BCR) introduced a new dashboard sharing feature called "Share public link," allowing users to generate and share a link that provides both BCR and non-BCR users a snapshot view of a dashboard.
The next phase, which I contributed to, focused on integrating live data into the existing experience —an enhancement frequently requested by our enterprise clients for real-time insights.
Timeline
Feb 2024 - Oct 2024
Team
PM, engineers x5, UX Researcher
Tools
Figma, Miro, Productboard, Jira
Key Activities
Discovery workshops, prototyping, hi-fi designs, developer handover
After releasing the “Share public link” feature, which allowed users to share dashboard snapshots with anyone via a link, we received a lot of positive feedback. However, user research revealed a strong need for live data, especially for clients in fast-paced environments where static snapshots quickly became outdated.
User needs (time urgency)
Competitor risk (companies names redacted for privacy)
Analyzing dashboard sharing, I identified limitations and collected user feedback to understand the problem space
I examined the existing experience, analyzed its limitations, and reviewed user feedback through Productboard, our roadmapping tool. This approach helped me identify the core issues and unmet needs users were facing with the current setup.
Problem 1
Users don't know if the dashboard they received has live or static data
Problem 2
Users need to be able to share dashboards externally with links that are updated in real time
Problem 3
Time frames clearly stated on the dashboard components are very important
Problem 4
Users are unaware there is even a way to share a dashboard via a link
Problem 5
Users don't know where to manage their saved links.
Initial concepts for the live link dashboard modals
I worked closely with the PM to review various solutions and prioritise which ones to focus on, identifying those that required further development and technical exploration especially around integrating live data into BCR.
I sketched initial concepts for how the feature might look, based on our proposed solutions. However, we felt these ideas needed refinement, so I further developed the wireframes before presenting them for user research.
First iterations of sharing modal
Explorations on live links options
I prototyped solutions to evaluate usability from both the dashboard creator's and recipient's perspectives
I collaborated with our PM and UX researcher to align on testing methods and timelines, with user testing running for about two weeks. Due to limited time with the UX researcher, we narrowed our focus to the most critical tasks.
The results largely positive, with most users completing the tasks successfully, and we gathered valuable insights through open-ended questions.
Users were able to successfully share a live public link from the dashboard page
"
Visually engaging and useful data visualisations. I suggest a text field at the top to explain what I’m looking at, give an overview. Also tooltips to explain the data, like what volume means for those less familiar
A large cluster of activity around the share button was expected, this was the starting point for 50% of our users.
Average perceived ease of use. 6/7 users found sharing a live public link very easy to use.
Users who received a live dashboard link clearly understood the purpose of the live icon on the components, recognizing that it signified a dashboard that updates in real time.
The final designs integrated cross-functional feedback and research, refining elements for optimal outcomes
Decision 1: New sharing modal with 3 options, live link prioritised as the top card
Why?
While we were mainly focused in adding the live data capabilities to the public link we took the opportunity of creating a the sharing modal. This will hopefully increase usage of dashboard sharing as some users mentioned that they didn’t know an option to share dashboard links existed. Users can also manage access and permissions to the dashboard.
Decision 2: Password Protection toggle on all public links
Why?
A password should be required, just as an extra precaution in the event the link gets shared beyond the intended audience. This way, the owner can change the password and discontinue access for unintended users.
Decision 3: Update time, refresher banner and live icon in dashboard links
Why?
We wanted users to have clear signifiers that the dashboard they looked at had live data. We notify users how long ago the dashboard was updated, there’s a banner that pops up whenever a new dashboard version is available. There's a live icon on components, depending on how they were set up originally in the dashboard.
Key Takeaways
This project offered valuable learning experiences. One of the main takeaways was the importance of incorporating feedback early and frequently, which saved us time by preventing investment in misaligned designs. I also learned to track and prioritise feedback effectively, as I received a significant amount and needed to balance it against our resources and timelines.
With many moving parts, we aimed to find the right balance between depth of investment in certain areas and the need to expedite this highly requested feature.
As I write this, the feature is under development, and I’m hopeful users will find it beneficial. I look forward to seeing performance metrics and new user feedback once it’s live.
More work
Re-designing data management
Design Systems for Sage.com