Most organizations have more data than ever before, yet turning that data into decisions remains a challenge. At the recent Brainbay's Inspiration Day hosted by Brainbay, we explored a challenge many organizations still face: Why do so many dashboards fail to drive real decisions? Despite increasing investments in analytics, insights often remain underused, not because the data is wrong, but because it’s not accessible in the right way. In our session, we showed how better visual design can already make a significant difference in guiding users toward key insights. But the real shift happens when combining dashboards with Large Language Models.

The Hidden Problem with Dashboards

Over time, dashboards have become more powerful, but also more complex. We frequently see the same issues:

• Too many visuals, not enough clarity
• Insights without business context
• A reliance on users to interpret data themselves
• Analytics disconnected from daily decision-making

The result is a gap between seeing data and acting on it.

Insights exist, but they are not embedded where decisions actually happen, making them far less impactful.

The Role of Better Visual Design

A first step toward closing this gap lies in better dashboard design.

Effective visualizations don’t just display data they guide users toward understanding. By applying principles such as hierarchy, contrast, balance, and the smart use of space, dashboards can direct attention to what truly matters.

This reduces cognitive load and helps users quickly grasp insights without needing deep analytical expertise.

By structuring dashboards more intentionally, using techniques like drill-downs, dynamic text, and clear KPIs, organizations can transform fragmented data into coherent, actionable stories.

Adding a New Layer: Large Language Models

While strong visuals are essential, they don’t answer every question.

Users still need to understand:

• Why something is happening
• What has changed over time
• What actions to take next

This is where Large Language Models (LLMs) introduce a new way of interacting with data.

Instead of navigating dashboards manually, users can ask questions in natural language and receive:

• Instant summaries of complex data
• Explanations of trends and anomalies
• Comparisons across time periods or segments
• Contextual recommendations

From Dashboards to Conversations

During the session, we demonstrated a practical application: a chatbot integrated directly into a SAS Viya dashboard. This approach allows users to “chat with their data”, making insights accessible to both technical and non-technical users.

Rather than searching through filters and charts, users can simply ask:

• What changed this quarter?
• Why are certain regions underperforming?

This fundamentally changes how people engage with analytics, from navigating dashboards to having conversations with data.

Turning Insight into Action

The real impact comes from combining both approaches:

• Visuals highlight what matters
• LLMs provide explanation and context
• Together, they enable faster, more confident decisions

This combination moves organizations beyond static reporting toward interactive, decision-driven analytics.

Looking Ahead

As organizations continue to invest in data, the focus is shifting from access to usability. Making insights truly actionable requires rethinking not just what we present, but how people interact with it.

The next evolution of analytics is not just about better dashboards.

It’s about making data conversational.

About Notilyze

We are Notilyze, a SAS® Partner with only one goal: to help organizations with data analytics, and become more data-driven and successful. Our aim is to bring data analytics within reach of every department and every company. We do this by offering SAS® as a Service. Notilyze Cloud is the quickest solution to start with AI on SAS® Viya®. In addition, we offer IT solutions to properly integrate analytics into existing processes, and the experience of our SAS® specialists.