Salesforce Reports and Dashboards are features within the Salesforce platform that allow users to create custom reports and dashboards to analyze and visualize data stored in their Salesforce org (an organization’s instance of Salesforce).
Reports are used to display data in tabular form, allowing users to filter, group, and sort the data according to their needs. Users can create custom reports by selecting fields from Salesforce objects (e.g., accounts, contacts, leads) and applying filters to narrow down the data that is displayed in the report.
Dashboards are used to display data in a visual format, such as charts and graphs. Users can create custom dashboards by selecting pre-built dashboard components or creating their custom components. Dashboard components can display data from reports, as well as other sources such as custom metrics and external data.
Salesforce Reports and Dashboards can be accessed by all users within an org, depending on their permissions. They can be used to analyze data and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for various teams and departments, such as sales, marketing, and customer service.
Salesforce Reports
Salesforce Reports are used to display data from Salesforce objects in tabular form. Users can create custom reports by selecting fields from Salesforce objects and applying filters to narrow down the data that is displayed in the report.
To create a report, users can use the Salesforce Reports wizard or use the “Create New Report” option from the Reports tab. Users can then choose the object they want to report on and select the fields they want to include in the report. They can also apply filters to narrow down the data that is displayed in the report.
Once the report is created, users can save it and access it from the Reports tab. They can also schedule the report to be delivered via email or exported to a file regularly.
Salesforce Reports can be used to analyze data and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for various teams and departments, such as sales, marketing, and customer service. They can also be used to create customized views of data for different stakeholders, such as managers, team members, and clients.
Salesforce Reports Types
1. Standard Report Type
In Salesforce, standard report types are pre-defined report templates that are provided by Salesforce to help users create reports quickly and easily. Standard report types are based on a specific object, such as Accounts, Contacts, or Opportunities, and include a set of default fields that are relevant to that object.
For example, if you want to create a report on Accounts, you can use the Account Report type, which includes default fields such as Account Name, Industry, and Rating. You can then customize the report by adding or removing fields, applying filters, and grouping and totaling the data.
Standard report types are a useful starting point for creating reports, especially for users who are new to Salesforce or do not have a lot of experience creating custom reports. However, users can also create custom report types if the standard report types do not meet their specific needs.
2. Custom Reports Type
In Salesforce, custom report types are reports that are created by users to meet their specific needs. Custom report types allow users to create reports on objects that are not included in the standard report types provided by Salesforce. They can also be used to create reports on multiple objects or to create more complex reports that are not possible with standard report types.
To create a custom report type, users can go to the “Create New Custom Report Type” page in the Reports tab and follow the steps in the wizard. Users can select the objects they want to include in the report and choose the fields they want to include in the report. They can also define the relationships between the objects, specify filters, and set other options for the report.
Custom report types are useful for advanced users who need to create reports that are not possible with standard report types or who want to create reports on multiple objects. However, they require more setup and configuration than standard report types and may be more difficult for users who are new to Salesforce or do not have a lot of experience creating custom reports.
In Salesforce, there are several types of reports that users can create, including:
- Tabular Reports: These are the most basic type of reports, displaying data in rows and columns. Tabular reports in Salesforce are simple, easy-to-read reports that display data in a table format. They are useful for displaying and analyzing large amounts of data and can be customized with filters, formulas, and summary fields to provide a more detailed view of your data.
- Summary Reports: These reports display data in a summarized format, allowing users to group and subtotal data by different criteria. Summary reports in Salesforce are useful for displaying and analyzing data in a more condensed format. They allow you to group data by specific fields and display summary information such as totals, averages, and counts.
- Matrix Reports: These reports display data in a grid, with rows and columns representing different criteria.
- Joined Reports: These reports combine data from multiple objects into a single report.
- Chart Reports: These reports display data in a visual format, such as a bar chart, line chart, or pie chart.
- Dashboard Reports: These reports display data in a visual format on a dashboard, which can include a variety of chart types and other components.
In addition to these report types, Salesforce also offers predefined reports for certain objects, such as the Opportunities Report for the Opportunities object and the Cases Report for the Cases object. Users can use these predefined reports as a starting point and customize them to meet their specific needs.
How to use Salesforce Report Builder?
Salesforce Report Builder is a tool that allows you to create custom reports based on data stored in your Salesforce account. Follow these steps to use Report Builder:
- Log in to your Salesforce account and click on the “Reports” tab in the main menu.
- To create a new report, click the “New Report” button.
- Choose whether you want to create a tabular, summary, or matrix report.
- Select the data source for your report. You can choose from a variety of standard and custom objects, as well as external data sources such as Salesforce Einstein Analytics.
- Determine which fields to include in your report. You can select fields from different objects, as well as create custom formulas and summary fields.
- Add filters to your report to narrow down the data you want to see. You can filter by field values, dates, and other criteria.
- Choose a chart type to visualize your data. You can choose from a variety of chart types, such as bar charts, pie charts, and line charts.
- Preview your report and make any necessary adjustments.
- Save your report and give it a name.
You can also use the Salesforce Report Builder to schedule reports to be sent to specific recipients at regular intervals or to create dashboards that display the data in your reports in a visual format.
How to create Salesforce Custom Report types?
To create a custom report type in Salesforce, follow these steps:
- Go to the Setup menu and use the Quick Find box to look for “Custom Report Types.”
- Click the “New Custom Report Type” button.
- In the “Select Primary Object” screen, choose the object that will be the primary object for the report type. This is the object that will be displayed as rows in the report.
- In the “Select Record Types” screen, choose the record types you want to include in the report type.
- In the “Select Fields” screen, choose the fields you want to include in the report type. You can include fields from the primary object as well as related objects.
- Click “Save” to create the custom report type.
Once you have created a custom report type, you can use it to create reports in the same way you would use a standard report type. Simply select the custom report type when creating a new report, and then follow the steps to specify the filters and groupings for the report.
Note: To create a custom report type, you must have the “Customize Application” permission in Salesforce. You may also need to have the “Manage Custom Report Types” permission, depending on your organization’s permissions settings.
Salesforce Dashboards:
Salesforce Dashboards are a feature of the Salesforce platform that allows users to create custom visualizations of their data. Dashboards can include charts, graphs, tables, and other types of visualizations that help users understand and analyze their data more effectively. Dashboards can be customized to display specific data sets and metrics and can be shared with other users in an organization. They are an important tool for tracking and analyzing business performance, and can be used to monitor key performance indicators, identify trends, and make informed decisions about business strategy. Dashboards can be created and customized within the Salesforce platform using a simple drag-and-drop interface.
Custom Reports are similar to Dashboards in that they both allow users to create custom views of their data, but Dashboards tend to be more flexible and customizable and can include a wider range of visualizations and metrics.
Different Components of Salesforce Dashboards:
Several types of components can be added to a dashboard in Salesforce:
- Charts: Charts are graphical representations of data that can help users understand trends, patterns, and relationships in their data. There are several types of charts available in Salesforce, including line charts, bar charts, pie charts, and scatter plots.
- Metrics: Metrics are numerical values that represent key performance indicators or other important data points. Metrics can be displayed as single values or as part of a larger visualization, such as a bar chart or pie chart.
- Tables: Tables allow users to display data in a tabular format, with rows and columns representing different data sets and fields. Tables can be customized to display specific data sets and filters and can include calculated fields and aggregations.
- Gauges: Gauges are visualizations that show a single value within a range of values. They can be used to display key performance indicators or other important metrics.
- Maps: Maps allow users to display data on a map, with different data points represented as markers or areas on the map. Maps can be customized to display different layers and data sets and can be used to visualize trends and patterns in geographic data.
- Filters: Filters allow users to narrow down the data displayed in a dashboard by selecting specific data sets, fields, or criteria. Filters can be applied to all components of a dashboard or specific components.
- Visualforce Pages: Visualforce Pages are custom pages that can be added to a dashboard and used to display custom content or functionality. Visualforce Pages can be created using the Visualforce markup language and can be used to display custom charts, graphs, and other types of visualizations
How to create Salesforce Dashboards
To create a dashboard in Salesforce, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Salesforce account and navigate to the Dashboards tab.
- Click the “New Dashboard” button to create a new dashboard.
- Give your dashboard a name and select the type of dashboard you want to create (Classic or Lightning).
- Select the layout of your dashboard by choosing the number of columns and rows you want to include.
- Add components to your dashboard by dragging and dropping them onto the dashboard layout. There are several types of components you can add to your dashboard, including charts, tables, metrics, and filters.
- Customize your dashboard by selecting specific data sets, fields, and filters to display. You can also customize the appearance of your dashboard by changing the color scheme and font style.
- Save your dashboard and make it available to other users by clicking the “Save” button and setting the sharing permissions.
Once you have created your dashboard, you can view it by clicking the “Run” button. You can also edit your dashboard at any time by clicking the “Edit” button.
Conclusion
Salesforce Reports and Dashboards are powerful tools that help organizations track and analyze their data in real time. Reports allow users to create custom views of their data by selecting specific data sets, fields, and filters, while Dashboards allow users to create visualizations of their data using charts, graphs, and other types of visualizations. Both Reports and Dashboards can be customized to display specific metrics and data sets and can be shared with other users in an organization. Whether you are looking to track key performance indicators, identify trends, or make informed decisions about business strategy, Salesforce Reports and Dashboards provide the tools you need to get the insights you need.
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