What are the best practices for communicating supplier performance to customers through data visualization?

1 Choose the right metrics

The first step to communicate supplier performance to customers through data visualization is to choose the right metrics to measure and display. Metrics are the quantitative indicators that show how well you are performing against your goals and objectives. You should select metrics that are relevant, meaningful, and aligned with your customer's needs and expectations. For example, some common supplier performance metrics are quality, delivery, cost, innovation, and sustainability. You should also define how you will calculate, track, and benchmark your metrics, and how often you will report them to your customers.

2 Select the appropriate charts

The next step to communicate supplier performance to customers through data visualization is to select the appropriate charts to display your metrics. Charts are the graphical representations of your data that show the patterns, trends, and relationships among your variables. You should choose charts that are suitable for your data type, level of detail, and message. For example, some common charts for supplier performance are bar charts, line charts, pie charts, scatter plots, and dashboards. You should also follow some basic design principles, such as using clear labels, titles, legends, and colors, avoiding clutter and distortion, and highlighting the key points and insights.

3 Tailor your message to your audience

The final step to communicate supplier performance to customers through data visualization is to tailor your message to your audience. Your audience is the group of people who will receive, view, and use your data visualization. You should consider their background, interests, goals, and preferences, and customize your data visualization accordingly. For example, you can use different levels of detail, complexity, and interactivity, depending on whether your audience is technical, managerial, or executive. You can also use different formats, styles, and tones, depending on whether your data visualization is for an email, a report, a presentation, or a website.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?