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📊 Databricks Dashboards — Visual Insights & Real-Time Monitoring

🏥 Modern Medical Data Story — Simple, Visual

Now that you’ve gathered your patient data 🩺 — like admissions, diagnoses, and daily trends — it’s time to visualize it clearly.
That’s where a modern dashboard comes in.

Think of a dashboard like a hospital’s patient monitor:
🖥️ clean, real-time, and focused on what matters most.

📊 Each dashboard tile shows something critical:​

🫁 Bar chart → Number of patients by department
(e.g., Cardiology, Pediatrics, Emergency)

🧬 Pie chart → Diagnosis breakdown
(e.g., flu, diabetes, hypertension)

📈 Line chart → Daily admissions or ER footfall over time

Each chart helps doctors, nurses, and admins quickly understand what’s happening — just like checking a patient’s vitals.

🧩 Built to be Interactive​

  • Drag & drop tiles to arrange your layout
  • Apply filters (like date range, ward, or doctor)
  • No coding needed — just point, click, and build
  • Built on live data, always up to date

🚨 Real-Time Alerts​

If something unusual happens — like a sudden spike in respiratory cases...

Your dashboard acts like a smart assistant, tapping you on the shoulder:

“Doctor, ER visits just spiked 30% — check Ward 2.”

You don’t need to dig through reports — the system notifies you automatically.

💡 Why It Matters​

This is more than charts.
It’s your hospital’s health, in real time — visualized clearly, updated live, and designed for fast decisions.

✅ Simple to use
✅ Easy to share
✅ Designed for care teams

What is a Databricks Dashboard?​

Databricks Dashboards help you turn your data and queries into easy-to-understand visuals — like charts, tables, and graphs — so you can spot trends and share insights with your team.

Instead of just seeing numbers in a table, you get:

  • 📊 Bar charts for comparing values (e.g., sales by region)
  • 🧁 Pie charts for seeing distributions (e.g., product share)
  • 📈 Line charts for spotting changes over time (e.g., daily users)

You build them with just a few clicks — no advanced coding needed

📊 How to Build a Dashboard in Databricks — Step by Step (Beginner-Friendly)​

Building a dashboard might sound complex — but in Databricks, it’s simple.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you go from data to decisions, visually.

1️⃣ Run & Save Your Query in SQL Editor​

💻 First, write your SQL query in the SQL Editor.
This could be anything — like pulling sales data, patient records, or website visits.

▶️ Click Run to execute it.
💾 Then click Save — so you can use this query in a dashboard.

2️⃣ Add the Query to a Dashboard​

🧩 After saving, click the “Add to Dashboard” button.

You’ll get two options:

  • ➕ Create a new dashboard
  • 📂 Add to an existing dashboard

Pick what fits — just like choosing where to pin a new widget.

3️⃣ Choose the Right Chart Type​

Now it’s time to visualize your data.

Choose the format that tells the story best:

📊 Bar chart → for comparing values (e.g., revenue by region)
📈 Line chart → for trends over time (e.g., daily users)
🧁 Pie chart → for showing parts of a whole (e.g., user types)
🗺️ Map → for location-based data
📋 Table → for raw results with details

Pick one that makes the insight pop.

4️⃣ Customize Filters, Layout, and Design​

🎛️ Make your dashboard interactive and clear:

  • Add filters so users can change views (e.g., date range, region)
  • Drag and resize tiles to organize the layout
  • Give each chart a title so users understand what they’re seeing

Make it not just functional — but user-friendly.

5️⃣ Share or Publish Securely​

🔐 When you're ready, share your dashboard:

  • Invite team members with specific access
  • Set permissions (view-only or editable)
  • Publish for internal or external use (if allowed)

Everyone sees live data, with no extra work needed.

📊 Key Features of a Modern Dashboard — Explained Simply​

A dashboard is more than just charts on a screen — it’s your live window into the data that matters.
Here’s what makes a powerful, user-friendly dashboard stand out:

1️⃣ Interactive Filters — Focus on What You Need​

🗂️ Want to see data for just one region? Or only this week?

Dashboards come with interactive filters that let you narrow down results in real time —
no need to write a new query or refresh the page.

✅ Filter by date, location, department, or any field
✅ Users can adjust views on their own — no tech skills needed

2️⃣ Auto-Refresh — Always Up to Date​

🔄 Your dashboard updates automatically with the latest data.

Behind the scenes, your data queries can be scheduled to run on a set time —
so your visuals stay fresh without manual effort.

✅ Set it to refresh every hour, day, or custom time
✅ Great for real-time monitoring (e.g., patient flow, sales, traffic)

3️⃣ Easy Sharing — Keep Everyone in the Loop​

📤 Share insights with your team, leadership, or clients — instantly.

Dashboards can be:

  • 🔗 Shared via secure link (URL)
  • 📧 Sent by email
  • 🌐 Embedded directly into your internal tools or website

No need to export reports — your audience always sees the latest version.

4️⃣ Responsive Layout — View on Any Device​

📱 Whether you’re at your desk or on the move, dashboards automatically adapt to your screen.

From desktop to tablet to mobile — the layout is optimized for easy viewing and interaction.

✅ No pinching or zooming
✅ Perfect for field teams, doctors, sales reps, or execs on the go

⚙️ Dashboard Permissions & Sharing — Clear, Secure Control​

When you share dashboards, controlling who can see or change your data visuals is essential. Here’s how modern dashboards handle it — simply and securely:

1️⃣ Set Permissions — Control Access by Role​

🔐 Decide who can:

  • 👀 View the dashboard (just look at the data)
  • ✍️ Edit the dashboard (make changes to charts or filters)
  • 🛠️ Manage the dashboard (change permissions or settings)

This way, sensitive data stays safe, and only the right people have control.

2️⃣ Integrate with Data Governance Tools​

🗂️ Dashboards can connect with enterprise data governance systems (like Unity Catalog) to enforce company-wide rules.

This means:

  • Data access follows strict policies
  • You keep full control over who can see what — compliant and secure

3️⃣ Track Usage — Know Who Sees What, When​

📊 Dashboard platforms provide usage metrics so you can monitor:

  • Who viewed the dashboard
  • When they accessed it
  • How often it’s used

This helps you ensure the right people are engaging with the data, and supports auditing and compliance.

🚨 Alerts and Notifications — Stay Ahead with Real-Time Updates​

Don’t wait for problems to find you. Set up automated alerts to get notified the moment something important happens.

1️⃣ Define Your Alert Rules — Monitor What Matters​

⚙️ Choose any key metric or threshold to watch, for example:

“If today’s total sales drop below $1 million → notify the finance team immediately.”

You decide what’s critical — sales targets, system health, or user activity.

2️⃣ Get Alerts via Your Favorite Channels​

📬 Notifications can be sent through:

  • 📧 Email
  • 💬 Slack
  • 🔗 Webhooks (to connect with other apps)

So you get instant updates — wherever you work.

3️⃣ Use Alerts for Multiple Use Cases​

🚀 Alerts help with:

  • 📈 Tracking KPIs in real time
  • 🔍 Detecting fraud or anomalies fast
  • ⚙️ Monitoring operational health and uptime

They turn data from passive reports into active, actionable insights.

🧠 Real-Time Business Story — How DataMart Uses Dashboards Every Day​

Every morning, DataMart, a retail store chain, starts the day with fresh and accurate data — thanks to their dashboards.

Here’s what happens:

  • At 6 AM, a computer runs a job that updates all the sales and inventory data from the previous day.
  • The dashboard then shows important information like: -How much was sold in each region -The top 5 best-selling products -Alerts for products that are running low in stock

If any product sells fewer than 20 units in a day, the system automatically sends an alert to the warehouse manager, so they can restock it quickly.

The CEO checks her dashboard on her tablet — no need to open Excel files or wait for reports. She gets live, reliable information anytime, helping her make fast, confident decisions.

Why this matters:​

  • Data is updated automatically every day
  • Everyone gets the right information without delays
  • Alerts help prevent stock problems before they happen
  • Leaders can see how the business is doing in real time

🔑 1-Minute Summary — Databricks SQL & Dashboards​

TopicSummary
What is a Dashboard?Visual tool like a hospital monitor showing key data in charts (bar, pie, line) for easy insight.
InteractivityDrag & drop tiles, apply filters, no coding needed, live data always updated.
Real-Time AlertsAutomated notifications for unusual events (e.g., spikes), sent via email, Slack, or webhook.
Key Dashboard FeaturesInteractive filters, auto-refresh, responsive design, secure sharing with role-based permissions.
Permissions & GovernanceControl who can view, edit, or manage dashboards; integrates with data governance tools.
Business Use CaseDataMart refreshes sales and inventory data daily; dashboard shows sales, top products, and alerts.
Alerts in ActionAlerts notify warehouse manager if product sales drop below 20 units/day for quick restocking.
CEO AccessCEO views live, reliable data on tablet—no Excel or manual reports needed.
Why It MattersAutomates updates and alerts for faster, confident decision-making and proactive actions.