What is a dashboard primarily used for?

A dashboard is primarily used as a tool that identifies key information related to operations, making it integral for data analysis and decision-making. It consolidates relevant metrics and performance indicators into one visual interface, allowing users to quickly understand the status of various processes and operations at a glance.

By leveraging charts, graphs, and other visualizations, a dashboard helps in monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and can facilitate real-time analysis, making it easier for stakeholders to track progress and identify trends or issues in operational performance. This functionality is crucial for organizations looking to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and maintain a competitive edge.

Other answers describe functionalities that may be part of a dashboard's scope, but they do not encompass the primary purpose as comprehensively as identifying key operational information. While summaries of financial data, detailed analysis of sales figures, and visual representations of employee performance can certainly be included in a dashboard, they represent more specific or targeted uses rather than the overarching role of a dashboard in operational management.