Cutting through the numbers – Use an ERP Dashboard to Save Time & Increase Focus

The pressure for up-to-date information has never been greater. It’s 9am on a busy Monday. Production are asking for clarity on overdue jobs. Sales want an update on order status. Purchasing need to know about material shortages. Finance is preparing month-end and still chasing numbers.

And yet, for many manufacturing and engineering businesses, the data everyone needs is scattered across emails, spreadsheets or outdated reports.

This is the daily challenge we hear many companies describe - not a lack of information, but a lack of accessible, relevant and current information.

Over the last 25 years, the E-Max team has seen this need grow dramatically. Manufacturing and engineering companies now rely on time-sensitive data to stay efficient, competitive and prepared for whatever comes next.

That’s why an ERP dashboard is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential.

What Is an ERP Dashboard – and Why Does It Matter?

Think of an ERP dashboard as a GPS for your business.

Just as your phone keeps you updated on traffic and suggests the best route, an ERP dashboard shows you what’s happening across your business, highlights potential issues before they escalate and reveals where action is needed. It brings essential data together on one screen so decisions can be made quickly, based on facts.

At E-Max, we’ve designed our ERP Dashboard to give every user clarity and focus. Built directly into our end-to-end ERP system, it provides a clear visual summary of the performance metrics that matter most to your role, department or company.

“Each user has a personalised dashboard which is built around their particular regular daily tasks, so when they access their dashboard, they can see all their tasks to be carried out or produced.”

— Kelly Bainbridge, Services & Systems Director, Nufox Rubber

(Read the full case study → How Nufox Rubber uses E-Max ERP to improve visibility and control)

Key Benefits of the E-Max ERP Dashboard

Current information at a glance

See updated information as it happens, with no manual refresh or report-running required.

Tailored to your role

Choose the KPIs that matter to you - not a generic list that clutters your screen.

Process- and Department-specific insights

Give every team the visibility they need to perform at their best, from production and purchasing to sales, finance and despatch.

Versatile data sources

Display internal metrics such as overdue operations or sales orders, alongside external data like raw-material prices, weather conditions or GPS tracking.

Performance tracking & reminders

Highlight critical areas, set alerts and monitor progress against targets to embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Accessible anywhere

Your dashboards can be accessed securely across devices, supporting remote working, mobile reviews and fast decision-making on the move. With drill-down functionality built in, users can move from headline data into the detail in seconds, supporting fast, well-informed action.

Role-Based Dashboards: Keeping Everyone Focused

Many manufacturers display a KPI dashboard centrally - often on the shop floor or reception - so everyone can see how the company is performing against its daily or weekly targets. This creates accountability, transparency and alignment.

But the real power comes when dashboards are personalised.

With E-Max ERP, every employee can have their own dashboard view. That means:

• Less time searching for information
• Fewer distractions
• More focus on the KPIs that directly relate to their responsibilities

Sensitive or confidential data can be controlled easily, with security settings determining who can access specific reports or view specific figures.

Example Role-Based Dashboard KPIs

This kind of personalised focus helps teams work with purpose - and improves collaboration across departments because everyone sees how their work affects others.

Why a Well-Planned Dashboard Makes a Big Difference

A strong dashboard brings your business together on one clear, simple screen.

In manufacturing and engineering supply chains, where deadlines are tight and quality is critical, the dashboard helps teams:

• Identify bottlenecks early
• Reduce paperwork and manual reporting
• Make decisions based on real-time facts, not assumptions
• Support continuous process improvement
• Strengthen project and workflow visibility
• Improve communication between departments
• Strengthen performance and customer satisfaction

With everyone working from the same live data, decisions are faster, processes are smoother and customers feel the benefit.

See the E-Max ERP Dashboard in Action

If you want to build dashboards that help your team stay focused, improve operational visibility and support better decision-making, we’d be happy to show you what’s possible.

Call our team on 0808 109 2035, send us a message, or book a short demonstration to see how quick and intuitive it is to create a fully customised dashboard within E-Max ERP.