From Data to Dashboards

Learn how to get started. This article explains the basic principles of setting up Plecto.

Last updated: Feb. 7, 2023

Table of contents

Plecto helps businesses visualize their performance in real time. With Plecto, you can track and visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) on real-time dashboards and boost your organization's performance with our reporting, gamification, and coaching tools. Everything updates automatically, in real time.

The first step to getting started is to get some data. Plecto can automatically pull data from different systems, but you can also enter it manually. All data you send to Plecto is stored in a data source.

To add a data source, go to Data management > Data sources > + New data source.

Step 1 – Get data into Plecto

Plecto integrates with over 150 systems including databases. You can also send data through an API or enter it yourself.

Now that you have data to work with, the next step is building formulas. Formulas take data from data sources and calculate metrics such as the value of sales, the number of calls, or any other metrics based on the data you have. Plecto offers two formula editors where you can build your metrics – Visual and Advanced editor.

A formula tells Plecto what to do (calculate a sum, show the latest added data...), and it is not bound to a specific period of time. It's the widgets on dashboards and reports that determine the time period (more on that later). Therefore, since formulas are not tied to a time period, they are all universal and reusable across all features in Plecto.

To build a formula, go to Formulas > + New formula.

Step 2 – Build formulas

Plecto has two types of formula editors – Visual and Advanced. The Visual editor is more user friendly, but if you're used to working in Excel, you might find it easy to work with the Advanced editor, too.

More about formulas

If you want to dive deeper and learn more about formulas and how to build them, this is a good article to start with: Introduction to the New Formula Editor (BETA).

Create dashboards, contests, reports, and more using the formulas you've built. You can use the same formula on multiple dashboard widgets, in reports, contests, notifications, and anywhere else.

Here's where to find the most popular features (the links will only work for those with admin access to Plecto or the specific feature):

Step 3 – Create your setup

This image shows how you can add the same formula across different features in Plecto, in this case – Number of Won Opportunities. All formulas are universal and reusable.

Once you've created dashboards, contests, notifications, and other objects, you will probably want to show everything on TV screens across the office or at home. To visualize your dashboards on TV screens, you need to use a feature called Slideshows.

Slideshows accommodate TV setup and make it easy to connect them with Plecto (which means you won't have to enter long URLs on TV browsers, hooray!). Slideshows serve as a frame for showing your Plecto dashboards, contests, and other media. Connect the slideshow to a TV, and you're all set.

Step 4 – Visualize your data

Add your dashboards, contests, and other media to a slideshow, activate the slideshow on a TV, and voilà – you're all set. Everything updates automatically, in real time.

Useful information
Quick Start tutorial

Follow our Quick Start tutorial and create your ideal Plecto setup! Go to Step 1 – Connect Your Systems and get started.

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1. Connect Your Systems

2. Build Your First Dashboard

3. Create Your KPIs

4. Set up Your TVs and Mobile Devices

5. Invite Your Staff

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