MetroFlow Optimizer Dashboard/Workbench
Example of a company‐level construction dashboard highlighting multiple projects, schedule health and key performance cards.
The "Dashboard": From Insight to Intelligent Insight
The top of the dashboard should surface high-level KPIs (e.g. projects at-risk, overall schedule quality, critical delays) and offer filters (by project, phase, or trade). Below the summary, detailed panels can show per-project status, resource availability, and alerts.
Good dashboard design follows BI best practices: prioritize key data and use visual hierarchy so the user’s eye is drawn to the most critical metrics first. Widgets and charts should be interactive (drillable) and kept uncluttered – e.g. one screen can show select Gantt or network views with hidden details available on click. Controls for date-range or project selection allow focusing on specific constraints.
In practice, construction dashboards often feature customizable tiles for budget vs. cost, schedule variance (SPI, CPI), and resource usage. They should deliver “at-a-glance” insight: presenting complex data (cost breakdown, work progress) in clear charts simplifies analysis.
Layout Principles: Apply a clean, hierarchical layout. Place summary KPI tiles at the top (e.g. “Projects >30 days late”, “Projects on track”). Use color-coded status (red/green) to flag issues. Underlying panels (tabs or cards) can show detailed data: project timelines, resource histograms, budget curves. Provide filters and drill-down to e.g. switch between “labor view” or “material view”.
Integration: Include links or embedded feeds to common construction tools (BIM viewer, scheduling apps) via connectors. For example, a filter might select a Primavera schedule or Procore project, and the dashboard automatically syncs data.
Responsive Design: Ensure the dashboard works on tablets or large screens. Critical controls (date pickers, project selector) should be front-and-center for schedulers and managers to pivot quickly.
The "Workbench": From Insight to Action
While the Dashboard provides situational awareness, the Workbench is where users take action. It's a dynamic, role-based queue of tasks, AI-suggested next actions, and workflow widgets. Examples for different stakeholders:
Contractor/GC: Drag-and-drop look-ahead tasks, AI variance alerts, e-sign change orders, submit bond applications, upload COI for subcontractors.
Surety Carrier: Bond approval queue with AI risk score, indemnity agreement generator, reserve adjustment approvals based on project progress alerts.
Broker/Agent: Incomplete submission list for bonds/insurance, pending e-signatures, AI upsell/cross-sell recommendations based on project risk profile.
Obligee/Government: Digital bond acceptance queue, non-compliance list for contractors, inspection scheduler & dispatch.
The Workbench turns insights from the dashboard (e.g., "predicted labor shortage," "subcontractor insurance expiring," "project buffer critically low") into actionable items, embedding Theory-of-Constraints metrics and risk management best practices. Overall, the interface should be intuitive and interactive.
As one guide notes, “great dashboards are clear, interactive, and user-friendly,” communicating information at a glance and focusing on the data most relevant to business goals.
Dashboard vs. Workbench — Stakeholder Examples
